mercer transportation

I don't think selling trailers is a problem. mabey making them too easy to get with no consequences for giving it up doesn't help since they have no investment in it.

simple matter of it all is that everyone seems to be sitting more and more while they are pumping in a whole bunch of new guys and the freight doesn't pay enough to cover all the maintenance and trk/trl payments unless you just live in your truck and don't need to ever go home. Yes I know I am one of those new guys but to be honest when I went to orientation all the classes had been small and it was hard to get hired. I waited a month to get a step deck and by the time I went to orientation my class was the first huge one. If I had known when I accepted the offer to lease on that a company of about 1700 trucks was suddenly going to start adding 40- 100 trks a week (depending on who you listen to) it would have definately raised some suspicion

 

If I were an independent, I think I would prefer the Landstar system. I would prefer the ability to differentiate myself from other contractors and to develop my own system for running. The whole take a number thing you all describe at Mercer seems strange to me. Maybe they have to do so because they have a lot of Mercer "company" freight where Landstar is all agents.

 

rocky i think its far from an oversimplification, it hits the nail on the head. i think mentioned you have a college degree. it seems as if you feel trucking is beneath you. your remark about immigrants kind of shows your true feelings. kind of like taxi driving and fruit picking is for inferior beings.

lol, youre basically mad at yourself for ending up where you are at.

 

landstars system was like the wild west and full of corruption IMO. I think it COULD be a very very good system as it used to be but they need to rein in some of their agents and get the freight to LS trucks.

 

cpape, how do you assign your drivers loads?? say you have 5 trucks delivering in atlanta in the morning, and you have 3loads out, how would you assign them the loads? perhaps first one unloaded, has first choice? second unloaded second choice, etc. or would the first guy saw the load on the loadboard get it , even if last one unloaded.

heres a scenario that sometimes plays out when loads can be booked ahead, quite often loads will be booked where its impossible to make del and pickup times.

the mercer system is basically a sort of first in , first out system. you are matched to loads depending on a set of parameters such as what loads pays, areas you will run, length of haul etc etc. . when matched to a load a number show ups, which is a number at that point roughly based on trucks in that area, expected unload time and day, and number of trucks already there and unloaded, if you see a load you definitely want , you "commit to it" and the other drivers ahead of you have a chance to either accept or decline the load( 8 min time limit miss the call its tough luck), as drivers take loads you move up the list.

you have to make sure you have the equipment , time, etc to accept the load. if you reach number 1, you can turn down loads and stay number 1 til you accept one.

one thing that will happen at mercer, if you call in empty before you are empty, to gain positions and are caught, you will be terminated, no questions asked.

its first in, first out and i do wish they would explain it further at orientation. once you take time to understand the systemm it actually works pretty well.

 

Though it is slightly different if in Texas and if west of Texas. You supposedly do not lose your place in line if you take a load staying west.

The problem isn't so much the system but the lack of freight for so many drivers.
During the summer, Mercer does give away a lot of freight because of lack of drivers. But not this time of the year, especially with so many new drivers hired in the last couple of months.
I'm sure it'll level out around august but until then, it could be hard for some.

 

Lets not forget some of the good things Mercer does.
Like permits taken care of. Escorts taken care of.
No EOBR as of yet.
big discount on fuel
fuel taxes paid

 

hell i wont have a truck by august. i may not have one by may

 

I've only been with Mercer for two weeks, but I agree. They make it very easy to get on your own.

Fuel money to get the load.
Fuel money to deliver the load.
Easy computer logging.
Fast pay.
Friendly people all over Mercertown.


The only thing you need to bring is your tractor. They will supply the rest except for breakdown money for a new contractor.

If I have a good 6 months working for my contractor, I'll buy my own tractor and get to work.

 

Sent me a pm about this truck Wideload.