mercer transportation

I appreciate the response. You bring up a good point about the oil field bubble. I just need to get over the fact that those high dollar oil field loads just aren't there anymore. I need to change my mindset to working a little harder and spend some more time in the truck. Reading this thread has helped me get there

 

@cgsnipe It's great here, I don't know how long you have been trucking. But there is no comparison of OTR money and oil patch money. You will not make the money your used to. As far as OTR flatbed you can be as successful here as anywhere.

OTR rates are in a narrow spectrum, a lot of companies chasing a lot of the same freight. If you can be successful in OTR flatbed then this is what sets Mercer apart.

They don't force you, They don't punish you, They don't babysit you, They don't steel YOUR money and they don't lie to you. It doesn't get any better than that in OTR flatbed.

 

Thanks for the reply, I've heard nothing but good things about Mercer and the people who lease on there. I just need to get into the otr mimdset

 

I would DH to GA thinking I wouldn't get anything out of Florida....I booked a load out of Florida! Go figure. At least my plan for the winter is falling into place just like last year. No complaints here.

 

Where do you live? You may get away with running regionally from time to time and make out good. Folks like me if I'm money hungry then I'm out two weeks maybe 3 and if I'm home sick or just going through a lazy spell the I leave on Monday home by Friday. Or run some local stuff like I'm doing now holding my board position until I get lucky and catch a money load. I like it here. A couple pages back I explained one encounter I had here which was positive. Another minor was yesterday I headed to Jacksonville to grab a load and the agent gave me the wrong address which was 15 miles out the way. Now 30 miles extra won't kill my pockets but the agent asked me how much I would like for her mistake and I told her "it was no biggie we're all human" and she said "no I have to give you something" so I'm like "$25 will be fine I guess" and she ended up doing $50. Now with this same load the shipper wanted to add a stop so the agent ask me how much and I told her $75 because it was on the way and right off the interstate 2 miles. Next thing you know she calls back and says she got $150 extra for me. I'm starting to think I'm quoting to low but lol but all in all good folks over here.

 

@TaylorMade407 that is the difference in a Quality agent and a Low Life broker. Broker would have kept 100 and gave you 50 maybe

 

I live right outside of Houston, tx. I've looked at the public load board on occasion and I really don't see much freight out of Texas. I'm hoping that once I'm on the real deal I'll see more. My plan is to come in and take my time and get feel for things. I guess my biggest concern is learning the freight lanes. I figure if I'm gonna be in the truck, I need to be working. I don't want to get into those bad areas and sit in the truck stop for days trying to get out. Also, I'm not sure if I'm better off with the 37 state plate or go with all 48. I know I can't run California and really don't know what the other western state have to offer.

 

Then run the 37 state tag. Lots of these guys are doing just fine without running out west, isn't that right @skateboardman ?!?! Texas isn't the best, but as long as you are realistic with what the state has to offer and are willing to make ur money running outside the state, you can usually get a good rate coming home!

 

I'll be honest. Houston will be tough. I was gonna take a load down there and looked to see what was coming out within 500 miles and it was 4 loads. I'm not sure how it gets when things pick up but that's scary.

 

Houston is no worse than what we deal with in Florida. Will just take him time to learn the system, and learn how to use it to his advantage.