General Lease Information for
Prospective Owner Operators, Container Shuttle Fleet For 3 or 4 Axle Tractors
(U.S. Fleet Operations)
Thank you for considering Mitchell Bros. Truck Line, Inc. Mitchell Bros. is based out of Vancouver, WA (just across the river from Portland, Oregon). We represent a fleet of Owner-Operators that we believe are the finest in the industry today. Our Owner-Operator compensation program is among the best in the industry. We continually get good utilization out of equipment throughout the year.
Our container operation operates in Oregon, Washington, and -on occasion- Idaho. Our primary lane of operation is between Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington.
If you meet the qualification standards set forth below, and you want to be associated with the best, we encourage you to fill out our pre-qualification paperwork and submit back to Mitchell Bros. at your earliest convenience.
Pick The Program That Works Best For You!
Option #1. Sub-Contract to Mitchell Bros. by operating under YOUR OWN D.O.T. authority.
- or -
Option #2. Enter into an equipment lease agreement with Mitchell Bros. and operate on OUR D.O.T. authority.
Here is how Option #1 Works...
Sub-Contract To Mitchell Bros. by operating under Your Own Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) Authority.
In order to be a Sub-Contractor, the Owner-Operator must have a 3 or 4 axle tractor, a *4-axle chassis, and the following information on file with Mitchell Bros.:
- DOT Operating Authority
- Licensing for your equipment
- Insurance: Liability, Cargo, and Physical Damage
*Note: 4 axle chassis must have goose-neck and be capable of hauling either two 20 foot containers or one 40 foot container, must be capable of hauling hi-cube containers. Tractor must be licensed for gross vehicle weight of 105,500 pounds. Equipment needs to be able to haul a minimum payload (container & cargo) weight of 65,000 pounds.
Mitchell Bros. pays the following compensation:
Rate of pay for each load is negotiable. Historically, the average pay to our sub-haulers has been 85% - 86% of the revenue. Of course, this includes the sub-hauler providing both the tractor and chassis.
Note: Given the fluxuations in rates, fuel sur-charges, etc., we recommend you ask a company representative for the latest 6 month history of revenue. This wll give you the best idea of your potential earnings.
Here is how Option #2 works...
...Enter Into An Equipment Lease Agreement With Mitchell Bros. and operate on OUR D.O.T. Authority.
Mitchell Bros. pays the following compensation:
83% of Gross Revenue pulling YOUR chassis
75% of Gross Revenue pulling OUR chassis
Note: Given the fluxuations in rates, fuel sur-charges, etc., we recommend you ask a company representative for the latest 6 month history of revenue. This wll give you the best idea of your potential earnings.
Note: Mitchell Bros. works hard to have a reputation as an honest, up-front company based with integrity. For this reason, we feel it is important to issue this statement regarding rate quotes and settlement pay.
Please be advised that all rates quoted by Mitchell Bros. personnel to contractors at the time of dispatch is often a preliminary/estimated quote of anticipated revenue. Despite our best efforts to relay accurate rate information at the time of dispatch, it is sometimes difficult to factor in all the variables that can affect or change a rate. Such variables may include: different customers, equipment, traffic lanes, prior movement of cargo by other equipment, etc. Settlement pay is issued based on your contractual percentage rate and the amount of charges eventually agreed to between Mitchell Bros. and our customer.
Mitchell Bros. provides the following services:
- Fuel purchase program. You can purchase fuel using the Mitchell Bros.’ fuel card. There is no added charge to use the fuel card except the standard transaction fee of $0.00 to $0.50 depending on the fuel location.
Note: You can also benefit by purchasing fuel from our tanker when in Vancouver, WA. There will be a $.05 per gallon mark up from our bulk fuel price - which will still allow you considerable savings from normal truck stop fuel prices.
- Obtain your apportioned license plates and other operating credentials. $250.00 per settlement is deducted for licensing costs until paid in full. Then $200.00 per settlement is deducted in pre-payment for next years licensing.
- Federal Heavy Vehicle Tax (Form 2290: $550 per year
- Handles all the state fuel and road tax reporting. Mitchell Bros. sets up $.03 per mile for fuel and road-use (mileage) taxes. A statement of the total amount due and total amount deducted will be issued one month after the calendar quarter ends.
- Investigates and processes all accident and freight claims. Accident/claim deductible amounts are charged back to you. Property/Liability: $1,000.00 deductible. Cargo: $1,000.00. If pulling our trailer/chassis: $1,000.00 deductible. If you have tractor Physical damage coverage through Mitchell Bros. the deductible is $1,000.00.
- Conducts marketing efforts and assumes all responsibility for billing and collections (except for Collect on Delivery shipments).
- Provides liability (and bobtail liability), and physical damage (collision) insurance at a low cost because of your excellent safety record. (Liability Insurance = $440/month. Bobtail Liability Insurance = $45/month. Physical Damage is approximately 4% of value of equipment = Annual Premium)
- Provides Cargo Insurance at no cost to the Owner-Operator.
- Provides the necessary operating authority. (Mitchell Bros. has 48 State & Canada authority).
- Provides a passenger "rider" waiver policy. Passenger must be 18 years of age or older.
- Occupational accident and loss income plan available for the Independent- Contractor (approximately $148.00/month).
- Qualcomm Satellite (Free installation and use of communication technology to enhance productivity).
- Administrative Fee: $100 per month.
- Federal Annual Inspections No charge for first inspection. Subsequent years shall be charged $65 fee for tractor, $32.50 fee for trailer.
- AFLAC is available.
Vehicle Requirements
- Tractor: Tractor must be clean, presentable, safe, and meet all DOT requirements. All tractors are subject to a DOT type inspection before signing lease agreement. Tractor can be 3-axle, however, it is recommended to be a 4-axle to fully participate in this lane of traffic.
- Trailer: Chassis must be 4-axle with goose-neck and capable of hauling either 2-20 foot containers or 1-40 foot container, must be capable of hauling high cube containers, and must be licensed for gross vehicle weight of 105,500 pounds. Equipment needs to be able to haul a minimum payload (container & cargo) weight of 65,000 pounds.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Escrow Fund Requirement
An escrow deposit of $2500 is required by Mitchell Bros. A minimum cash deposit of $500.00 will be expected from the operator before Mitchell Bros. will initiate the licensing and registration of the tractor. The balance of the fund can be achieved through $200 deductions per settlement check. Talk to Mitchell Bros. representative if you are unable to make the minimum cash deposit to see if an exception can be made.
Cash Advances
A $200 weekly advance is available automatically off EFS card. Any additional cash advances must be approved by an authorized representative of Mitchell Bros. All advances are subject to a 5% fee charged by Mitchell Bros. In addition, an EFS nominal transaction fees (approximately $1.25) shall be charged back to the owner-operator. Note: Personal advances are not to be confused with a pre-established “Maintenance Fund.” There shall be no 5% charge if an owner-operator is withdrawing funds from his maintenance fund. However, if funds in maintenance fund are insufficient, then the difference shall be considered a personal advance and will be subject to 5% fee charged by Mitchell Bros.
Pay Days
Mitchell Bros. issues settlement checks on the 15h and the last day of the month. If the scheduled "pay day" falls on a Sunday or if Monday is a national holiday then the settlement check shall be issued the following business day. Typically, loads hauled between the 1st and 15th are paid on the last day of the month. Loads hauled between the 16th and the last day of the month are paid on the 15th of the following month. A calendar showing "cut off" dates and "pay days" will be issued to you at orientation.
Customer Equipment Picked Up or Dropped in Mitchell Bros. Yard
If an operator picks up equipment at its origin and delivers the equipment to its final destination there will be no charge back. However, if an operator drops any customer equipment at one of our yards and another tractor is used to make the delivery then the operator that dropped the equipment can be subject to a $44 - $50 charge. The rate of the charge back can vary. For example, if an empty container is delivered to one of our designated "customer sites" the charge is $44.00. If an empty container gets turned in to a "container facility" such as Northwest Container, Portland Container Repair then the charge is $50.00.
Health Care Coverage is Available
Ask company representative for a referral to an outside agent for permium quotes and information packet.
Owner-Operator Applications
If you would like to submit your application for review, either fill out the online form using the link below or you may print out an application using the PDF link below and fax or mail it. You may also come into our office and fill out one in person.
