mercer transportation

I do know about Mercer as a whole but my life sure does.

 

Thanks for everyone's advice and input on this. Quality or similar are our only options at this time, unfortunately. And Quality now has $1 buyout on all their trucks after 5 years, or 7 years for new trucks, payments from $395 to $665 a week, depending on year.

He is currently working up in North Dakota (we live in TX) for 5-7 weeks straight, hauling crude oil. He likes the job, but hates being away from home so long and work has slowed down to the point that it isn't worth it for him to be up there anymore. When he started, he was making great money, bringing home $2500+ a week after taxes. But now he is lucky to bring home $1500, and after airfare to fly home and the cost of living up there for him (groceries), it's just not working anymore and our savings are depleted, so we need to make a switch. He's done with being away from home and lining someone else's pockets just for us to barely make ends meet!

He's been driving for 10 1/2 years, accident/violation free. He's been a driver instructor and also been a supervisor where he managed and dispatched a fleet of 40 trucks while still driving a truck himself. He's had to deal with brokers and isn't afraid of working hard and getting dirty. He's not one of those guys that sits on his ### and is happy with just making enough. He wants to work hard and give his family a better life!

I will say this, he would need to bring home around $1700 a week average after expenses but before taxes in order to fully meet our budget, including bills, groceries, gas, extra spending, health insurance, etc. That covers everything for our household and to live comfortably. I work from home about 10-15 hours a week and average about $200, so that would drop what he needs to $1500. Is that doable, even after the truck and trailer payments (say $750-800) and all other fixed costs and average for fuel? I can work more if I need to when things get tight and to help take the strain off of him a little bit, as I am an independent contractor and can work as little or as much as I want, plenty of work for me.

He's got Dart (van) and Celadon (FB) calling him, asking when he can start, but nothing from Mercer yet, lol. Thanks!

 

@gjcarr03 i would say that is very doable. But remember that for most there is a very step learning curve here. Not a lot of hand holding while one learns the ropes. Don't get me wrong, everyone here is willing to help and offer advice. The problem with advise is most people don't really want to listen to what is offered.

It seems that times are a bit lean for many drivers. Rates are lower, nobody can argue that. But I know for me my profits are actually rising. So the only thing I'll say is make sure he has money set aside for the lean times, during the learning process. And if the truck isn't brand new with a warranty then he would have 10k+ set aside for breakdowns to start. Many have made it with less but many have failed with more.

I wish you both all the luck and success that many of us have experienced here.

 

So uh i got no load sucks one was going to N little rock and i was 4 in line and someone took it xD only 850LBS paying VERY good for that weight lol

 

Sorry to thread jack, but if your at-home nut is $1,500 a week there is no way in heck I would be looking into any lease-purchase deal. I would very much advise getting a big dose of Dave Ramsey and taking an axe to your living expenses if you want to go that route.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming...

 

I think much of that is to maintain their quality of life. But you are right. That's high to be looking at a LP deal if their living expenses are truly that high.

 

Getting loads at the last minute can be frustrating.

 

My thoughts exactly. Some serious belt tightening is gonna be needed to have any hope of making that lease purchase work

 

Cpenn, was that you that I was talking to last night about the D13 compressors on the drivers lounge lot?