Landstar Vs. Schneider Choice
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
Not sure why you don't go out on your own. To give you an example. A Landstar truck would have got $3,230 to go the California like I just did. I got $3,800. Everyone thinks a Landstar driver gets more then an independent. Not true. I have access to the independent carrier load board AND the BCO load board so I see both rates. I have a friend leased onto Landstar and I have his username and password.
Anyways, if you lease onto Landsstar you will pay EXACTLY the same as I do as far as insurance, IFTA, plates and everything else. You will probably pay more for insurance since they want you to use their insurance company.
As far as paper work. Everyone uses that as an excuse. That's BS. I pull a load and when I'm done I pull up my Excel Spreadsheet, fill in the info then email my BOL and invoice and I'm paid in a few days. IFTA comes right off my Garmin in spreadsheet format also and right into my states web page.
Going out on your own your not restricted to just the load Landstar or others have. You can pick from any broker. Myself, I only deal with about 5.
You've been driving for a while and ANY insurance company will sign you up unless your a total loser. Northland is the best. Find an agent near you and get a quote.
Anyways, if you lease onto Landsstar you will pay EXACTLY the same as I do as far as insurance, IFTA, plates and everything else. You will probably pay more for insurance since they want you to use their insurance company.
As far as paper work. Everyone uses that as an excuse. That's BS. I pull a load and when I'm done I pull up my Excel Spreadsheet, fill in the info then email my BOL and invoice and I'm paid in a few days. IFTA comes right off my Garmin in spreadsheet format also and right into my states web page.
Going out on your own your not restricted to just the load Landstar or others have. You can pick from any broker. Myself, I only deal with about 5.
You've been driving for a while and ANY insurance company will sign you up unless your a total loser. Northland is the best. Find an agent near you and get a quote.
AK7
Well-Known Member
My only info about Landstar is the heavy haul side.
There are agents that have loads that never see the load boards because they have a set group of trucks that they use and can count on.
Sure a new guy could break in on that,but it would take a long time to break into the inner circle.
They also have agents that own 5-10 trucks.
Total conflict of interest if you ask me.
When we were doing towers and it slowed up,guess whose trucks got the loads?????
My opinion of Landstar is ok to pull a load now and then,but no way in hell I would ever lease on with them.
There is a reason about 40% of their old time heavy haul guys left. just say'n................................
There are agents that have loads that never see the load boards because they have a set group of trucks that they use and can count on.
Sure a new guy could break in on that,but it would take a long time to break into the inner circle.
They also have agents that own 5-10 trucks.
Total conflict of interest if you ask me.
When we were doing towers and it slowed up,guess whose trucks got the loads?????
My opinion of Landstar is ok to pull a load now and then,but no way in hell I would ever lease on with them.
There is a reason about 40% of their old time heavy haul guys left. just say'n................................
Rigjockey
In Gord we trust!
It was that way back in '98 when I was with Landstar. They had THEIR drivers.We where just new. We made out ok because we where team.
It was a learning experience for me having load brokers, My co-Driver not so much he had been around.
If I had a truck, I would just go the extra mile and get my own authority.
Blood
Driveler Emeritus
PL must be written on the carrier by law.
Companies can write a charge-back into the lease but most don't.
Landstarve used to take 2% off the top for PL, dunno whether they still do that but it isn't a matter of who they WANT you to use.
It's a matter of law.
You can't carry your own public liability if you're leased.
mndriver
curmudgeon extraordinare
Whatever you decide to do, make sure you plan for short/long term disability. A heart attack will take you off the road for 90-120 days by the time you are back running and producing income again. Loose your physical card for 60 days just having an MI and 90 days if they crack your ribs and you join the zipper club.
Most other injuries, it will be time off work plus 15-30 days before you get income again.
Consider the same thing for major equipment repair like an engine or tranny.
My equipment is old enough, it can't depreciate much more. But I can build and recover the "equity" in it fast enough for my own "disability insurance".
Or else just save up $20,000 cash for living expenses in case you need it.
Most other injuries, it will be time off work plus 15-30 days before you get income again.
Consider the same thing for major equipment repair like an engine or tranny.
My equipment is old enough, it can't depreciate much more. But I can build and recover the "equity" in it fast enough for my own "disability insurance".
Or else just save up $20,000 cash for living expenses in case you need it.
Right now, my only concern is comparing rates between the two.
Here's why....
In the near future, decisions must be made whether to continue the lease purchase of this truck to the point of payoff. There is a greater than zero chance that I will be opting out in favor of a conventional truck purchase, which will be a non-emissions glider. If I pursue the latter, I want to pursue either sticking with Schneider's choice program, or testing the waters with Landstar. I want to try things at Landstar, but only if the rates are better.
As for getting my own authority, @SkateBoard, that just isn't in the cards for me right now. Maybe upon the point of paying off a truck, I might consider purchasing a trailer and also securing a permanent parking location in my area to keep the equipment. For now though, my life is much better off with more simplicity in this area.
@mndriver, you are correct on being prepared for the missing work, and I am fairly well set up in that area.
Here's why....
In the near future, decisions must be made whether to continue the lease purchase of this truck to the point of payoff. There is a greater than zero chance that I will be opting out in favor of a conventional truck purchase, which will be a non-emissions glider. If I pursue the latter, I want to pursue either sticking with Schneider's choice program, or testing the waters with Landstar. I want to try things at Landstar, but only if the rates are better.
As for getting my own authority, @SkateBoard, that just isn't in the cards for me right now. Maybe upon the point of paying off a truck, I might consider purchasing a trailer and also securing a permanent parking location in my area to keep the equipment. For now though, my life is much better off with more simplicity in this area.
@mndriver, you are correct on being prepared for the missing work, and I am fairly well set up in that area.
Southern Fried
Well-Known Member
I don't agree
Blood
Driveler Emeritus
Coronado Kid
Cactus Patch
Landstar we have a friend that lives beside my grandfather and he has his own truck and trailer and authority and my grandfather said that he made more than him working at landstar but pulling flatbed and stepdeck vs van is totally diffrent you have to ride to make money but one pays more still
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