mercer transportation

Called Mercer recruiter today. Going to start the process. I'm optimistic about everything I've read on this thread, been following it a while now. Elizabeth at recruiting says fleet average is $2.19 per mile and getting home to nebraska roughly every 15 days is doable.

 

I have to agree with being shocked to hear this I can't see starting a business/investing lots of money
And then giving control to a person who has no personal stake in my business other than keeping their job with Mercer if that was the case I would just buy a truck and lease on the Melton trucklines

with that being said Mercer load coordinators Are one of the biggest reasons I would choose Mercer over Lanstar from the way the people talk here on this thread load coordinators are very useful tool/asset to the owner operators at Mercer as someone who is coming from a career that had nothing to do with freight lanes or good and bad areas of freight I would lean heavily on a load coordinator at first but as a businessman/investor I would check their advice/load plan against the load board and any other data I can fine till I trust them then like any good tool I would check to make sure it's still working properly from time to time

I appreciate the information on this topic I was planning to contact a recruiter tomorrow since I'm stuck in Nashville Tennessee with a down DEP filter I will see if I get any new information on the this and pass on any news

 

I believe if a new guy made it clear he wants to choose loads, the coordinator has to let him.
And I've yet to hear any new drivers unhappy with their coordinators
Also I believe the coordinators know the freight lanes very well
But I prefer my choices

 

Can u change coordinators if the one u get is not keeping u satisfied?? Do they give u a chance to learn the system?? I have had some freedom of picking loads, but not THIS much, so it will take a short learning period for me, but I DO catch on pretty quick, & I like to have a choice or some kind of say-so in running MY truck. I don't mind if a coordinator HELPS sometimes, but not all the time. So I'm feeling quite optimistic about it.

 

Yes they will change coodinators but only after giving plenty of time to adjust to each other.
Once you tell your coodinator, you want to approve all loads, he will only dispatch by your approval. So all loads are still by your approval.
I started out this way, was happy with my coodinator for about a year, then changed by his choice because I wouldn't ever give him choice without my approval. But he did know his job and did find loads before they hit the board.

 

Thanks Flightline. That's good to hear. I'm sick of ####### "di#kscratchers" that think I HAVE to do "what they want to give me" & if I refuse, I get "punished". Last I recalled, I am an OWNER-OPERATOR, which means I have a CHOICE!!!....which is why I like to exercise that option of CHOICE, either I do or don't!!!

 

They were discouraging using the board "like Landstar's" when I did orientation 1.5 years ago. I went ahead and did it anyways. My coordinator drove for JB Hunt for two years before he came to Mercer and is a decent guy but not willing to put my future in his hands. I book all of my own loads and just use him to load money on my card. They will fight you on this a little at first but if you stand your ground and show that you can handle it they will leave you alone. I think that some may be worried about job security though as mine has many guys like me that don't need his help.

 

They talk to you at orientation before they assign a coordinator. If you intend to do your own thing, be sure to tell them so they can pair you with the right coordinator.

 

Ok, thanks for the info. Just have to wait to get the OK & get scheduled for orientation now. Sitting on pins & needles!!!!

 

I've got along with my coordinator since day one. I told him where I lived and what I was going to haul when I was home. When I'm under a load I'll give him a chance to find me something until I unload, then it's use the load board or deal with agents directly.