mercer transportation

Been running the spot market almost four years, with two different company's. One very small and almost two years with Traveloko. I thought it might be different with Mercer having their own freight, but it looks about the same. This year has been awful, I agree, and it's not getting any better. As far as I can see the fuel discounts are bigger, we get .28/gal at the J and Pilot, and cheaper plates and insurance. I'm sure I'll hear from Chasity tomorrow, was planning on moving over Jan. 1. Anymore information would be appreciated.

 

As far as fuel discounts go, it is not uncommon to see 30-60 cents per gallon discount at various places. I normally fuel at Loves and their prices, after discount, are normally a penny or two more than the nearest Pilot/J. I much prefer the parking, free WiFi and shower quality at Loves so it is worth it to me.

 

Your fuel discount now compared with Mercers isnt going to be a huge difference. What seems to be the issue with Traveloko? Your booking all your loads by yourself off the spot market boards with them correct, no dispatcher or agents looking for loads? No direct shippers with them?

 

So 1.80 last year which was a huge fluke and this year what kind of horrid number is it?

 

Some things goin on here that I'm not happy with. The company's starting to get a reputation, a bad one, and that's hard to shake. I thought with Mercer having their own frieght, rates would be better, maybe maybe not. Also, the opportunity to move to flat or step deck, time to do something new.

 

I hope you dont think all Mercers trucks are hauling exclusively their own freight?

Lots of brokered loads at Mercer too....

 

My experience at Mercer was a good one and I was on the van fleet. 95% of the freight I pulled was broker freight. Their biggest van customer was forklifts and I didn't pull many of those cause the forklift loads I was offered didn't pay very good unless they want to the NW and even then they didn't pay good considering where you were going. I had a great relationship with a hand full of agents and that helped a lot. I also had a great coordinator that really did a good job of finding good loads when I was new and still learning the lanes. Fuel discounts were the best I've ever had but I've only been leased to 3 different carriers. Insurance was cheap and tires were cheap. I left to go jump on the hot spot market which has since fizzled out. But now I'm able to find loads to get me home every weekend. Couldn't do that at Mercer. I still have one friend pulling a van at Mercer and he's been running for about the same RPM that I've been doing on the spot market. Good luck with your decision.

 

Can you please give an idea of the problems? I’m doing my research as well as yourself on Mercer, LS, Traveloko etc

 

I see Mercers famous driver SuperTruckerDan had to bounce 800 miles outta Florida for a reload... 20 guys ahead of him on the board...


I figured he'd have a small bounce down to Miami for that high dollar freight Mercer pulls out of there???