Load Boards

Gisquid--I think the question you should be asking is who is the best starter company? Maybe the question is where should I go once I have my year in. Wondering about good companies for an o/op is really putting the cart before the horse for a student.

 

Landstar has been the one that has set the standard for other carriers who want to only have owner operators and no dispatchers. There are others who have similar types of operations, depending on the type of freight you want to haul. Most carriers have dispatchers. Universal Am Can and their sister companies don't have dispatchers and are agent based, similar to Landstar. CRST Malone has dispatchers but also agents where the owner operator can find their own loads. CRST Malone is a flatbed carrier. Universal Am Can has vans, flats and specialized freight. Most carriers have dispatchers to help owner operators find loads and to keep them running. There is no one size fits all in this business. Take your time and learn all you can about the business. There are some good carriers, other than Landstar.

When you are a company driver you usually have a driver manager or dispatcher with whom you will work and who will help keep you moving. When you are an owner operator and leased to a carrier such as Landstar, you will wear many hats. Not only will you drive the truck, but you will also need to look for loads, book them and then make sure that you get the load picked up and delivered as agreed. When something breaks or you blow a tire, it will be up to you to find the money to pay for it. It will also be your responsibility to find someone who can do the work. Those who are most successful with Landstar seem to have a spouse at home who can look for loads while they drive. If not, then you are the one who must learn how to maximize your time so that you can keep the wheels turning. It will be up to you to find agents and freight lanes with the most profitable loads. Leasing to Landstar is similar to running your own authority. Landstar does like to exercise a lot of control over some aspects of their owner operator's business. But, for the most part, you are treated as a business partner, not an employee. Not everyone does well in an uncontrolled environment. Some prefer a more structured way of doing business.

 

Thank you all for educating me!! I am determined to learn everything I can about this profession!! I really appreciate it!!

 

What do you suggest in CA?

 

What is it with this week out of Atlanta with a dry van? Or is it National "Try and pay the carrier less than we already do Week"?

 

Anyone know of where I can find LTL loads out of Odessa TX?

 

Now how likely do you think it is that someone will cut their own throat by telling you? I mean, really?

 

Just curious if you're leased to Landstar and what aspect do they like to control? Again, just curious. I'm at a cross road here, thinking of getting my own numbers or doing something like Landstar. The place I'm leased to now has completely lost their minds trying to control everything we do. I doubt I last 'till April. I'm getting to where I think I'd rather drive a dump truck for the county than continue dealing with these idiots.

 

The people that are leased to LS say they can do what they want, when they want. I have talked with drivers that will take weeks off and never get a call.

My opinion from talking to a lot of LS drivers that pull vans is that they rates are as bad with them as just about any other place. Lots of reasons. But flats still seem to be strong.

 

Thanks, Bill. Not too sure what I want to do just yet. I wanted to hold out until next year and get my own authority. I've got a line on some stuff I could do. It's just been getting so hard to deal with these morons over the stupidest little minutia. They have taken so much control with no reward that it's not anything at all like it was when I leased on there. I might as well be driving somebody else's truck.