MY EXPERIENCE AS A Mercer FLATBED DRIVER

Hello Steve...

 

What's going on Jason? Y'all doing ok?

 

I'm not so sure you would do much better in Texas and Kansas here. Plenty of freight going there, just very little getting out. Those are bad areas for a lot of companies including Mercer.
East of Mo. is always better. I can't imagine getting close to $2mile in those areas.
I think alot of Mercer, but they have their slow areas including Fl.

 

Yes sir, we are doing as good as we deserve..lol Glad to hear the flatbed is working out for you, pray it stays that way brother.. We still haven't gone back to work yet,,,whether has been too nice..lol

 

I appreciate the candid answers. I may have to change my methods just a bit. I usually try to go 800 to 1000 miles on each trip but it seems like shorter may be better so long as you can get a reload within a reasonable distance. Yeah, I know, that's what we're all trying to do. Just saying' my "Trued and True" is not getting the job done as well as in the past.

Also I have heard that steps are hard to get thru the lease program at Mercer but that depends on who you talk too. Any thoughts on this?

Thx again!

 

I don't think it's HARD. You just need to wait on the list. They are in demand by drivers. If you are already leasing a flat from them then, yeah it's hard to switch. lol

I still love it here I haven't said it lately. lol

Was home for a week vacay then first load out I broke down while getting loaded. lol. Home for 2 weeks lmao. Just finished my 2nd load since back on the road again. My other truck is doing well. Looking to drop my 3rd at swift.

Blue Koolaid!

 

I have really enjoyed his thread and hope it hasn't come to an abrupt end. I will be signing on with Mercer within the next couple of weeks (getting a few bugs worked out of my tractor, and getting the rear license plate light installed). Question: It seems more advantageous to have a step deck vs. a skateboard with regards to the ability to haul a more varied type of freight, Containers,oversized, etc... Is there a reason to prefer a Flatbed to the Step?

 

True you can get more varied freight with a step, but you will have more load offers with a flat.

 

Twice as many flatbed loads vs. stepdeck loads. Also Flatbeds are generally 1000 lb lighter than a step which increases your payload which increases your available freight.
Unless you have a really light tractor, you will do better with a flat here. Mercer has been pushing steps only because they are sitting on more steps than flats that came in from Great Dane.
Flatbedders keep busier here than step. Especially guys that can scale over 45K. Most guys here can not scale a payload of 45K+.
Also most container loads can go on a flat.
3 years ago, steps did so much better but not in the last year.

 

Stepdeck freight at Mercer has gotten to be a joke, that is why I sold mine in February and bought a flat. It has opened up alot more freight for me, and I can scale 48,000 full of fuel. Don't typically want to haul anything that heavy but it has gotten me going with solid rates on loads into good areas that no one else could handle.