Current Choice driver

Ok, I have been looking at Landstar vs Choice. I pretty much know the pros and cons of both. Applied to LS and they told me to re-apply in a year (I have a ticket I got in Jan that was stayed for a year - isnt on my record or PSP but is there on a courts record search).

My situation: I have enough cash to buy a 3 year old truck and an 850 credit score so getting a truck is no big deal. I got my CDL in 84 (always as a company driver) and my father was a city driver from before I was born so Ive been around the biz a while. I have seen LSs board demo, Ive poked around on their live overflow board, and Ive poked around their live drivers board for a bit and seen whats what in various locations, but I havent seen it as much as I would like to frankly. Was poking with their recruiting dept. on the live drivers board.

I just called Schneider Choice recruiting. They told me they dont have a demo (I saw a video of it and it worked basically the same as LS anyway) but they also werent able to let me see their live board so I can see whats going were. To get a feel for the lanes. The recruiter told me to find an O/O that would let me look on his account. This seems strange to me, but there you have it.

Is anyone willing? I wont book loads for you, not interested in specific shippers/receivers ect. Just looking to find out in advance how much I should expect to find going in/out of Minneapolis and building myself a lane. And also to see if I am going to make enough for what I need.

If you are willing, please send me an email to MichDsr @ yahoo with the info I need (web link and any other info I need to access it). And thanks in advance.

 

Lol, like I said, it seemed strange to me, but I put it out there the same as it was put to me. No way in hell would I join Choice blind, not knowing how many loads they got coming and going from and to here, and what other options I would have between them. I can wait another 10 months and head to LS. It wont kill me.

 

Well, heres the deal. Im a line haul driver for a LTL company. I make .65 a mile. If I were to buy a truck and have to pay all the taxes my current pay would be .70 a mile. Plus health ins will run about $500 a month. Assuming 10k miles a month so thats going to add a nickel a mile. So realistically it isnt worth while to take a risk on the truck vs being a company driver for less than 1.20 a mile AFTER expenses, which I figure to be around .80 a mile. So before I would even consider it, I would have to pretty clear in my mind that I can make $2 a mile regular.

I know I can do that at Landstar. I saw their live board at 7pm on a tuesday and they had 18,000+ loads then. In the morning you can figure that count will double. And the average rate per mile of those 18+k loads was 2.14 a mile (not counting FSC). So the question is, can I find lanes to run in and out of Mpls that will pay me the numbers I need with Choice?

 

Yes, I realize that. They were also without FSC. So at 75% (I would have a refer at LS) and add in fuel, I would be looking at about 2.20 +/- depending on the exact FSC.