loner1
Seasoned Expediter
I just read MOST of the entries on the "why owners are so crooked" thread. WOW was it an eye opener. Then I thought back to the owner that I partnered with and realized how "lucky" I was.
I worked for a 3PL provider that actually gave loads to Panther, Express-1, Bolt, etc..... When the economy slowed down, I was given the boot and could not find a job. I had spent all of my career on the "inside" if you will. After sitting home for a couple of months, I called some of my contacts at Panther. SEVERAL owners called me and I INTERVIEWED them, as they interviewed me, to see if we could "hit it off".
I ended up working for a man by the name of Bill. I want to tell you that I have never met a man that was so easy going and honest. Bill actually went above and beyond to make sure my needs were met. We spoke daily and became fast friends. I only worked for Bill for a few months, as a solo in one of his straights. He really wanted a team in the truck and I did not like the idea of teaming with a total stranger. (It's one thing to smell your spouse when they get stinky! Completely different if it's some other stinky, sweaty guy - farting and belching his disgusting odors as I try to drive.) Anyway, I gladly gave up the truck when he had a team he wanted to put in. I understood that HE had to stay afloat in this economy.
Bill and I have continued to stay in touch and I can not tell you what a help he has been to our family.
To my ignorance, we did not have a contract. We discussed the arrangements on the phone. HE picked me up and took be back to his house so that I could use one of HIS vans to go to orientation. HE paid for the hotel and ALL the expenses of orientation. IT NEVER DAWNED ON ME THAT HE MIGHT BE DISHONEST. I know now that I'm lucky he wasn't. Bill always paid me when he was suppossed to. In fact, there were times that he paid me MORE than he really should have or paid me early to help me out in an area. I remember at Christmas time, he paid me what was owed and then he said "what pro numbers are still out waiting to be paid?" I gave them to him and he said "I'm going to pay them to you now so you have some extra money for Christmas. Then when the ACTUAL pay time came for those pros, he tried to pay me again for them. I reminded him that he already paid me for them. HONESTY GOES BOTH WAYS. We discussed the settlement sheet every Friday and he paid me immediately after the phone call.
Now Bill is selling me one of his cargo vans (thousands below value) because he wanted to help me get started on my own.
I guess the purpose of my little thread is to say - THERE ARE SOME GOOD ONES. Go find them. I'm fortunate that my ignorance did not cost me any heartache, but look for the good ones. They are out there.
I worked for a 3PL provider that actually gave loads to Panther, Express-1, Bolt, etc..... When the economy slowed down, I was given the boot and could not find a job. I had spent all of my career on the "inside" if you will. After sitting home for a couple of months, I called some of my contacts at Panther. SEVERAL owners called me and I INTERVIEWED them, as they interviewed me, to see if we could "hit it off".
I ended up working for a man by the name of Bill. I want to tell you that I have never met a man that was so easy going and honest. Bill actually went above and beyond to make sure my needs were met. We spoke daily and became fast friends. I only worked for Bill for a few months, as a solo in one of his straights. He really wanted a team in the truck and I did not like the idea of teaming with a total stranger. (It's one thing to smell your spouse when they get stinky! Completely different if it's some other stinky, sweaty guy - farting and belching his disgusting odors as I try to drive.) Anyway, I gladly gave up the truck when he had a team he wanted to put in. I understood that HE had to stay afloat in this economy.
Bill and I have continued to stay in touch and I can not tell you what a help he has been to our family.
To my ignorance, we did not have a contract. We discussed the arrangements on the phone. HE picked me up and took be back to his house so that I could use one of HIS vans to go to orientation. HE paid for the hotel and ALL the expenses of orientation. IT NEVER DAWNED ON ME THAT HE MIGHT BE DISHONEST. I know now that I'm lucky he wasn't. Bill always paid me when he was suppossed to. In fact, there were times that he paid me MORE than he really should have or paid me early to help me out in an area. I remember at Christmas time, he paid me what was owed and then he said "what pro numbers are still out waiting to be paid?" I gave them to him and he said "I'm going to pay them to you now so you have some extra money for Christmas. Then when the ACTUAL pay time came for those pros, he tried to pay me again for them. I reminded him that he already paid me for them. HONESTY GOES BOTH WAYS. We discussed the settlement sheet every Friday and he paid me immediately after the phone call.
Now Bill is selling me one of his cargo vans (thousands below value) because he wanted to help me get started on my own.
I guess the purpose of my little thread is to say - THERE ARE SOME GOOD ONES. Go find them. I'm fortunate that my ignorance did not cost me any heartache, but look for the good ones. They are out there.
