CRETE - A Year in Review

You decided not to go to Landstar? That was where I was leased to when I ended my O/O dream/nightmare. It was ok there, I like the way it was set up, but I was there at the wrong time. They have changed their system with everyone having cell phones and smart phones...Their system can be told to call drivers with load offers when an agent sees a driver coming into an area where they have loads to move. Plus freight rates have gone up a lot since I was there, kind makes me want to give it another try if I though my wife wouldn't shoot me if I did.

 

There are, but they tend to not don't the volume of freight to make it worth it for big carriers so the O/O's and small companies get those customers.

 

I'm vacillating. Just got off the phone with a Facebook friend who was an O/O with Crete for 8 years, been with Landstar for about 6 months, says he's making about $0.20/mile more in his pocket than he did at Crete, never goes to the northeast or past the Rockies, and turns about 500 miles/week more than he did here. He lives in Florida and gets decent rates out of there, and much better coming back. He won't put the truck in gear unless the gross on the load is $2.15/mile. His average since signing on is $1.62/mile revenue to the truck on hub miles - mine is more like $1.41/mile on paid miles. He says if I want to run short freight like what Crete has, I can do another $0.20-$0.50/mile to the truck above what he's doing.

Then again, another FB friend is driving for an O/O leased to K&B Power, moving mostly empty trailers. It's a power-only deal where the trailer itself is the freight. Lower revenue than what I'm getting here, but much lower costs because of the better fuel economy pulling empty trailers. And lots more miles, all drop/hook, all picking up and delivering ASAP. This friend is turning 3500 miles/week minimum, running lots of west coast and mountain west, and the company covers the cost of the motor vehicle liability and cargo insurance. But then again there's the lower revenue per mile to consider - and $0.25/mile for bobtail will hurt.

I dunno. I do know that I'm signing the papers to refinance my truck in a few weeks, and by then I should have a decision and a completed application.

 

Here's a thought to chew on.

Why put all the extra wear and tear on your tractor? Run less miles at landstar and make more money. Working less for more really seams like a no brainer. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

The one down side to Landstar is their rates aren't set in stone. Today they might be up, within a year, they might suck again. When I was there the only time you saw over $2/mile loads were in the heavy haul and military($4++). I would still be there if freight rates were that good back then.

The drawback to empty trailers, winter...especially out west. You can chain all you want, but hauling an empty trailer in snow isn't fun, it causes one to wear out the seat really quickly puckering up...

RB, I can see your dilemma. But the one thing I did enjoy about Landstar was it was entirely up to you where you ran. If you want to see the west, you found a load that way. If you wanted to take some time off, you could take all the time you wanted (or could afford). Some of the BCO's said they were making a killing on multiple partial loads...it just took a lot of planning and practice to get it all loads on the trailer in the right order.

 

Well, I guess freight is short up here in West Coryland. Empty for 3 hours and I get the same message(when they get around to answering me) "working on a load". Not that I am in too much of a big rush, only have 12.5 hours between now and Monday night, so... Just wish I knew where I was picking up, even if it is tomorrow so I know which way to head on the toll road.

 

"working on a load".

I think they have that phrase taped onto their computer monitors so they never forget to say it......

 

Well, my luck with leaving Coryland on 1 load ended this week. Picking up south of Buffalo Monday afternoon, deliver in the n/e corner of CT Tuesday afternoon. And the load instructions say do not arrive more than 15 minutes early... Doing that in the n/e is like trying to predict where the next rain drop will fall. Plus, the closest truck stop is Sturbridge, MA. Maybe Cory will come in tomorrow, see my truck number still in his zone and go nuts and preplan me ahead of time before he has to deal with me any more this month(or year if I'm lucky)

 

Beautiful this time of year south of buffalo, vinyards everywhere and home to welches grape juice. Are they going to pay the toll for I90 or will they make you drive the two lane shuffle away from buffalo to sturbridge ma?

 

I deliver here in NJ at 0830 in the morning....hoping I get outta here as well!