Landstar Questions

Preacher Man the difficulty you are going to have at Landstar is getting them to approve drivers for your trucks. Some time ago I remember a guy here went out and bought three more trucks and soon discovered that every driver he sent to get approved was turned down by Landstar. I believe he ended up losing the 3 trucks. Landstar is very picky about who they lease on or allow you to hire on for your truck. You can ask them about it and maybe they are a little more lenient but I doubt it. Landstar is completely anal about all truck and driver compliance issues.

 

Thanks for bringing that up. Yes, preacher man, your drivers will need to be just as qualified as you to get on here. To get those types of drivers, you'll need to pay, which means your break even point will be higher, but your truck repairs will be less!

 

I have no problem with them being picky about who I hire, frankly I like have the resources that can verify what a driver tells me. The plan is to add one truck at a time and not put myself in a position that I will lose it if it sits for awhile. I am also not mesmerized by shiny new trucks, the last thing I want is to go into all sorts of debt. One of mine and my wife's concerns was getting a driver that would abuse equipment, treat her like garbage (she's going to do the dispatching) be unsafe and run illegal.

The pay issue is behind my questions on what to expect on rates. I will probably pay by percentage, but a quick look at the numbers told me that I can't pay what I want to if the truck is only getting $1.34 a mile for all miles. I need to be closer to $1.50 average loaded and empty.

The past four years have taught me to think long term and be patient. Almost 4 years ago I did a lease/purchase on my truck and have weathered many storms. I am now paying off the balloon and the final payment is scheduled for August 20th. At that time the process will begin of transferring the title to my name. I still have a year to go on my original plan and the final phase was to move to a place where I was on percentage and could choose my own loads. That means I am about a year and a half away from phase 2, expansion. Still just as a farmer needs good ground to plant in, I need a good place to expand my business. What I am seeing so far tells me Landstar may be a better home for what I want to do than Schneider, or staying at my present carrier.

 

Preacher man, I just added a second truck and hired a driver who was already on with Inway, it took 2 weeks to get him moved over to Ranger who the truck is leased with! These people at corporate are anal when it comes to hiring practices! It is my goal to eventually have 5 trucks on with Landstar but I will not add another till the second truck is paid off. My driver is averaging around $2.50 per mile pulling a van! My wife and I run the new truck but we are specialized in what we haul.

 

What it sounds like is that what I want to do will work, but I will need to be real picky and pay the highest pay I can to get and keep good drivers. I haven't heard anything to tell me I shouldn't go down this road, just that I need to watch out for the potholes. If I could use and Ice Road analogy, I don't want Rick, or Hugh, but I do want Daryl and a couple of the trainers they showed 2 years ago. I was looking at a couple years down the road for expansion. I would like to move myself and my truck just after I get the title. I have no tickets, a clean CSA (knock on wood), and no at fault accidents in almost 7 years. In short I have no idea why I wouldn't be able to get on at Landstar when I'm ready to start the process.

 

Quick question for one of you on with Landstar, once an application is approved how long do I have to decide if I am going to lease on before the acceptance is terminated and I have to re-apply?

 

Does load board include fsc?

 

Most dont, you call and ask if they didnt post it.

 

If I am not mistaken....I believe you have 30 days to come on board, but I would ask a recruiter!

 

Some do, some don't! If the fuel surcharge is not showing you ask the agent what it is and they will break it out! Always a good idea to have the agent break out everything you can get them to as they pay a higher pct. If it is a flatbed load and there isn't a tarp charge, ask for one to be broke out of the linehaul. Same with tolls and unloading charges, ect. ect.