tallcal101
Veteran Expediter
When I got into the van line business 25 years ago,the President of United Van Lines at that time was Robert"Bob"Baer.He was a real leader in a very vanilla industry.
Deregulation of the trucking industry in 1980 was supposed to open the markets up to competetive pricing and allow contracts with specific discounts,free insurance etc.Incentive driven.The shippers soon took advantage of our willingness to give the store away.We had a lot to learn.
Mr.Baer loved to use the ice cream analogy when he spoke to industry groups.Bekins,Allied,North Amrican etc,take your choice.Pick your flavor.Choose by color perhaps.But keep in mind they are,and will forever be,vanilla
There is nothing that can truly make a distinct difference between carriers.We all do the same job the same way.We all want to make more money,and some of us spend enormous amounts of money on trucks that can do a few extra things and reap a small amomut of additional money.
I chose a brand,plain and simple.A brand that is known,and trusted,and familiar to most shippers.Does it make it a choclate Sunday?No way.However,the brand does ensure to shippers that the company will be around next week,and next month,and probably next year.
In todays merger/ aquisiton crazy world that stands for something,it's a plus.As mad as I get at my carrier at times,I will forgive them and move on,knowing they will be paying me my money on time.They treat my driver's fairly,and keep me informed.They are people intrested in making a profit,and being around for a while.But in the end,they are still vanilla.It's just the way it is.
Deregulation of the trucking industry in 1980 was supposed to open the markets up to competetive pricing and allow contracts with specific discounts,free insurance etc.Incentive driven.The shippers soon took advantage of our willingness to give the store away.We had a lot to learn.
Mr.Baer loved to use the ice cream analogy when he spoke to industry groups.Bekins,Allied,North Amrican etc,take your choice.Pick your flavor.Choose by color perhaps.But keep in mind they are,and will forever be,vanilla
There is nothing that can truly make a distinct difference between carriers.We all do the same job the same way.We all want to make more money,and some of us spend enormous amounts of money on trucks that can do a few extra things and reap a small amomut of additional money.
I chose a brand,plain and simple.A brand that is known,and trusted,and familiar to most shippers.Does it make it a choclate Sunday?No way.However,the brand does ensure to shippers that the company will be around next week,and next month,and probably next year.
In todays merger/ aquisiton crazy world that stands for something,it's a plus.As mad as I get at my carrier at times,I will forgive them and move on,knowing they will be paying me my money on time.They treat my driver's fairly,and keep me informed.They are people intrested in making a profit,and being around for a while.But in the end,they are still vanilla.It's just the way it is.
