Landstar--the good, the bad, the ugly

Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by hairball, Apr 1, 2009.

  1. hairball

    hairball Bobtail Member

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    Apr 1, 2009
    st louis, mo
    0
    Hi everyone,

    My wife and I are getting ready to join Landstar----can anyone tell me anything they know. Anything would be helpful including

    the good
    the bad
    the ugly

    thanks for taking the time to respond!
     
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  3. spankie

    spankie Light Load Member

    74
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    Dec 9, 2007
    Ohio
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    I have a friend that is on with them and likes it very well. Although, he did say that in order to make money you have to know what you are doing. You are all on your own on picking a load and running where you want. It is a 100% independent all up to you company. He says if you aren't making any money you have no one to blame but yourself cause you pick and choose on what you want to do.

    He says if you don't know how to pick the good from the bad and work smart and not hard then it can seem hard and not profitable. But if you know what your doing then it will seem like the best company to work for. He is a flatbedder and owns his Tractor and Trailer and makes 72% of the Line Haul plus 100% fuel surcharge. (I think?)

    Well I hope that this helped you and I wish you the best in your new journey with Landstar.
     
    Baack Thanks this.
  4. sandman1976

    sandman1976 Medium Load Member

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    Mar 5, 2009
    burgaw,nc
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    it's a good situation if you determined to learn the business. u just have to learn to crunch #s an plan ur trip ahead of time.
     
  5. pullingtrucker

    pullingtrucker Road Train Member

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    Dec 21, 2008
    Fostoria, Ohio
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    A big problem over at Landstar is the agent system. Well let me rephrase that...the buddy system. Many of the agents have their own trucks, so guess what...they hold the best freight for their own trucks usually. They will also team up with other agents/fleet owners and work out deals to keep each others trucks running. My best advise is to find a great agent and run your butt off for them to prove yourself. This way you can slowly work in to getting the better freight. Don't be surprised when you call in about a load you spotted on the load board and told that its already gone. Last I knew the load pay wasn't listed on the load boards. It may have changed since I haven't dealt with Landstar in about a year.

    They did have good rates and many loads. But, from what I hear the rates have slipped and they are brokering more loads out now.
     
  6. gitrdone5782

    gitrdone5782 Light Load Member

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    Dec 22, 2007
    Lima Ohio
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    Prices are posted on the board unless u are a outside carries looking at the landstar broker board but if u are a landstar bco u will see what the load pays on the board..
    Spankie was a exactly right with what he said but the PAY is 73%
     
  7. pullingtrucker

    pullingtrucker Road Train Member

    1,185
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    Dec 21, 2008
    Fostoria, Ohio
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    If I remember right the 73% isn't of 100% is it? When I looked into them a couple years ago they were taking 1-2% right off the top then figuring your percentage.
     
  8. bamanation

    bamanation Heavy Load Member

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    Jan 22, 2009
    Muscle Shoals ,AL
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    its 73% of 100 now.
     
  9. Billygoat

    Billygoat Bobtail Member

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    Dec 21, 2016
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    What kind of drug test does landstar use?
     
  10. Pete jockey

    Pete jockey Medium Load Member

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    Feb 28, 2015
    North of Pittsburgh Pa
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    Why pray tell do you need to know what drug testing they do?
     
    QuietStorm Thanks this.
  11. QuietStorm

    QuietStorm Heavy Load Member

    899
    1,416
    Dec 11, 2016
    0
    That would be obvious, like the fact you already know why.
     
    Pete jockey Thanks this.
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