Your thoughts please

[Big_Dave]

I had an interesting phone conversation with a friend of mine today.

He and I used to be leased on with the same company a couple of years ago before they went under. We bailed out (because we didn't get paid for 2 runs), before they got nailed by the DOT during an audit. We both used to run 'hot' almost all the time.

Since I've changed companies, I very rarely run 'hot' unless it's 'for me'.......like if I'm almost home. :D

Anyways, I haven't been totally happy with this company I'm with for about the last 5-6 months. I'm constantly climbing all over my Asst. Ops. Manager and the Ops. Manager to get me back to the runs I was doing before I got sick back in Feb. I was out sick for 3 weeks and since then, I'm down over $16,000 in revenue over the same period last year. Granted, most of that is because I was sick, but my weekly revenue since has been down considerably.

Doesn't seem to matter what I try, I'm not making the $$$ I was. That also means that I'm NOT happy.

Anyways, while talking with my friend today, I asked him where he was leased to now. He told me. :wow:

Since the 'old' company went out of business, their son got going again about 1 month later. New company, new DOT #, mommy & daddy have no part in the 'new' business.

They run the places I WANT to run.....Minneapolis to Los Angeles and back....2-3 times a month.

The pay is comparable to what I am making per mile (with FSC) now, but I'd also be getting $50 per drop, for ALL drops.

Here's my list of Pro's & Con's:

Current company Pro's:
Percentage pay, 71.5% of gross + 100% of FSC & demurrage
I can work when I want, can pick and choose loads, can refuse loads.
Nice bunch of people in the office.
Check is always there on payday

Current company Con's:
They won't let me run west. I've been here over 2 years now and have only gone west 8 times in the first 15 months. It's been a year since I've gone west of Grand Island NE.
120 miles one way from home.

Prospective company Pro's:
I know how 'he' (the son) operates.
The pay is comparable but I'd get $50 per drop also.
I can work when I want, can pick & choose loads, can refuse loads.
25 miles from home.
Up to 5-7K more miles per month due to longer runs (more revenue also)

Prospective company Con's:
When I worked for his folks, they stuck me for almost $10K in unpaid runs that I made. It took a while, but I did manage to get most of the $$$ they owed me.

2 guys that used to work for them are now back with them. 1 has been there for about 4-5 months, the other, 2 weeks.

If I make a change, I'll refuse to run hot with them also. It just ain't worth it anymore, I'm too old for that 'cowboy stuff'. :p

I'd like your thoughts on this.

Oh, before ya say it, I know that the 'apple' don't fall far from the tree.

[Foxfire]

the 'apple' don't fall far from the tree.


This may be true in a lot of cases. But you have talked to others who are working for the son and they assure you that they are doing good. That's where I would base my decision.
Anything that will pay more money and is closer to home is always better.
Now for the most important question.............. What does Rain think of this change? Listen to what she says. Mainly cuz she has this really BIG Cast Iron Skillet!!!!!! :D

Give it until next spring before changing for the simple reason that this will allow more of the story to surface with "JR".
1 month running isn't enough time to tell if it will business as usual or not.

[Big_Dave]

He's been 'up & running' since about 6-7 months after my friend and I left there.

They use the same tire shop that I do. I always ask Lynn about them when I'm in there.

They pay his bill on time each month.

[Big_Dave]

Now for the most important question.............. What does Rain think of this change?
I talked to a couple other friends about this before I even posted this. I talked with her after I posted this.

Both friends said to 'go with your gut feeling' and Rain said, "Well, you were A LOT happier running out west." (I was)

I plan on going over and talking to him when I get home, just to see what he's got to say. We didn't talk any details earlier today when I had him on the phone.

I'm still not 100% sure on what I want to do. :wtf: :wow:

[magicman]

Dave, I know you like the LTL. It is fun, at times. I also know EXACTLY what you're going through with the company, since I left there the 20th of last month. I also know the loads they have going out west aren't the greatest and they TRY to make up the difference on the backhaul.

I would certainly look into this opportunity if I were you.

I know I just left over there, but I can tell you there is no stress level over here at Landstar like there was at your company. Stress can kill you and you've been WAY too stressed lately.

You like going west and this new company goes west. You don't like the 240 mile round trip to the yard, so that 50 mile round trip is cake.

As they say in the NIKE commercials...." Just do it"

Good luck. I'll call you in the morning. Maybe we'll hook up in Florida and you can buy the steaks. :D :D :D

[DrivingZiggy]

I'm a big proponent for running under your own authority. Especially since I've been doing it. Just had my 1 year anniversary.

Sure, I still sometimes make mistakes and feel like a bonehead. I'm still learning.

I highly recommend it.

[Big_Dave]

OK Driving Ziggy, here's a couple of wrenches thrown into the situation.

Compared to the same period last year, I'm down over $16K. I figure around $9K of that is because I was sick for 3 weeks back in Feb. But that still leaves around $7K that I'm 'short'. :wtf:

So, with that, I'm not financially set enough to strike out on my own and get my own authority, insurance, trailer, etc........

So, with that in mind, who should I lease on with?

I've been thinking of pulling a flatbed or a stepdeck. I've pulled heavy equipment on a lowboy before, so load securement really isn't a problem unless I happen across a odd piece of machinery or something. :wtf:

I've been thinking of the following companies........

Jones Motor Group (out of PA)
Diamond Transport (out of Racine WI)
and a couple other smaller flatbed companies.

Can anybody tell me about Jones and Diamond? I would really prefer a company that pays on a % basis.

[DrivingZiggy]

Dave, when I got my authority, I was in a position of saying, "What's the worst that can happen--I lose my business?" I was fixin' to lose it any way due to being leased and having a second truck that I couldn't get the driver to actually drive.

Unlike you, though, I'm a single guy and don't own a house. My car is paid for and the only expenses I have besides clothing and food are business related. So I managed to scrape together about $1800 off of my last settlement to put on a fuel card and get rolling.

Things have been better ever since, although I am still struggling because I'm paying for 2 trucks while only 1 truck is bringing in income. And although the gross income has been about the same as being leased, my mileage is down 2,000 to 3,000 per month so overall it is much better for me.

I've dealt with Jones only once since I've struck out on my own, it was a partial and they paid promptly.

I did okay with Mercer but really hated all the sitting around waiting for freight. And that was all over the country. The only time it didn't happen for about a week was after I lit into my "coordinator" for about 10 minutes.

So I went to CRST Malone and found out that what I made up for between getting a load assigned was more than made up for with unpaid detention at the shippers and receivers.

Seems like most of the LandStar guys are happy, although I wouldn't even consider getting on with a company that so flagrantly violates the Truth in Leasing laws. Yes, I'm an OOIDA member and I keep on top of what's happening in the industry.

I pull a flat. But I think I'll go with a step deck next time since I'd like to do more of the high-dollar oversize loads. Sure, there are some for flat beds, but not as many.

Another advantage for you is that there is a broker in St. Paul who is both a LandStar and Mercer agent. They usually have some really excellent freight. That'll hold you over until you build up your customer base. That is, if you decide to take the big plunge and get your authority!

[magicman]

Just for fun, I checked Landstar flat and step freight within a 150 mi radius of your house. I found 58 loads. How about a stepdeck load, legal, paying $ 1.34 per mile to the truck going to Riverside,CA, routed through Evanston,WY.
This includes all deadhead miles, too.
There were loads going all over, but I noted this one cuz you like running that way. Didn't see much out of Riverside, but a short one would put you into more freight.
166 loads coming into 150 mi of your house, from all over the country.

Hey, you're a big strapper.....get one of those big strapper specialized trailers and make BIG money......well, when you run, anyway. :D :D :D

[HSLD]

Dave,

chances are JR. "learned" the biz from his folks. I don't think of 6-7 months of being in business as an achievement by most standards.

Chances are, he'll get in a bind and start running the way mom & pop used to.

I'm leery of new operations, even if they're "tied" to old operations (especially if being related is the tie).

It might work out, you never know. But I'd bet if JR gets in a crack, he'll go to running and gunning like he saw the folks do.

HSLD

[Chiefwhatdahey]

Dave,

I pulled a step for eleven years and miss it dearly, I'm currently looking for a step or flat as I'm sick of the bs that goes with dry freight.

I've said it b4 and I'll say it again, get you your #'s man, it's never a good time but overall you'll do better than leasing.

[KC]

I have a friend who has pulled a drop for them a couple of years. He seems happy with them. He is not one to roll a wheel unless he get's the money he wants.