Mercer

OK I forgot about MLK Jr. day. I've been on vacation for too long.

I'll need coil racks, rubber pads, dunnage, 5 more chains and binders, steel corner protectors, some bungees, and a couple more straps. I think I got everything else on the list. My friend got chains and binders that I can have for cheap. I'll try to get everything before I head out, but other than rubber pads and dunnage, nothing that I haven't see at the truck stops. Petro in Joplin, MO seems to have good selection, and it's on the way.

Didn't know they'll prorate 2290. I didn't think IRS was that nice Good to know. Thanks for the info!

Will do!

 

Where do you live?

You can buy what ever equipment you may need from Mercer. They require 50% up front & then take the rest out of your settlements.

 

California, a little hillbilly town called Porterville 50 miles North of Bakersfield.

 

headed over to tri-city right now will see if I can get a price list for us......heck we all come by here more often than most of the other places.....

 

Thanks for the links, Ms. Pony. Looks like the place is on my way to Louisville.

 

I was going to PM you... But decided not too. I will just post here as things aren't a secret. With the economy we are in, don't expect constant running. There are times that I run my butt off just trying to catch a break.... Then there are time like this week. The old mule is running hard, and I just spent 3 days sitting waiting for freight. That was my issue though since I put myself into a no freight zone & got stubborn.

Don't get picky with your running area. Be prepared to run every where. If you can run Canada, then that is a plus on your part. I'm researching the Canada thing myself just so I can be available for more freight. You have driver's that say they don't go here, they don't go there.... Where is NYC? Don't be one of those drivers... If you are, then your chances of failure increase.

We DO NOT have dispatchers. We have load coordinators & a online load board. They don't just say this is your next load. They call you up & say we are offering you this load... This is where it loads... this is where it is delivering... This is what it pays... This is the mileage... This is the weight... Then you say yes or no. You must be prepared to do some quick math in your head & capable of making decisions on the spur of the moment.

Don't be scared to deadhead.... I'm not scared, I just got stubborn. I just sat 3 days because I refused to deadhead to Houston. Houston is a good market for us, but I was closer to Dallas & did I say I got stubborn? I came off my high horse today & deadhead 250 miles to Tulsa to pick up a load to Johnstown, PA. What I was told was going to be a full trailer at 48 thousand pounds. Picked it up, it took up 15 feet of my trailer & weighs 1800 pounds. $1.79 per mile to PA.... I would & could add another load & double my revenue to PA... But this is a new customer (I got the 1st. load) & Mercer doesn't want to rock the boat until the ink dries on the contract.

Am I missing anything? Oh yeah, you live in California. I really hope you plan on licensing for 48 states & Canada. Nothing bad about just running the Western 11, and you can lisence & do that. But you are also cutting your own throat if you do.

I just looked at the CA section of our load board. Dispatch is done for the day, trucks are rolling. And they still have 41 loads looking for trucks. One right there in Bakersfield.

How often do you want to be home? I seem to find California freight fairly easy. But lil blue pony has been looking & can't find a CA load to save her life.... Notarps was one of those drivers that would look at you confused & ask you where California was? I just counted 13 inbound loads into the state. Of course this is after hours, so they could of possibly have 50 or more earlier today.

In Bakersfield.... We do a lot of Ft. Irwin. Otherwise you may find yourself going to LA to get outbound freight. You picked a 2006 truck which will be fine right now at the port. In 2012 your truck will not be able to enter the LB or LA port... But we have a outside carrier now going in and getting the containers for the non-compliant trucks (ME). But that charge is $100.00 for them to do that. Some think it is a great deal. I'm going to look at it on a case by case situation.


What did I miss?

 

Did you see where we had 2008 more loads this year so far. And the new accounts since others are closing shop. The Canada thing paid well for me last year but the speed limiter and passport thing has knock me out for now.

 

Oh and can't stress enough on padding your loads under tarps . I just ripped another last month.

 

I saw that! But I haven't seen any of those loads. Actually I have been running hard up until a few days ago & I really needed a break anyhow. I also saw the new contract out of Chicago going to Texas... I just wish Bill in Dallas would find some freight.

This Metals whare house I was at today told me some hopeful good news. They have seen recent orders picking up... All employees were cut back to 32 hours a week & have been for a year. Today they started working 40 hours with possible Saturday overtime.

I really hope it becomes a trend nationwide.

 

You forgot to tell him to just run local in SoCal! Just go down there and pull out 8 containers a day # $100 each. Easy money.

I just realized that until my tag expires and Mercer puts theirs on my truck I'm not going to Canada as I'd expected. Only have states south of the border on my cab card, plus those communist countries east and north of the Delaware River. That makes 48, right? Notice nobody ever adds in DC to that count?