Landstar losing drivers

Um..there was a change recently that might cause one to wait, or come back in in the 1st quarter

 

I’ve always been amazed at how Landstar operates. The system relies on each Independent Agents and O/O’s personal responsibility. Works good when things are good. When it’s cut throat and people get squeezed, not so much. I’m amazed the whole system doesn’t implode on itself. Seems to be more unscrupulous Agents. Last one I dealt with wasted a whole day on a load that didn’t exist. Promised compensation and then ghosted me. He was working from his home in the Ukraine. Enough said. On the other hand, the best paying load I ever had was from them. Auto parts - Detroit to Laredo. Paid $8000. Seems that everyone I’ve ever known that’s been Leased to Landstar. It’s always hit and miss. Depends on the relationship with an Agent Their ability to get and cover Government Contracts is their strength. The actions of certain Agents more and more, seems to be their weakness.

 

I think dsv changed their business model.. I never see any flatbed or steps out west anymore like I did when I was with them... I see a handful of dryvans with supersleepers on them running az/cali and they have a huge dry van presence in texas doing cross border stuff...I know before I left in 2021 they were moving alot of operations from montana to texas

 

I was going to ask what is an oversize authority .. lol

 

No, Bennett cant haul military stuff is my understanding....So they bought Ace Doran.

 

Doesn’t sound like they’ll be in Missoula much longer. Office people are applying at other places because they don’t want to relocate.

 

The system is very much like the old household goods - van lines model.
Corporate/Agents/O-O's leased or working exclusively for agents/O-O's leased or working for Corporate.
What does Landstar call them euphemistically? "Business Capacity Owners" Oh puleease.

When I was with northAmerican Van Lines during the bedbug heyday, 1970's-1990's I was up close and personal to exactly how corrupt the system could become.
Agents booking the highest paying freight had their favorite operators to place it with. It never made it onto any load board that was available to everyone.
It wasn't beyond the possibility to have to pay a kickback to those agents to keep on getting good paying freight.
One agent I was leased to was so corrupt, the dispatchers had their own trucks under lease. Guess where the best shipments went?

I don't know first hand what goes on at Landstar. Only stories from former Landstar drivers who came to companies I was leased.
But the very model lends itself to unethical business practices. You are beyond naïve if you don't think certain abuses occur on a regular basis.

 

Stuff like that happens all the time. I knew a guy leased to Sammons back in the day and his wife worked in the office. It wasn’t uncommon for him to sit 2 or 3 days and what do you know? This good paying load just popped up.

My ex wife worked at the Komatsu dealer in Missoula. Her coworker in the office was married to an office guy at Whitewood Transport. Who do you think hauled all the good loads for the dealer?

When Watkins-Sheperd was still around one of their guys got caught paying off a traffic guy at the particle board plant in Missoula to funnel loads their way.

 

Sad to hear honestly. I really enjoyed working with the people in that office.

 

I think Bennett lost their ability to haul loads for the DoD due to bridge strikes and accidents etc and had to buy Ace Doran to haul DoD loads using Doran’s name . Least that’s what I heard .