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Own the Road at Mercer
By Mary Hance
Mercer Transportation Co.'s new ad campaign for the year 2000 invites drivers to "Choose Your Own Road." The fleet wants owner/operators to know they can determine not only where they go, but also when, and how much money they can make.
Garry Wilmoski, one member of the general manager group for the 23-year-old, privately held company, says Mercer hopes giving contractors more control will keep them aboard for the long haul. Mercer is an irregular route carrier based in Louisville, Ky. It operates an entirely O/O fleet, mostly flatbeds, of more than 1,100 tractors. It has drivers domiciled in virtually every state.
"Some drivers are home every weekend," he says. "A few are home almost every night. Then we have some drivers who get home every three months. They can run 48 states and Canada or have a restricted area."
Keith Schaurer is one of those drivers who has put together the combination he wants. With a wife and five children in Piqua, Ohio, it's important for him to get home every weekend. It's also important to make a lot of money, so he runs an average of 2,700 miles a week.
Schaurer has been with Mercer for four years. "It may sound self-serving, but four years ago when I was shopping for a company, I had a high opinion of myself," he says.
"I work hard, I'm a professional and I wanted a company that deserved my service. I interviewed them; they didn't interview me. I narrowed it down to three companies and chose Mercer, mainly because of the people.
"This is a personal company. I have never felt like a number here. Management sees owner/operators as people, not as wheel holders," Schaurer says.
"For me, they had the best set of options," he says. "A very aggressive person can do as much as they want to do. A less driven person can be comfortable, and nobody gets mad.
"You really have to look at the whole package — the rates, the amount of deadhead, pay percentages, taxes, how you get your insurance. They are very competitive," Schaurer says. "I was looking for somewhere to go and stay. I'm in for four years, and I'm not looking to leave."
Mercer contractors haul iron, steel, pipe, machinery, building materials, glass and military freight. The fleet has had sustained growth since its start in 1977. Revenues for 1999 were $189 million; revenues in 2000 are projected at between $193 million and $200 million.
"In the beginning, trip leasing was the majority of the business," Wilmoski says. "Now we do a lot of brokerage where we enter into contracts with other carriers. About a third of the freight is handled by other carriers that we make arrangements for. We still do some trip leasing, too." U.S. government contracts make up about 10% of its business.
Jack Murphy in Mercer's recruiting department says the fleet makes every effort to be a good partner to its contractors. It offers affordable medical insurance for contractors and families, and pays fuel and ton-mile taxes without chargebacks. It also lets contractors have the same coordinator, pay person and log person each trip.
Another perk is the MPACT program. This plan helps contractors get discounts when they buy cargo handling and operating equipment, or have repairs on the road. Schaurer says MPACT really sets Mercer apart. "I haven't found anybody who can come close on prices," he says.
The fleet offers a variety of prompt payment options such as direct deposit. "We pay per trip within 24 hours of receiving the paperwork," Wilmoski says. Contractors average between 2,000 and 2,500 miles a week. Most are single truck owners. The largest contractor has 12 trucks. Average longevity with the fleet is six years.
Wilmoski says Mercer tries to be responsive to contractors' ideas. Many recent driver-friendly changes occurred because, "contractors have seen a need for something and told us about it," he says.
"We try to ask them what can you not get as an owner/operator that a company driver could get," he adds. "We believe that the personal attention we provide and open atmosphere is key to the success of our contractors and to our company."
Applicants must have at least a year of over-the-road experience with an ICC carrier, be at least 25 years old and have a good driving record with no more than two major offenses in three years. The fleet runs thorough background checks. There is no age limit on the equipment, but it must pass a DOT inspection.
For more information, call (800) 433-0904.
At a Glance
Mercer Transportation
(800) 433-0904
- Owner/operator flatbed
- 75% of 99% of revenues
- 2,000-2,500 miles a week
- Insurance
- Pays fuel and ton-mile taxes with no chargebacks
- Discount program on repairs, cargo equipment
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