Back-up plan

[Tennesseahawk]

Some things have gotten me to thinkin (scary thought!). Anyone who's experienced, or even just knowing the circumstances about the Conway takeover last year knows anything can happen to their company. How many of us have done the research to know where they'll go if their company disappears over night? If you feel your cash cow is starting to give sour milk, do you know where you might mooove? (I couldn't resist )

In all seriousness tho, I think about the Conway owners and drivers being left hanging if they chose not to stay with Panther. I would suggest a few things in case you have no choice but to move.

-Do research to find what companies would fit, then talk to their recruiters and drivers.

-Get applications for companies you'd consider moving to. Fill them out and have them ready to mail.

-Know what you need to in advance, so you're not caught by surprise. Changing companies can be stressful; and knowing the stuff beforehand will lift a few weights off your shoulders and save a few headaches down the road. QC charges, advance fees, insurance fees, accessorials, dh, FSC policies, annoying in-house rules, micromanaging tendencies, turn down penalties, areas they tend to get freight, percentage of discounted loads, passenger policies, etc.

-Keep the info current as companies tend to change policies regularly.

Keeping on top of the game means you could be rolling again within a couple days, rather than a couple weeks.

 

[davekc]

Very good advice Hawk.
Just like any business, what is good today, may not be tomarrow.
Invest wisely.








Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[Moot]

Excellent advice Hawk. I never saw the sale coming. I didn't have a backup plan. I was lucky the company was sold to Panther and not just shut down.

Saturday I received a copy of the Con-way Inc. annual report. In it Douglas Stotlar the president and c.e.o. of Con-way Inc and former president of Con-way Expedite (Now) had this to say to shareholders concerning the sale of Con-way Expedite: "Con-way Expedite, which was a good company but in a highly cyclical and fragmented market with limited growth potential."

A cover story from TRAFFIC WORLD, September 30, 1996 quotes then Con-Way Inc. president Robert T. Robertson on the opening of Con-Way Now and the major player in the market, Roberts Express: "It's one of the most exciting opportunities we've had in our 13 years. We have little tolerence for failure." Also from the article-Roberts has just 1.5 percent of the purely ground expedited domestic market, a statistic that signaled to Con-Way this highly fragmented market was ready for another large player. A quote from Robert Schwalm, Con-Way Now's director of sales: "The market is still in its infancy and is still growing."

My how things can change in 10 years! In 1996 the market was fragmented and 10 years after it is still fragmented. I guess the 1996 fragments were good fragments and the 2006 fragments were bad one. Kinda like corn. Oh well!

 

[mcbride]

Yes, Hawk, great advice-

We were absolutely blind-sided when Con-Way sold out. I wonder if the bad side, if there is one, of always worrying and having that contingency plan to go elsewhere is the feeling of being unsettled all the time.

I hate say this as it sounds kinda corny but...we like to be dedicated to the carrier we work for. That is, to be willing to defend it and be proud to work for it...being ready to leave it at a drop of a hat would dampen that spirit for us. BUT---then again we did get blind-sided. LOL


-mcbride-
--What goes around comes around--

 

[ATeam]

Yes. Hawk, good advice. Your post got me to thinking about all the white-collar and blue-collar employees who have been blindsided too by unexpected corporate sales, spinoffs, downsizing, outsourcing, etc. An expediter who is doing well in plan A and also has a plan B in hand is in pretty good position compared with employees who are or may be left standing stunned and clueless about their future when the bad news comes.

As self-employed truck drivers (owner-operators or fleet owner truck drivers), we have options when companies go south. That is a blessing.

 

[terryandrene]

My back-up plan is to use a spotter with two-way radio.

Seriously, This is a good topic, with good advice during these ify times where expedite carriers could easily reach critical mass and some of the smaller carriers implode, or, a large one or two, for that matter.

I'm sure we each have an idea where we'd go if going was necessary, but like accident insurance policies, it's a good idea to frequently review the plan and make adjustments as necessary.