Landstar Questions

I will call around later today and see what's up with that 2290. Hopefully I will not get the run around with the CRE permit department.

 

Since England probably already paid my 2290 for me can I request a copy from the IRS? Is there a specific department of the IRS I can call?

 

Is your truck in your name? If so, you should know this stuff already. You really need to realize that nobody holds your hand over here. You are expected to run your business and make difficult decisions daily. It doesn't work for some folks, and is fantastic for others.

 

The truck is in my name but England always took care of this stuff for me, they keep you in the dark about a lot of things.

 

Okay, talked with permit department at CRE and they are mailing me my 2290 for 2012-2013.

 

I would love to run dry box for Landstar but, I can never get a good answer as to the avaibility of freight and what rates to expect. So lets try this. if you are a LS O/O running a dry box what was the rate to the truck inclucing fuel surcharge on your last 3 loads.

 

Landstar owner operators (BCO's) are paid a percentage of the load. It won't help you much to get the rate for the last three runs from a single operator. It would probably help you more to contact their recruiting department and ask them to print off a page of runs for lanes that you plan on running. Rates can vary widely from region to region and the type of freight hauled as well as the time of year. I am sure you would like to have a concrete answer, but much of the rates have to do with the owner operator. If you only run where you want then you may not do well. If you follow the freight, you can do well. Freight availability depends on where you run and who has the freight. Some agents have good paying loads and others have cheap freight. In truth, some owners do well with Landstar and others go broke. Running for a carrier, like Landstar, is different than running for a carrier that pays mileage. You will need to be very proactive to do well with Landstar. Landstar will give you the tools that you need to be successful. It will be up to you to pick up those tools and learn how to use them.

 

There isn't a set rate for anything, it's up to you to choose what rate you'll run for, and where you'll run to for that rate. Some guys may average 1.25 while others may average 2.50. If you've never run percentage and have always had your loads selected for you, there will be a dramatic learning curve. Plan on at least 6 months to get the hang of it, and another 6 months to get good at it. If you're all about business, your rate per mile will increase with your experience level. It's very similar to having your own authority, with the major difference being you can only haul Landstar loads.

 

If $1.25 is the floor and $2.50 is the ceiling I could live with those rates. For years I was leased to Roadrunner Freight Systems and dealt direct with brokers on most loads. What I am concerned about is finding that too many loads offer $1 and not enough $2.
I have been a company driver for the last 7 years or so and hate it. I am not looking to get rich by any means. At 10,000 miles a month I only need to clear 40 cents per mile profit. To do that I would need to make around $1.40 an hour on the hub including fuel surcharge. 60 cents fuel, 40 cents overhead 40 cents profit.
To make that at $4 a gallon for fuel and a surcharge of 45 cents the freight rate average would have to be about $1.50 per mile before Landstar took their cut. $1.59 times 65% plus 45 cents.
Do those numbers sound realistic?

 

Sure does.