Laredo

TJ959 · Nov 20, 2005

I'll have to admit. I hate to lay over in Laredo. It may get better when they finish the new flying J but for now I really don't like going there. It seems like there is no good place to go if you are in a van. I finally ended up in a Motel the first night and moved to the Loves 25 miles north of town the next day. It would be a good idea to line the truck with Kevlar if you stay at the Walmart. Anyway that's my opinion. What do you folks do when you go there?????

Tennesseahawk · Nov 20, 2005

I just posted about layover in Laredo. I stayed in a hotel, as I have no a/c. But I later decided to move up to San Antonio, as it's surrounded by Dallas, Houston, and Laredo.

TJ959 · Nov 20, 2005

I'm new with my present company but they claim to do well out of Laredo so they wanted me to stay there. I've never done well out of Laredo myself and frankly I don't care much for the place. I'd much prefer San Antonio or even better Dallas.

lineboss · Nov 26, 2005

Laredo sucks
I delivered on Sat. morn. , got motel 4 1 day, went to gateway truck stop, wow never seen a bar in a truckstop before! Also noticed nobody buying fuel Hmmmm.
Monday dh to Dallas, 2sday dh 2 little rock, 3rdsday dh to W. Memphis, Thirstday got a load From Crossett AR. to pick up on Frightday @ 4pm going to Yonkers NY by Monday 0700, got unloaded and water pump was leaking, got replaced @ peterbilt in pa. 1300 dollars, load paid 2000, talk about a bad week. I would think alot b4 taking load to Laredo.

Broompilot · Nov 27, 2005

Lineboss, sorry not a good week, you only had the one 2K run if I read right? Thats alot DH, from my own personal expierence sit tight. All that moving did nothing for your bottom line and I am sure that something would have taken you up to MI.

For that Waterpump, can anyone reply is that a fair price seems to be about twice as much as I would expect (have not expierenced this replacement part).

To make a stay over more comfortable, after unloading get your sleep get prepared for the possibility (posotive thinking) next load. If nothing by the next day than plan on a room. Its almost a sure bet get a room $40 and a 2K run will come up, grab a shower and thank yourself.

As for a bar in a truck stop, there in every truckstop in Western Canada.

Tennesseahawk · Nov 27, 2005

Sorry Broom... gotta disagree with you there. In your situation, I guess sitting is the best option. I sat 4 days and came up empty... even on LTLs. I had to dh to OK before I got a run, and that picked up 300 mi away in Memphis.

My advice in going to Laredo: Try to set something up before you get there. Keep layover in Laredo to a minimum, and at least get up to San Antonio after the first day. Start working your way toward either Missouri or Tennessee. You could always catch something on the way up in AR, LA, or MS.

If you get to Laredo near the end of the week, sit tight (or move to San Antonio and wait). Thurs and Fri give runs that deliver on Monday, so solos can grab team runs, which there are plenty of.

ConfusedMuse · Nov 30, 2005

Only once had a problem getting a load out of Laredo. This is in a
cargo van. Yes, I have to agree the places to stay there sucks.
There is however a motel on the west side of I-35 near exit 4 that has a 1700 checkout time for commercial drivers. Can't think of the name, sorry but you'll see lots of trucks parked there.
We're in this business together, let's make it work to our advantage!

LDB · Nov 30, 2005

I expect/hope Laredo will be less horrible for waiting once the Flying J opens there. Maybe it will even force the Pilot to stop charging for parking.

Leo Bricker
OOIDA 677319
truck 4958
73's K5LDB
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

woobergoober · Jan 27, 2006

Laredo has never been an issue for me. I have gone down there several times, for a couple different companies. In each case, the rates for going out, were usually a dollar a mile to the truck, but in each case, I was able to go to Louisville or Detroit.

I just wait. Sometimes a few hours, sometimes a couple days; Never more than 36 hours. If you have a D unit, and deadhead all the way back up to Dallas or surrounding states, you would have been better off not even going there.

I think getting out of Laredo is half strategy and half luck. If you have good dispatchers, and you dont mind taking that cut, you will get out of Laredo, at least in my experience, and I am a solo.

WG