Mercer cuts 200 leased truckers

[Heavy Duty]

Tough all over http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_ne.../030609-02.htm

"Dale Corum, general manager at Mercer Transportation confirmed to Land Line Magazine on Friday, March 6, that hundreds of owner-operators who were leased to the company, including some OOIDA members, were cut loose – adding to the casualties of the tough economic times facing the country."

[blanco]

tough times indeed....

[lowrange]

The end of that stupid Mercer Town ad campaign.

Not so long ago, a month, or months, Mercer is payiing money to attract O/Os. Now, they're giving them away. Now, that is fast!

[Maniac]

We had a guy leave Dana and go there, last time I talked to him he was #45 on the list.

Probably got cut, sad thing is, I don't know if they will take him back here.

[Orangetxguy]

Miller Transporters did the same thing last week. 18% of the O/O fleet was released. They are cutting company trucks too. We just have not heard the exact numbers. The shop's, dispatch, and tankwash's also got hit hard.

[GMAN]

I have a friend of mine who is leased to Mercer. He hasn't been with them but a few months. Hopefully, he will be spared from having his contract canceled. He is usually willing to go anywhere so he will probably be safe, at least for now.

[Maniac]

Miller Transporters did the same thing last week. 18% of the O/O fleet was released. They are cutting company trucks too. We just have not heard the exact numbers. The shop's, dispatch, and tankwash's also got hit hard.

So far all that happened here is the payroll dept in Demopoils was let go, around 26 people in the office.

Some terminals have canceled 2nd shift shop hours.

Nitro W Va has been hit pretty hard, some guys getting only one load a week, no layoffs.................yet.

[Orangetxguy]

So far all that happened here is the payroll dept in Demopoils was let go, around 26 people in the office.

Some terminals have canceled 2nd shift shop hours.

Nitro W Va has been hit pretty hard, some guys getting only one load a week, no layoffs.................yet.

Was in Nitro a couple weeks ago. Dana has a whole lot of ISO's and trailers sitting there. Pretty much have all the old lot's jammed. Looks like they are leasing out parking space on the lot they have behind Miller's office.

[solo379]

I didn't get it! What's the reason, for cutting O/O? It's practically cost company nothing, oppose to a company trucks..... May be I'm missing something here?

[Orangetxguy]

I didn't get it! What's the reason, for cutting O/O? It's practically cost company nothing, oppose to a company trucks..... May be I'm missing something here?

The letter I got from Miller in my settlement friday, said they are cutting company trucks...didn't specify how many they are cutting...but that they are doing so. They have to do it different from the O/O side. Union drivers and all.

We have heard two company terminals are closing completely, plus anywhere from 40% to 80% of the company trucks. Will only know for sure when it all hits the fan.

They cut the O/O's that had "issues" or were under performers for the most part.

[Maniac]

Looks like they are leasing out parking space on the lot

Enterprise is supposed to move in one of the lots.

[GMAN]

Hopefully, they left at least one person in payroll who can write a check.

[Jumbo]

I didn't get it! What's the reason, for cutting O/O? It's practically cost company nothing, oppose to a company trucks..... May be I'm missing something here?

If you have 50 trucks (25 o/o and 25 company) and you need to get rid of 25 trucks:

If you get rid of 25 o/o's you are left with 25 trailers.

If you rid of 25 company drivers you are left with 25 trailer, 25 trucks and now you are paying unemployment to 25 drivers.

Owner operators are the easiest way to expand your fleet. On the other hand they are also fastest way to decrease the size of your fleet.

[marcel27208]

wow.......glad i didnt leave sni to go there last fall,...................

[Maniac]

wow.......glad i didnt leave sni to go there last fall,...................

Like I told ya, BAD time to be changin jobs :-)........

[Maniac]

Hopefully, they left at least one person in payroll who can write a check.

Yeah, they left it to the payroll dept in Indy, more efficient over there, and actually I get my statements EVERY Friday, without fail, instead of Sat or Monday

[Orangetxguy]

If you have 50 trucks (25 o/o and 25 company) and you need to get rid of 25 trucks:

If you get rid of 25 o/o's you are left with 25 trailers.

If you rid of 25 company drivers you are left with 25 trailer, 25 trucks and now you are paying unemployment to 25 drivers.

Owner operators are the easiest way to expand your fleet. On the other hand they are also fastest way to decrease the size of your fleet.

Not necessarily so. If you get rid of 25 company drivers, you also get rid of the 25 company trucks. O/O's cost a company less in operating expenses.

The unemployment issue...most truck drivers do not quailfy for unemployment benefits, due to the crossing of statelines. I know of only a few select companies that will pay unemployment benefits to truck drivers.

[marcel27208]

Schneider pays unemployment........i dont know if it has much to do with crossing state lines............if your with a bigger company that has a terminal in your home state its easier to collect.............

[Jumbo]

Not necessarily so. If you get rid of 25 company drivers, you also get rid of the 25 company trucks. O/O's cost a company less in operating expenses.

The unemployment issue...most truck drivers do not quailfy for unemployment benefits, due to the crossing of statelines. I know of only a few select companies that will pay unemployment benefits to truck drivers.

But Stan my point was if you got rid of the 25 company drivers you still have the 25 trucks and trailers till you sell them. You may have taken them off the road but you still have them (and insurance and truck payments)And in this economy who is buying? That is point I was trying to get across.

[Orangetxguy]

But Stan my point was if you got rid of the 25 company drivers you still have the 25 trucks and trailers till you sell them. You may have taken them off the road but you still have them (and insurance and truck payments)And in this economy who is buying? That is point I was trying to get across.

The trucks can be "Moth-balled" in a secured facility Jumbo. The taxes would be set-aside, and the insurance cost cut by 2/3's, while the trucks sit on a secure lot, waiting to return to work. That was what a lot of large companies did in 1980-1983.

I remember flying to places like Mount Holly New Jersey, Youngstown OH and Cora PA, to pick up company equipment that we drove to storage areas in OK and TX.

There is a tax regulation in place that allows trucking companies and construction companies to do that.