Landstar Application

What the Landstar Application Process Is Really Like: From Application to First Load

The Landstar application process can move fast once everything is complete, but the early stages can feel slower than drivers expect.

One of the most common questions I get from drivers considering Landstar is:

"How long does it take to get approved?"

The answer is frustratingly simple:

It depends.

I've heard of drivers getting through the process as fast as one week. I've also heard of drivers spending several weeks working through requirements before they ever make it to orientation.

Having gone through the process myself, I thought I'd share what actually happened, what surprised me, what slowed things down, and what I'd do differently if I had to do it all over again.

Get Your Hazmat Endorsement Early

If you don't already have a Hazmat endorsement, start working on it immediately.

This was one of the biggest delays in my own application process.

When I decided to apply to Landstar, I was in California. My CDL was issued in Florida, so I had to work my way back across the country, take time off, complete the required Hazmat training, pass the DMV test, and complete fingerprinting before Landstar would move forward.

Landstar does provide a Hazmat training course at no charge before you take the test, which was helpful.

What surprised me was how the application process seemed to move in stages.

For example, if something in Stage 1 wasn't complete, everything stopped until that requirement was finished.

Once Stage 1 was cleared, Landstar moved to Stage 2.

If something in Stage 2 wasn't complete, everything stopped again until that requirement was finished.

From a driver's perspective, this can make the process feel slower than expected because Landstar generally isn't working on later steps while you're still completing earlier requirements.

My advice is simple: don't sit on anything.

If they need a document, send it.

If they need a test completed, get it done.

If they need copies of something, send them immediately.

The faster you complete requirements, the faster the process moves.

Employment Verification and Background Checks

Once I completed the earlier requirements, Landstar began working through my employment history and background checks.

This part was fairly straightforward.

The biggest surprise came near the end.

Most trucking companies I've dealt with will work through the majority of the hiring process while you're still employed. In many cases they'll conditionally approve you before asking you to leave your current carrier.

That wasn't my experience.

Landstar worked through my employment history all the way up to my current carrier and then informed me that I would need to resign before they would continue with final approval.

That definitely caught me off guard.

In my case, it wasn't a deal breaker because I was already planning to leave my previous carrier. But it's something drivers should know ahead of time so they can plan accordingly.

Once Approved, Things Move Fast

The interesting thing about my experience is that while parts of the application process felt slow, everything moved quickly once I was approved.

Permits were FedExed overnight.

Orientation was scheduled quickly.

Communication was excellent.

After spending weeks gathering documents, completing requirements, and waiting for various stages to clear, things suddenly accelerated.

Choosing an Orientation Location

Landstar has several orientation locations around the country.

I chose Fort Worth because I wanted to take the Cargo Securement Class immediately after orientation.

Looking back, I'm glad I did.

One thing worth mentioning is that Landstar paid for the hotel.

Breakfast was included at the hotel.

Lunch was catered each day at the orientation center.

That may not sound like a big deal to someone outside the trucking industry, but many experienced drivers have attended orientations that were far less comfortable.

When I attended orientation at CR England back in 2002, drivers stayed in dorm-style housing with multiple people sharing rooms.

Compared to that experience, having a private hotel room and meals provided was a nice touch.

Be Prepared for a Lot of Training and Testing

Landstar likes training.

A lot.

Before you ever arrive at orientation, you'll complete a long list of online training modules and quizzes.

I don't remember the exact number, but it felt like around twenty separate modules.

Then you'll arrive at orientation and cover many of the same topics again.

And yes, there are more tests.

Nobody goes into trucking because they love online training modules and quizzes. It's simply part of the process.

If you're coming to Landstar, expect to spend some time in training and expect to take a lot of tests.

Bring Your Truck and Trailer If Possible

I attended orientation with my truck and trailer.

Once orientation and training were complete, I was basically ready to go to work.

Several drivers attended without trailers and were waiting for trailer assignments.

I don't know how long every driver waited because I was focused on getting my own operation running.

What I do know is that it seemed to be a common source of frustration among some of the new BCOs.

If you already own a trailer, you'll likely be in a position to start moving much faster once orientation is complete.

Motive vs Omnitracs

Landstar currently offers two primary ELD options: Motive and Omnitracs.

If you don't specifically need Omnitracs, I would strongly recommend taking a hard look at Motive.

Officially, nobody is going to tell you which system to choose.

Unofficially, I got the impression that many people preferred Motive.

I chose Omnitracs because my wife and I run as a team and were considering opportunities within Landstar's AA&E division, which requires Omnitracs.

Unfortunately, both Omnitracs units I received were refurbished.

The original unit failed during my first week.

The replacement unit was also refurbished.

Omnitracs no longer manufactures new hardware, and some of the equipment feels like it belongs in another decade.

Eventually everything worked correctly, but it created more headaches than I expected during my first week.

Don't Forget This ELD Requirement

This is probably the most important tip in the entire article.

Once your ELD is installed, make sure every driver logs into it within the required timeframe.

My co-driver and I were busy with orientation, paperwork, training, setting up accounts, and trying to learn the Landstar system.

We overlooked that one small requirement.

The next morning we woke up ready to pick up our first load and discovered that our truck had been placed on hold.

That means you're not eligible for dispatch.

Not exactly what you want to discover when you're supposed to pick up your first load at 7:00 in the morning.

The issue was eventually resolved after several calls to Compliance, but not before I became very familiar with Landstar's hold music.

Learn from my mistake.

Log into the ELD immediately.

Your First 120 Days

Every new BCO is assigned a BCO Advisor for approximately the first 120 days.

This person serves as a point of contact and can help direct you to the correct department when questions come up.

Landstar has a lot of departments:

• Safety
• Compliance
• Recruiting
• Permits
• Contractor Relations
• Over Size
• Drayage
• AA&E

And many others.

Having someone who can point you in the right direction can save a lot of time.

Ironically, I never actually scheduled my introductory call.

I was too busy running freight and learning the system.

I did exchange an email with my advisor once, but that was about it.

After the 120-day period ends, support is still available. You simply won't have one specific advisor assigned to you.

Cargo Securement Training

If you're interested in flatbed or step deck freight and don't already have experience, I highly recommend taking the Cargo Securement Class while you're at orientation.

At the time I attended, the class was only offered in Fort Worth.

The class runs for two additional days after orientation.

One of the nice things about taking the class is that it gives you options.

You can complete the training, get qualified, get on the list for a flatbed or step deck, and continue running dry van freight while you wait.

Or you might discover that dry van freight is exactly what you're looking for and never use the qualification at all.

Either way, you'll have the option available.

Tanker Qualification

Drivers who want to haul tanker freight have additional requirements.

If you have a tanker endorsement and plan to haul tanker loads, Landstar requires a tanker road test.

The test is conducted using a trailer loaded with partially filled totes to evaluate your ability to handle liquid surge.

At the time I attended, the tanker road test was only available in Fort Worth and St. Augustine.

If tanker freight is part of your plan, it's worth coordinating those requirements ahead of time.

You'll need to bring your bobtail for the test or arrange to complete it later.

My First Week

My orientation was Monday and Tuesday.

Cargo Securement training was Wednesday and Thursday.

By Friday I had booked my first load.

The biggest challenge during that first week wasn't finding freight.

It wasn't dealing with agents.

It wasn't learning the load board.

It was dealing with Omnitracs issues and a few compliance-related headaches while getting everything configured correctly.

Once those issues were resolved, things settled down quickly.

Today, Landstar's corporate departments mostly stay in the background where they should be.

They're available when I need them, but most of my day-to-day interaction is with agents or customers, not corporate departments.

Final Thoughts

The application process took longer than I expected.

The biggest delay was obtaining my Hazmat endorsement and working through the various stages of the approval process.

The biggest surprise was having to leave my previous carrier before final approval.

The biggest frustration was dealing with Omnitracs during my first week.

The biggest positive was how quickly things moved once approval was complete.

Permits were FedExed overnight.

Orientation was scheduled quickly.

And by the Friday after orientation, I had booked my first load.

If you're considering Landstar, my biggest piece of advice is simple:

Be proactive.

The drivers who move through the process fastest are usually the ones who stay on top of every requirement, return calls quickly, submit documents immediately, and don't let items sit on their to-do list.

The process may take some time, but once you're approved, things can move surprisingly quickly.