mercer transportation

Last week I grabbed a load out of houston, supposed to be 20k, going to milwaukee. Got there, it was 1 50' pole, only 2k. Then today picked up in NH, headed back to wisconsin, supposed to be 45k worth of lumber, turns out to be less than 20k worth of insulated panels. I'm loving the last few weeks, seems every load has been less than half the weight I agreed to.

 

Do any of you guys use those plastic v board, if so how long are yours?

 

Since I've been here I get 80% of the loads I commit on. The key to your scenario is once your loaded in Birmingham go ahead and commit to the Nashville load before you leave and within 30 min you'll know if it's yours or not. If it's not call the agent and see what's the hold up. Could be the shipper holding things up. Just to give you an example. I was home all last week. I booked a load out on Thursday picking up Monday from auburndale to greensbororo. Before I left the shipper I jumped on a load from Roanke to shelbyville Indiana. While I was throwing my straps on my load a agent in Indiana called me and offered me a load from Indianapolis back to Florida. So my week was booked all before I even left the shipper in auburndale. Don't hesitate to book yourself all week. Now in orientation they will tell you to let the coordinator look for your loads and help you blah blah blah. But "listen" to me, only use your coordinator as a tool. Tell him/her what to look out for as far as freight and etc

 

@CJndaTruck brought up a good point in one of his post. Before you commit to a load always see what's coming out of where it's going. Only time you could or should gamble and wait is if it's going to a good market. But even then I'm on the load board constantly all day everytime I stop to check the load or grab some lunch and definitely on my 30 min break. Only time I've ever sat here was going to the NE. Don't get me wrong it pays good going in but I've never got lucky enough to reload outta there coming west or south.

 

There is a system in place, however if you call an agent on a load especially with lead time on it just ask them if it's still available, if it is they generally say they can dispatch you on it. I've not yet had one say I can't because it's got to run the board. I know that is the so called rule and system but in my experience I ask if the load is available, then I say I would take it and see what happens.

 

Had that happen numerous of times.

 

Absolutely. Go straight to the agent, cut out wait time from mercer. Just my experience.

 

I just want to say thank all of you with the input here. I'm scheduled for orientation next wednesday, and y'all are making me feel better about my decision to come over.

Thanks

 

Is 65 south good to go? Indianapolis thru Louisville??

 

I'm sitting in indy now about to head that way. There is a bunch of construction at the 90. They had a lane shut down going over the bridge into Louisville last night on the southbound side