Hi ...does any one know any thing about land star express....we are thinking about puting a truck on with them and we would like to know every thing we can about them....how they pay,how much per mile,how busy are they,hows there dispatchers,any thing both good and bad ...also whats the reason for the slow down is it industry wide or just certain companys because of flooding the market with trucks.....thanks guys
land star express
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Tennesseahawk
Veteran Expediter
I'll tell you what I know of Landstar. They don't have a dispatch, they have brokers. Each broker takes care of a particular area. I've heard that trucks either do very well or don't last long with them because their system is non-traditional. If you're a people person, they might do well for you.
As far as the industry at whole, it is slow. Last year there was too much freight for the number of trucks. Now, it's just the opposite.
T-hawk
As far as the industry at whole, it is slow. Last year there was too much freight for the number of trucks. Now, it's just the opposite.
T-hawk
I thought their expedite division, Express America, ran through a dispatch system like everyone else and the traditional OTR system was brokered. I've talked to 2 drivers with them since the first of the year and they were satisfied with how things were going. For someone proactive their system seems good because you have the dispatchers looking to fill whatever jobs they have coming in plus you have access to their load boards on the internet and can take any traditional brokered load that fits your truck. It may not work out in real life but in theory it sounds like a winning situation for a proactive driver.
Leo
truck 4958
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Leo
truck 4958
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
As a clarification, LEA does not have dispatchers, or brokers. They
have what they call Express Centers(approx. 55+) all over the USA.
These folks act as "agents". If they have a load, they can look at a
system called Express Trak and locate a truck/van with the capacity
and equipment, i.e. pallet jack, blankets, straps, etc. to cover that
particular load.
A laptop is essential! When you are deciding where to layover(Yes, you decide!) you have the ability to check on how many trucks are in a given area, plus how many loads have moved out of a specified area.
If you need someone to hold your hand and make decisions for you, LEA
is not the place for you.
have what they call Express Centers(approx. 55+) all over the USA.
These folks act as "agents". If they have a load, they can look at a
system called Express Trak and locate a truck/van with the capacity
and equipment, i.e. pallet jack, blankets, straps, etc. to cover that
particular load.
A laptop is essential! When you are deciding where to layover(Yes, you decide!) you have the ability to check on how many trucks are in a given area, plus how many loads have moved out of a specified area.
If you need someone to hold your hand and make decisions for you, LEA
is not the place for you.
Hi guys......thanks for the info on land star..right now we have a truck on with panther and it is very slow there also...we are looking to put a second truck on but its so slow we just don't know what to do ....does any one know when this will turn around and when would you put on a second truck and would you stay with panther or go somewhere else and if so with who? thanks
raceman
Veteran Expediter
I will be short with my answer. If someone knew when this would turn around and when to add more trucks they would quickly be rich.
This is hard to predict. I will tell you be careful of adding more trucks without a lot of research and very deep thought. I would also reccomend some kind of mental class. This will help you deal with the mush that is going to be your brain after a year or so.
Good Luck with your decision
Raceman
OTR O/O
This is hard to predict. I will tell you be careful of adding more trucks without a lot of research and very deep thought. I would also reccomend some kind of mental class. This will help you deal with the mush that is going to be your brain after a year or so.
Good Luck with your decision
Raceman
OTR O/O
SillySafetyGirl
Expert Expediter
"I would also reccomend some kind of mental class."
Class is in session...
What type of truck do you have? We've been keeping our straights and tractors pretty busy here.
Silly
Class is in session...
What type of truck do you have? We've been keeping our straights and tractors pretty busy here.
Silly
Hi ......we have a straight truck with a 24ft box ...i will see the drivers saturday and find out how busy they were this week....I do know in the last 3 weeks they have only hauled 6 loads ...they havent turned down any loads they just havent been being offered any to speak of....is there a slow down or have the companys added to many trucks so now theres not enough freight to go around? If you were going to add a truck with who would it be and reasons please.....thanks
Personally I'm considering adding a truck with either Panther because that's where I am now and it would be simplest or with Landstar because of the option to take anything from the load boards my truck can carry. That way not only can I have Express America freight but I can also have the other branches at times which may keep the truck rolling more.
Leo
truck 4958
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Leo
truck 4958
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
I think LDB has it right. Whatever you decide, you have to have the ability to obtain your own freight during slow cycles. If one is getting 5 or 6 loads in a three week cycle, it is time to park it. Unless of course, they are consistent coast to coast trips.
I didn't get the feeling that was the case.
We have been very busy, but had to be creative a few times to keep the wheels turning.
One would really want to think through adding equipment right now unless it is paid for.
I would wait until late summer, and there will be plenty of trucks for sale.
Davekc
owner
20 years
I didn't get the feeling that was the case.
We have been very busy, but had to be creative a few times to keep the wheels turning.
One would really want to think through adding equipment right now unless it is paid for.
I would wait until late summer, and there will be plenty of trucks for sale.
Davekc
owner
20 years
Loose_Cannon47
Expert Expediter
Leo,I think you're on the right path with Landstar...the option of hauling loads for their other divisions (Ranger, Inway, Ligon) certainly gives you an advantage as far as moving to a location where you want to be, under load, and getting paid...Landstar hauls a lot of short, light loads...some of which are brokered, and can be hauled by anyone with the appropriate approvals from Landstar...good luck with what ever company you decide to put an additional truck on with...
Loose
Loose
Yes you can take freight from LEA's sister companies but they usually don't pay very much and most of the time they are posted days in advance.
When a LEA driver takes a sister company load first the sister company gets their share. Then LEA gets their share . Then the local agent who posted the load gets their share. What the driver gets is usually too little to be worth while. In three years with LEA I haven't taken one sister company load.
When a LEA driver takes a sister company load first the sister company gets their share. Then LEA gets their share . Then the local agent who posted the load gets their share. What the driver gets is usually too little to be worth while. In three years with LEA I haven't taken one sister company load.
That is interesting to hear. Almost a year ago one of the agents set up a temporary account for me to access their loadboard. At the time I was looking into T/T work and set up quite a number of runs based on what was available on their system. I would set up a run from home to say Phoenix followed by a run from Phoenix to Detroit and then Detroit to Atlanta or some similar scenario.
I could usually put together a 3 part run because they have stuff posted that far in advance. Some scenarios had 3 runs that all paid very well while some scenarios had a bad leg in it but overall was adequate. I was told at the time to take what it paid and figure 98% of 72% being my portion or some formula similar to that. I don't have access to their board now to play with scenarios.
It seems that even if it doesn't pay as well as the dispatched loads it's still better paying than sitting still. It also gives more potential for getting home when desired. I may be all wrong but it still seems that Landstar and Panther are the sides of the coin to flip.
Leo
truck 4958
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
I could usually put together a 3 part run because they have stuff posted that far in advance. Some scenarios had 3 runs that all paid very well while some scenarios had a bad leg in it but overall was adequate. I was told at the time to take what it paid and figure 98% of 72% being my portion or some formula similar to that. I don't have access to their board now to play with scenarios.
It seems that even if it doesn't pay as well as the dispatched loads it's still better paying than sitting still. It also gives more potential for getting home when desired. I may be all wrong but it still seems that Landstar and Panther are the sides of the coin to flip.
Leo
truck 4958
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
It seems that even if it doesn't pay as well as the dispatched loads it's still better paying than sitting still. It also gives more potential for getting home when desired. I may be all wrong but it still seems that Landstar and Panther are the sides of the coin to flip.
During the slow times, it is clearly the way to go.
As mentioned, you really need to know what it costs to move your truck. Using broker loads can be beneficial if you are doing it at the right cost.
In recent weeks we seen several Landstar trucks taking freight out of Laredo for .76 cents per mile. Running at that rate can be dangerous. These were full truck loads, and not partials.
One could go broke quickly if they are running at this rate with any consistency. I think Marty kind of pointed that out.
Davekc
owner
20 years
During the slow times, it is clearly the way to go.
As mentioned, you really need to know what it costs to move your truck. Using broker loads can be beneficial if you are doing it at the right cost.
In recent weeks we seen several Landstar trucks taking freight out of Laredo for .76 cents per mile. Running at that rate can be dangerous. These were full truck loads, and not partials.
One could go broke quickly if they are running at this rate with any consistency. I think Marty kind of pointed that out.
Davekc
owner
20 years
Loose_Cannon47
Expert Expediter
For T/T drivers, that rate seems really low...I know several drivers pulling in way more than that, hauling out of Indiana...the advantage is that any driver can haul for any agent or division...and if you have a good dispatcher, they will work to get you rounds or backhauls...one of those dispatchers is sitting across the living room from me at this very moment...
Loose
Loose
Hi everyone.....Well the guys had a great week last week they ran all most 5,000 miles with only two deadheads that were of any distance..They had one load for over 1900 miles and one for over 1400 the rest were smaller but they all add up..We are hopeing this is the start of a turn around for the business....I do have a question that i hope someone can answer for me....we have a tear in the boot between the sleeper and the cab is there anyway to fix this ? If not do you know where we could get it replaced and how much does this cost..thanks for your help Carl