OK...questions specific to my needs....

I don't know anything about Jones, but FCC out of Fremont is one of those ( in my opinion) bottom feeder .90cpm + FSC companies. I would go back to being a company driver before I leased a truck onto an outfit like that.

 

I'd shy away from mercer if you're looking to stay with a van, since their van division is pretty scarce these days.

If you like what landstar is telling you, you might like Farm2Fleet. 80% and you pick your own loads off of any load board you want (including landstar and mercer) with no EOBR, which Landstar now requires. Plenty of dry van freight in my inbox every day, even though I pull a flatbed.

I also know where you can get an 05/06 freightliner Columbia with a 14L S60 for $2k down and $400 a week, if you're interested. It isn't CARB compliant, but like you said, LA is a short hop from Vegas.

 

Are you sure F2F isn't requiring eobr's for new drivers? I seem to recall bbb said I'd have to install a QC. May have been specific to the covenant thing, I dunno...

 

They're using elogs (bigroad), but not EOBRs. I'm not too sure on what their whole covenant deal was. I only know about their standard O/O program.

 

I think it's good to stay with Detroit. Their engines are good and reliable as any. Just got rid of my Pete with a Cummins 450 ISX. Gave me many days of problems and it's amazing what you find out when dealers are willing to talk. I feel good about buying a new 2015 Cascadia with a DD 15. The used truck manager revealed to me that Cummins is having major problems with their engines so as a result the used truck values with their engines have plummeted
thus, caveat emptor. Good luck.

 

I would say go with land star over mercer if pulling a van... Mercer is requiring elogs now also talked to a recruiter today.

 

Don't know if it would be a good fit as a new owner-operator, but you may want to consider power only. I have been with Trailer Transit Porter IN for 10 years. Our fleet is full of older experienced drivers like yourself. Owner-ops exclusively, no fleet owners or company owned equip. Either new trailers to dealers or time sensitive show loads that pay the best.
Advantages for you: Your CA compliant truck will virtually guarantee you going out to the az-ca lane you want. And because it is power only you can be very flexible with how long you stay there. SC is a good location to get back to.
% of line haul contract tells you what each load pays before you accept it, the better you work with operations the better your per mile avg will be. Mine is about $1.60 for every mile I move, including fuel surcharges
Disadvantages: seasonal, our business is slow jan-apr. Best money to be made is on the East Coast. Miles is not how you make it here, it is a mix of loads that sometimes require sitting but is worth the wait. If you want 120,000 miles a year at high revenue, this is not the place. If you want something a little more laid back, good choice