mercer transportation

i am in my 30's and its likely to make me leave the industry. its something i have been.kicking around a lot here lately anyways. 20 yrs and the last ten have been worse then the one before. just not many options

 

You and me both.

 

Might I suggest looking at this from another angle. For us guys in our 20's, 30's and early 40's this is a HUGE opportunity. I run under my own authority. Recently I updated my truck to a 2012 urea DD15. My primary shipper more then thanked me for doing so. Every other operator she loads simply refuses to update. Yes, I run California. And yes, new equipment is more expensive. However I've made a good living by observing what everyone else cries about and doing the exact opposite. Additionally the customers I serve in California are steady buyers of my shippers product. With most guys in there 50's and above in this business I've found it prudent to look at this from a long term perspective. Personally I'd love to see all these guys threatening to quit and leave the business to simply do so! The way I see it, these ARE the Good Ol Days and I tell that to everyone I meet. It's amazing the reaction I get from people, especially shippers, receivers and most importantly...customers!! I often follow up by giving my competition the credit......I simply do the opposite of what they do. There's a saying......."Attitude, not Aptitude will determine your Altitude". Crazy thing is I can't think of a sour Mercer operator I've run into.

 

That is because they are few and far between

 

i asked this in the other mercer thread at the top but i should have asked it here.

how is mercer's midwest flatbed frieght? we are based out of missouri and would like to run out and back or maybe a triangle to get back by friday. while staying in midwest east to ohio south to al west to colorado north to wi is the primary area we can operate in now

 

BBigcnote
Midwest isn't bad here but I don't think you'll get the loads to get back that often. More like 2-3 weeks out. Not saying it can't be done but think that would be a lot for most companies.

 

I'm glad you brought this up, because this is one of the limitations I've realized here at Mercer. The policy for the new guys is first in, first out, but there are a select few of the really old guys/gals who get dedicated runs, or who get loads held for them. The agents call them direct rather thsn post the load to the Mercer board.

I've been trying to find steady lanes to run, of all sorts, in all areas, and 18 months later I'm still frustrated with Mercer about this. I know it can be worked out easily enough. I run into independents all the time who run tight areas and get home rather than live in a truck. I've even had offers from a few small customers, to haul direct for them.

I'll need to get my own authority and find a customer or two or a broker or two that will work for me. I've got everything paid for, now I'm just saving a few more dollars in the bank, getting ready to make that jump. Sometime between now and March I'll do it. I can still trip lease with Mercer, but I won't be at the mercy or whims of just one carrier's agent/broker.

If there's one thing I've learned in trucking, it's no company will treat you as right as your own company. So keep taking steps in that direction towards total independence.

 

i dont mean to sound rude, but.....i cant help it. at first ia thought you may be joking, but after reading the whole thing twice....ican tell your not.

If you think THESE are the "good days" you wasnt trucking when trucking was good. besides, maybe not everyone wants or even can buy a 2012 plastic truck. As far as california, why should every man in the country buy a new emission truck just because YOU want to run california and AGREE with califironia, which is the state that knows NOTHING or cares about the real world, especially trucking. get real.....

and tell me one more thing, why should a truck pulling containers be a new, expensive emission truck. have you seen what the containers look like and the places they go???????WHY would ANYONE want to buy a new truck to do that..........ONCE AGAIN, THANKS CALIFORNIA AND THE NEW AGE POLITICAL KNOW IT ALLS..........you have ruined yet another good business where men used to make an honest living.

 

mercer definatly isnt an out and back type of company with how their load system works. plan to be out a while. but if your making money who cares. if you want to be home find a regular job or a local job to work you 14hrs a day for $10/hr. i complain about home time but i am the one who.chose to drive truck, doesnt mean i cant caomplain a bit tho. lol.

why is it hard to find a disgruntled mercer driver? because they treat us darn good. its hard to be mad at anyone when you are treated like your an intelegent professional rather then a dirt bag steering wheel holder who drives a truck cause they cant do anything else. thats what most of these companies treat you like.

i made some bad decisions this month, heck i think i made every bad decision. but nobody told me i was a dumb ### even though i was. its my truck, my business and its mine to succede or fail

 

oh and by the way, i was a mercer guy......i know exactly how it works.....and theres quit a few thats not happy. nothing aginst mercer, i think the company it self is awsome. everyone in the office was very very good to me. only ONE complaint i have is the freight. some may argue and say its all good or decent and they can get home every week if they really want to, but once again this is nothing aginst mercer personally, the freight just isnt there. atleast not right now. maybe it will be in a few months.i dont know. theres alot fellas out there that cant and isnt gonna wait 3 or 4 months. theres others that like to get home sooner than 2 or 3 weeks at a time. I live around cincinnati, and that was supposed to be a good spot for mercer. 217flatbedr maybe the guys you talked to just didnt want you to know their business or sound like complainers........