Just what are the standards that are "too high"????
Calm down here. They require 2008 or newer equipment and driver approval is as hard as landstar to get in.
That is what I was told by my friend that hauls their general freight but he couldn't get approved for the expedite because his tractor is 2006.
He also stated that there isn't enough expedited freight with them to have a payment on a pretty new truck.
Geez, that is tuff isn't it. They prolly choose to up front eliminate the folks that wanna "try" this expediting gig I spose. I'm beginning to wonder IF there are ANY wannabe's/newb's these days that aspire above "minimum standards", to the five percenter level??
Don't believe that an o/o for any company would see the freight that dispatch/operations see's on a daily basis. Believe if your friend were in operations, sales, dispatch I would be more inclined to repeat what I was told. I am far from having a dog in this fight, but.....when do you fold em, when do you hold em??
i guess some people could sign with them but i dont know how well any one would do. seems like a revolving door for income. we spoke to them at length out of curiosity and their rate was sub standard. they pay a decent enough rate to keep cash flow but not enough to grow a bank account.
If I remember correctly the Col drove an old truck and continually ragged on those that had a "newer" truck.
But I could be wrong.
To me, it seems US Express wants the "cream of the crop" to trust them. "Buy a new truck, don't have points, and you'll make a profit." Doing what? Will you keep my truck full of truckload when no one wants your expedite division? What is it now? 1.15/mi?
Anything new on this thread? Just curious, now that it's been almost a year since 1st post.
As for the Swift flatbed comment, Swift's fb div is still going strong. It was started mainly to service one customed, Freightliner's motor chassis division. It was never planned to be a big fb division. With less than 500 power units in the fb fleet, out of almost 15000 in the primary fleet, you most likely won't see a Swift fb very often. My trainer from a few years ago is still with them, and doing well enough.