mercer transportation

So what are you trying to say?

 

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There are definitely less drivers working than normal. There are also fewer load offerings. They still somewhat balance each other out right now, but everyone I have talked to is not sitting around waiting for a better load if something decent comes up. Most are booked a couple loads ahead and staying on tip of things.

Looking at my location now the board is pitiful. I had several calls for good loads today, but am not working until Tues because I have things to do as the house gets closer to a closing date. Moving 70 yrs worth of accumlated stuff from parents house sucks.

I was anticipating loads to be scarce, as of now I am not finding that to be the case. I guess as always people will take issue with whatever is said here. Used to be such a helpful group until it became 95% non Mercer drivers.

 

Got that right

 

If no one minds wife and i are looking to drive super solo and slow down. Would be pulling van i know rates down im on percentage here draggin a reefer doin good but little control just tired of reefer after 25 years dont need killer revenue but 15,000 a month would b ok low bills wife works 2 to 3 weeks then goes home for 2 weeks any help would b appreciated

 

I’m not taking issue with “whatever” is said here, I took issue with what you said. There’s a difference.

You have to admit it’s a bit confusing reading this. Is the board pitiful because there’s no freight, or is there plenty of pitiful loads?

 

As a former Mercer contractor if I said I never had issues with agents, always got paid when I should, & I left because of x, isn’t that helpful? This isn’t a Mercer driver thread, it’s a thread about Mercer.

 

I pulled a reefer for 5.5 years and yeah, never again.

I've been a solo van O/O at Mercer for the past four years. Times are definitely slower now but if you can avoid taking mediocre-paying loads to dead zones you should be able to gross 15k without too much issue. The big thing is, you need to lean on your coordinator for the first 3-6 months to learn the lanes and listen to their advice -- they see dozens of trucks on their fleet every day, they know where the mistakes are being made.

Pulling a van means very few lumpers (maybe one or two a year), no washouts, no reefer fuel checks, no temp checks and almost always 8-5 loading and unloading. While there are heavy loads that come up, I mostly haul no more than 25-30k and many are half that.

If you have your own truck and trailer that would be ideal -- I'm not a fan of the rental van program personally. If there were more drop and hook freight it might be more appealing but most of our freight is live on both ends.

Good luck,

Jim

 

Thanx for reply lookin to buy trailer of i decide i like it there did dry box years ago i figure wife can help make up time lost unloading etc and not run to hard super solo were lookin at later in june for orientation got some videos to watch b4 arriving recruiter said for time bein there cutting down time of orientation and soin alot of it on line again thanx for info

 

That is the way I would do it if I were to start over. I was concerned at the start about how bad the live loading / unloading would hurt me but for the most part it isn't a factor. I don't think I've been in a detention scenario more than once or twice per year and some of the loads (Yamaha, John Deere, Hyster/Yale, Kubota spring to mind) have offloads that usually span minutes.

Good luck,

Jim