Landstar Questions

Hello I am interested in becoming a Landstar Agent? How do I get started?

 

Go on their website and it'll have the info on becoming a agent for Landstar

 

You only get 65% of the line haul. Understand that first.
Also if you want to use their trailers...they charge you rent. About $150 per week. AKA $600 per month!
Not to mention the other incidentals.

However.......you have to know the lanes, the rates and how the business works. If you go to Landstar and do not understand what I just said.....you are doomed.

 

A bit of a correction, you do not pay trailer rent if you are getting the 65% rate. The difference between 65% and 72% is your trailer rent for van. It will take you a while to figure out how their freight and your operation can fit together. I wouldn't count on a lot of help from Landstar, frankly they don't even know how their own company operates. I was told my settlement cutoff was 2 different times and then the reality was still different. The best way to view them is that you are on your own running under their authority.

 

I don't think you can rent a van for the extra percentage, only platform trailers.......

 

If you want your own van trailer there is an agent that does lease/purchase with Landstar BCO's. He is independent of Landstar. I think I will be going that route now that we have our business niche.

 

good ol' hoagie!!!!

 

If you want to become a Landstar agent you will need to have a book of shippers to bring with you. I don't know their current requirements, but at one time they wanted agents to bring $350,000 of business with them. I would give them a call and find out current requirements. As someone else suggested, they may have the requirements listed on their website.

 

From what I have read in this forum there are drivers that get their own numbers and use the load boards from other carriers. I always understood that you cannot really cant make much money from just getting loads off load boards. Am I wrong on this?

 

Many who run their own authority are earning a good living using loadboards, contrary to what some may believe. Most of the larger brokers have their own loadboards, as well. You don't necessarily need to have your own direct shippers in order to be successful in this business. Your success will depend more on your ability to manage your business, keep costs under control and strong negotiating skills than anything else. There are good paying loads and cheap freight on the loadboards. You will need to decide at what rate you are willing to run, whether you use loadboards or have your own contacts. Some of the best rates will never see a loadboard. Brokers will call those they know and have previously done business first and then post on a loadboard if they cannot cover the load on their own. Some brokers will post everything they get on a loadboard. You have to start somewhere. If you don't have any contacts then you can start with loadboards and as you gain more experience and brokers get to know you, they will begin to call you when they know you have capacity in an area where they have freight.