I happened to click on the Landstar Express America ad now running on EO and see them saying, "Now Leasing Teams for Temperature Control Fleet."
Cool! (pun intended)
Cool! (pun intended)
Landstar Now Recruiting Reefer Truck Teams
- Thread starter ATeam
- Start date
Humble2drive
Expert Expediter
A-Team
Do you have an insider opinion as to why?
I was under the impression that you have had relatively few refer runs.
It would be good to know if they already have some business in place or if they are just hoping to expand into that area. To me, this is an important aspect to consider based on what I have seen at FECC.
In hindsight, here at the FECC it appears that business owners were led to make investments of approximately $80,000.00 in new T-Val vans based on the "promise" that the business would be there. Many have been left with loses as the Fed failed to provide them with the adequate volume of well paying T -Val loads as projected.
It was easy for the Fed to experiment with other people's money and it would be a shame for another carrier to repeat a similar experiment with similar results.
Disclaimer: The above is an opinion based on feedback from a number of dissatisfied T -Val van owners. Complete hearsay but compelling.
We will certainly call Landstar since they are currently our option B.
Thanks for any input.
Do you have an insider opinion as to why?
I was under the impression that you have had relatively few refer runs.
It would be good to know if they already have some business in place or if they are just hoping to expand into that area. To me, this is an important aspect to consider based on what I have seen at FECC.
In hindsight, here at the FECC it appears that business owners were led to make investments of approximately $80,000.00 in new T-Val vans based on the "promise" that the business would be there. Many have been left with loses as the Fed failed to provide them with the adequate volume of well paying T -Val loads as projected.
It was easy for the Fed to experiment with other people's money and it would be a shame for another carrier to repeat a similar experiment with similar results.
Disclaimer: The above is an opinion based on feedback from a number of dissatisfied T -Val van owners. Complete hearsay but compelling.
We will certainly call Landstar since they are currently our option B.
Thanks for any input.
You are correct. Since signing on with Landstar Express America, Diane and I have had relatively few reefer runs, and I will add, almost no pharmaceutical runs. But most of the reefer runs we have had have been very good to say the least.
We have gone months without a reefer run and then one or two will come along that pay fantastic. There have been enough of those to justify keeping the reefer on the truck and in good repair.
Why is Landstar now running that ad? It is because it takes time for people to think through a carrier change and work their way into the fleet, and because more temperature controlled business is expected.
As far as a carrier experimenting with other people's money goes, all I can say is there is a world of difference between Landstar and other carriers.
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Brisco
Expert Expediter
Excellent outlook and has a very important message.........
One way to look at it is this:
Is LandStar recruiting Reefer Trucks to service a customer/customers that they just signed a contract(s) with...........or is LandStar recruiting Reefer Trucks to target customers that they are wishing to service???
This should be the most important question any Contract Driver who has thousands invested in a Reefer Equipped Truck have answered before making the jump from one Carrier that is keeping him busy with Reefer Paying loads over to LandStar.
Thinking about this more, let me add the following.
FedEx Custom Critical BR-units are a special case because once you commit to reefer freight with one of those, there is not much else you can do. BR-unit owners may be able to tell me different, but I believe that a BR-unit is a single-purpose van, or nearly so.
A straight truck (CR or DR) is different because you can haul a variety of freight with one. When Diane and I were at FedEx Custom Critical, we ran a TVAL qualified CR-unit, but if we had relied only on reefer freight for our revenue, total revenue would not have been sufficient. We hauled a variety of freight; some ordinary dry freight, some reefer freight - non-TVAL, some TVAL, some white glove involving inside delivery, some requiring escorts, some HAZMAT, some requiring a team, some lift gate, some pad wrap, and a bunch of other stuff requiring one credential or another.
Maybe things have changed at FedEx such that CR and DR-units are now specializing in reefer freight and doing little else. Present FedEx contractors can comment on that if they wish.
It was not that way when Diane and I were there, it is not that at Landstar now, and I do not expect it will be that way at Landstar after their reefer operation is ramped up. Our reefer truck is not a reefer truck exclusively. As with a lift gate, the reefer is an added component that adds a service that rounds out the full package that our truck and team is.
We succeeded at FedEx Custom Critical by equipping our truck and developing credentials in a way that made it possible to haul all types of freight that FedEx dispatched. We're doing the same at Landstar.
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cannedmeat27
Expert Expediter
I drive a br unit. Yes I haul other freight other than reefer work. Since the br units are still on percentage pay out rate is all over. I do get on average a better rate per mile with the reefer work.
zorry
Veteran Expediter
How does Landstar charge for Qualcomm ?
Reading the Road To Success Issue 2 it says they will sell people that jump into EOBR's now,voluntarily,an MCP50 at a discounted rate of $699 plus installation fees.
They are also throwing out a carrot of one hour personal use driving time for EOBR's
The VP of compliance says " Carriers can no longer afford not to use EOBR's........."
If you do it by choice now they will loan you a unit for free and give you reduced monthly air-time charges.
The article did not mention LEA,just Landstar.
Reading the Road To Success Issue 2 it says they will sell people that jump into EOBR's now,voluntarily,an MCP50 at a discounted rate of $699 plus installation fees.
They are also throwing out a carrot of one hour personal use driving time for EOBR's
The VP of compliance says " Carriers can no longer afford not to use EOBR's........."
If you do it by choice now they will loan you a unit for free and give you reduced monthly air-time charges.
The article did not mention LEA,just Landstar.
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Landstar is a company in transition regarding EOBR's, and Landstar Express America (LEAM) is a special case because of its excellent HOS track record. You will be best off contacting the company directly to get the answers you seek, and you may find, as I have, that the answers change over time as the company progresses toward EOBR's and interacts with its BCO's.
Diane and I have a Qualcomm unit in the truck now as we have from our first day at LEAM. For that we pay a monthly fee. The arrangement is similar to what we had at our previous carrier.
What exactly the future will bring, and when, I do not know.
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It's not new at Landstar's other companies (Ranger, etc.), but I do not know the details. You'll have to talk to someone who knows that part of company and practices to satisfy your curiosity.
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Landstar has moved from "will build" a temperature-controlled fleet to "is building" the fleet. Diane and I arrived in Fort Wayne today to have the Ameriscan and TVAL probes installed in our straight truck and the truck body mapped. Another truck will be here tomorrow. Other straight trucks and trailers will come after that.
The fleet will be small at first so the quality-control standards can be dialed into the system. Word from corporate is that TVAL freight is available now, but I have only that to go on at this point. We'll know more after we're out the door and have a few weeks to develop a history.
It is ironic that Diane and I are involved at this level just as we are preparing to leave the expediting business (see: Career Change in Progress). Landstar knows our plans but asked us to be involved anyway. We know the TVAL business well and are good communicators, they say. We are the very first truck they are mapping and they want the kind of feedback we can provide. Landstar has been very good to us and we are happy to return the favor.
Additional info here: Refrigerated Team Equipment Requirements
The fleet will be small at first so the quality-control standards can be dialed into the system. Word from corporate is that TVAL freight is available now, but I have only that to go on at this point. We'll know more after we're out the door and have a few weeks to develop a history.
It is ironic that Diane and I are involved at this level just as we are preparing to leave the expediting business (see: Career Change in Progress). Landstar knows our plans but asked us to be involved anyway. We know the TVAL business well and are good communicators, they say. We are the very first truck they are mapping and they want the kind of feedback we can provide. Landstar has been very good to us and we are happy to return the favor.
Additional info here: Refrigerated Team Equipment Requirements
I'm not sure I get your meaning, but, yes, of course, all questions could be answered by calling LEA (Landstar Express America). The phone number for Landstar is on the Refreigerated Team Equipment Requirements page for which I provided a link.
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That says a lot about Landstar as well as you, Phil. I've been in the same position as you at least once, that of changing industries and having to inform the "old boss" of your plans; they usually act like jilted spouses. Just for fun, since I'm sure you remember this song, I submit a line from it as proof:
Sanford Townsend Band - Smoke From a Distant Fire - YouTube
Most times, your boss will tell you "Don't let the screen door hit you...". The fact that Landstar is continuing to treat you as a professional speaks volumes about both them and you. Good on both parties!
FWIW: I speak of "you" as a team, of course; don't want to leave the impression that Diane isn't an essential part of your operation
Sanford Townsend Band - Smoke From a Distant Fire - YouTube
Most times, your boss will tell you "Don't let the screen door hit you...". The fact that Landstar is continuing to treat you as a professional speaks volumes about both them and you. Good on both parties!
LOL! I've heard that song before but it never occurred to me to think about it in the context of leaving a motor carrier. Too funny.
You are spot on in describing the difference between Landstar and many other motor carriers. The culture is so good, so respectful, so comfortable, that it did not even enter our mind to keep it a secret that we plan to leave the business in a few months. They know us to be reliable and professional BCO's. We know them to be a good company. What's not to tell? Yes, we're leaving, but not right away. Let's keep working to together to serve customers and make money while we still can.
The differences show up in all sorts of ways; like when you can use the front door and walk into the headquarters building without an escort, to speaking directly to whatever people you need to in any department or management level instead of leaving a message for a return call from a contractor coordinator, to being able to access information on the web site yourself instead of requesting it from someone at corporate. It will be the same with TVAL, we expect ... peaceful.
LEA has another good reason to treat you well: Since you conduct yourself in a professional manner, your actions reflect well on them.
Imagine if they didn't? You could let yourself go, let the truck stay dirty, talk trash about them, etc. I know you'd never do that, but if you did you would make Landstar look shabby at the same time.
So it works well for both parties if the relationship is kept in good shape until it's time to shake hands and say good luck. That kind of attitude, held up by both parties, would be a big breath of fresh air in trucking, no?
Imagine if they didn't? You could let yourself go, let the truck stay dirty, talk trash about them, etc. I know you'd never do that, but if you did you would make Landstar look shabby at the same time.
So it works well for both parties if the relationship is kept in good shape until it's time to shake hands and say good luck. That kind of attitude, held up by both parties, would be a big breath of fresh air in trucking, no?
