Why do some Fail @ Mercer

mtoo · May 28, 2017

agitator said: ↑

I've been at this 40 years....worked for some of the best and some of the worst co's....always been an owner operator....seen people fail in the best conditions and seen people thrive in the worst...If you fail it's usually your fault...just my 2 cents..
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That's a statement this old man can agree on. When working for the worst, you learn fast and move along with your new knowledge. When working for the best, well if you can't learn from that experience: your just a dumb #%*!!!

To few people will take an honest look in the mirror.

OakMan · Mar 21, 2018

MOGLAR said: ↑

There are loads out there. Some brokers are more proactive than others. You are at their mercy. Some brokers have legit shippers while others are content with just cherry picking loads off the DAT board.

It would seem to me that a broker would jump at the opportunity to load a curtainside step.....it's pretty specialized and garners good rates. I would get on the phone to a mercer broker and let them know what u have.

There are a few systems at mercer that are in play. One is the Good Ole Boy system which drivers refer to as "know the system." It exists. However this type of behavior is found at most carriers to include Landstar. If there are any left overs it will go on the load board with the other freight with the slop rates. Some of the brokers work like the Clintons and take care of their buddies/favorites while showing a different face to the other drivers.

The other system is to keep a sharp eye on the load board and try and ninja a load when it gets posted. This technique works well especially when you are in a good position on the board.

The other system is try to learn what lanes to stay out of. Learn which customers are actually Mercers and their production/shipping habits. Some shippers are predictable.
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You really need to get over this Clinton thing. Its getting tedious. Doesn't info wars have a chat room?

RStewart · Mar 21, 2018

OakMan said: ↑

You really need to get over this Clinton thing. Its getting tedious. Doesn't info wars have a chat room?
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He's not around here anymore.

OakMan · Mar 21, 2018

RStewart said: ↑

He's not around here anymore.
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Oops... It's hard to not dislike that guy.

RStewart · Mar 23, 2018

OakMan said: ↑

Oops... It's hard to not dislike that guy.
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You learn quick. Lol

Drivingotr4life · Mar 26, 2018

MOGLAR said: ↑

I do stand behind my previous post. I am not going to waste my energy anymore railing against the fleece purchase system. Its kind of like trying to talk to a teenager. Let em learn the hard way.

Now far as why people dont make it at Mercer specifically....I have a few solid thoughts on that. Please keep in mind I wont get into the whole "knowing the trucking business" aspect of this. If one does not understand the trucking business......they will fail no matter what carrier they go to.

This portion is regarding the flatbed/open deck operation at Mercer

#1 The sucess of the drivers at Mercer really hinge on the broker. The O/O does not have an option to look at load boards etc etc to try and find a load. Understand I am not talking about the driver that gets stranded out west or get into a bad frieght area. However, for the sake of this conversation it can apply. The O/O is at the mercy of the broker...pure and simple. There is no recourse for the O/O to try and find any freight. Brokers have lives like everyone else and might not be able to put in a full day etc etc. On the other hand some of the brokers really dont care and will do the absolute minimum. Some brokers will bust their humps to get loads. No matter what the issue (good or bad) the Mercer driver is at the mercy of the broker. (wonder if that is where they got mercer from lol).

#2 The load board is nothing more that a digital version of musical chairs and wack-a mole. The load board is clunky and extreamly dated. For the driver that is not in the cool kids club its usually blind luck, or the coordinator happens to see it, that a driver can get the load.

#3 The cool kids club does exist at Mercer. It is alive and well. In one form or another Mercer admits that it does exisit. i have actually seen it and been affected by it. However, this practice can be found at every other carrier including Landstar and many others. All the cloak and dagger type brokering to the "chosen ones" would not be that bad if the drivers were permitted to look for loads. Sometimes watching Mercer drivers trying to get loads is like watching a scene out of Oliver Twist where Oliver is begging. That should not happen. Personally all the "secret handshake society" brokering to the chosen drivers makes me sick.

#4 Freight goes up and down. This effects every carrier including Mercer. There will be times of plenty and lean times. This is where knowing how freight moves helps out. Unforunatly the O/O only can turn to one source for their loads....the Mercer Brokers.

#5 Being picky. Well there is a difference between being picky and being taken advantage of. Some rates really do not make any sense. Other loads have been rebrokered so many times that the rate gets watered down. Its not really about getting the huge long distance money loads.....its about getting loads that make sense. Does going to Minot North Dakota for $1.50 per mile make sense? Does going to Philidelphia Pa for $1.40 per mile make sense? Unless you live there the answer is No it makes no sense.

While some of the drivers must bear some of the brunt of their failures.....the brokers must also take a slurp of fail sauce also.

PS. Before making this post I did my due diligence and looked at load availability in areas etc etc. Even found good loads where Mercer brokers whined that the well was dry. Now I fully understand that there are legit reasons Mercer will turn down a load. However.....in an area where Mercer has NO Loads and there are 200 loads posted on DAT with half of them being viable loads.........it makes me wonder. I even called some broker friends of mine. Makes me wonder.
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Maybe Mercer should hire me I'm a "cool dude"

Seeking Integrity · Feb 15, 2019

No. Mercer gets loads in and they go to dispatchers or coordinators first. The drivers that are preferred get the good loads. All loads nobody wants goes on the board and the unpreferred drivers get the scraps like trade shows or shippers that won't pay detention, etc. Lots of deadhead and trailer rental fee is overhead we don't need. You can do better. Get your own authority or lease on with a company that doesn't take all your money.

JonJon78 · Feb 15, 2019

Seeking Integrity said: ↑

No. Mercer gets loads in and they go to dispatchers or coordinators first. The drivers that are preferred get the good loads. All loads nobody wants goes on the board and the unpreferred drivers get the scraps like trade shows or shippers that won't pay detention, etc. Lots of deadhead and trailer rental fee is overhead we don't need. You can do better. Get your own authority or lease on with a company that doesn't take all your money.
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How long were you leased onto Mercer?

Seeking Integrity · Feb 15, 2019

8 months

Seeking Integrity · Feb 15, 2019

My coordinator never reached out to me so, I relied on the scraps on the load board.

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