Compared the two

Mercer has a load coordinator, when I looked at what they had to offer a few years ago they had less freight selection. At Mercer you wont have the benefit of drop and hook. If you dont already own a trailer they will lease you one and that will be yours.

 

Yes I did. Best decision I have made, put the fun and profit back into trucking. I pull van.
I watched too many of my friends who had been at Mercer pulling flat and step deck leave in the past 3 years for a number of reasons.

 

What kind of rates are you seeing to the truck pulling van over there?

 

Th

that is such a relative question. I dont look at any load under 1.30 inc fsc so 1.30 and above? Last year I averaged 1.43 to the truck for all miles moved. So far this year I am at 1.62 and climbing.

 

Gotcha! Do you have any negotiating power on the van side over there?

 

With some agents and certain customers, others are at a contracted rate.

 

Just clarify, Mercer rents the van trailers to the O/O now. The flats & steps are lease/purchase. They do have a very, very little bit if drop & hook but not enough at this point to count on. I personally have no desire to do drop & hook anymore so I would purchase a trailer with either company. LS charges 7% to pull their van & Mercer charges $585 a month. Comes out to be less than 3 %.

To the OP, Both great companies with their own good points & bad points. One company will be a good fit for some while the other will be a good fit for others. I chose Mercer cause it didn't have the corporate feel to it. Yep, I know, a strange reason to pick a company but that was important to me. That was the main difference to me. Good luck which ever way you go. We're pulling for you.