My Mercer Experience 8-31-15

Been really busy. Went to northern Michigan with a load of insulation out of chicago. I got a lot faster at strapping. Killed a 2 inch strap that I used as an "X" strap of the front. I guess it got loose and fell on the driveshaft. Unloaded in northern Michigan and the guys up there were exceedingly nice. He even helped me roll my straps up. I think he really just wanted to play with the strap winder. Probably not to anyone's surprise, there were no loads coming out of there. Lesson learned. I deadheaded back to Gary Indiana for the night.

This morning I got a load going from Marseilles Illinois to sheffield Iowa. 31,000 pounds of angle iron no tarp. I get to the shipper. Now it's 35,000 pounds and tarp. I called the agent and told him I don't mind taring but I want to be paid for it. He said he would get me more money but I never heard back. Took 15 minutes to load and 15 to chain. Took 2.5 hours to tarp. It's the first time I've ever tarped and all I have is 3 8ft drop tarps. Tarping something 6 inches tall with an 8ft drop was less than fun. Not to mention the iron was 40ft long so I had to use 2 tarps. If you've never seen a monkey hump a football, just show up the next time I have a load like this. I couldn't keep the tarp folded under and where the mercer logo is there are no D rings. I eventually gave up and bungied what I could and threw my 4 inch straps over it just to be sure. It looks horrible and I strive for perfection.

Now, I'm sitting at the Iowa 80 truck stop for my 34. It's a bucket list item and I was like a kid in a candy store. Still enjoying flat bed and the new places I'm getting to see. It's a great feeling showing up to a place and seeing them take your product off the trailer and immediately put it to use. It makes you feel needed in a world where truck drivers are generally over looked or looked down upon. Make no mistake, I'm in it for the money, not the glory. However, you can't ignore that feeling.

My coordinator has been on vacation. He helped me book Monday through Wednesday of this past week. The "fill in" did Thursday and Friday. Mine likes to help me book a week out. The fill in likes to do the day before. I'm ready to have mine back.

 

I tried rolling and folding. Neither wanted to work. Might be because they're new and just really stiff.

I almost didn't take this load until I heard something back about the new rate. The agent said "well 4ft tarp is included in the rate but I'll try to get you something". I almost told them I was leaving but I had already deadheaded 80 miles and I was behind the ball.

I booked this one myself through the agent. 30 seconds after I committed, the fill in called me. She said "I see you booked a load. Did you mean to do that"? I said yes. I need a load and it pays well and it's not the 48,000 pound loads you keep finding. She said "well OK then". Seemed like it made her mad that I booked it myself. I only use them to help me. I'll look online and find one I lik . I'll call them and see ask them what it looks like coming out of that area. If they find one right then coming out then I tell them to book both. I definitely don't let them just dispatch me. But this is only my first full week. I'm still learning the process and how long it takes to load/unload. I don't want to book things too close and get held up at a shipper and it kill my whole week. After a few weeks I'm sure I'll have the hang of it and use my coordinator less and less. I do like how mine is straight business. He knows what I want and he doesn't call me with bs 48k pound loads that go 300 miles and pay $1.20 a mile like the fill in girl. This is my 4th load. Haven't pulled one under $2.14 a mile yet.

 

Thanks everyone. I fought it for as long as I coul . Sat here at the Iowa 80 for almost 24 hours before I had to go inside and spend some money. Sporting a new set of train horns. I put them on myself in the lot. I don't think the guy next to me appreciated when I tested them ou . I didn't realize they would be THAT loud. He came over and talked to me. He was a former mercer driver. Very nice guy. Ran vans and wasn't making much money 2 years ago. Said he loved the company though and wish he could come back since the van division has grown.

It blows my mind that I've had at least 10 mercer drivers just come over and talk to me like they've known me all my life. Very friendly people. One even came over to tell me that he really liked how I was strapping my load down. He was an old timer with a 4 digit number so he's been around a while. Everyone is just so friendly and polite.