Carriers race to the bottom

Murraycroexp · Mar 27, 2014

IMO those tools are way more valuable than their cost.
If you sit have a liftgate, you are a candidate for what may be the ONLY load out of that pit of an area you are in.
Once the company trucks trucks started failing that I "inherited" in 2002, I started spec'ing all our straights the same.
33,000#
Liftgate.
312"x102"x102" (26')
Air ride.
Air seats.
Air horns.
Trans roofs.
Etc.
Now, my guys were "out and back" since we had a huge local base and were so expensive. But at least they liked the equipment.

Murraycroexp · Mar 27, 2014

..........

Dynamite 1 · Mar 30, 2014

im really glad about now that i lease to a lowly carrier that just hauls simple old surface freight !!!

WE ARE LOAD ONE !!!!!

Tennesseahawk · Mar 30, 2014

Daffyduck528 said:
Hey on 1,000 miles that adds up! That's $50 towards the $10,000 lift gate you bought. And the $2,000 in freight handling equipment you bought and maintain. All you need to do is run 240 loads to pay that off with and be careful you don't loose or break anything in the mean time. After that you can start earning a profit on those tools you bought. And forget about the labor to use said items. You should work for free. After all your just a driver. (Sarcasm implied)

Watch it, Duck. Your sarcasm was almost lost on me. Now you keep out of this; he doesn't have to shoot you now!

Turtle · Mar 30, 2014

"You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes."

About to find out the Real World is much different.

Bruno · Mar 31, 2014

Turtle said:
"You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes."

About to find out the Real World is much different.

That made me laugh so hard I was in tears.

Dynamite 1 · Mar 31, 2014

the blue pill is a new one, we always say you have to drink the koolaid !!!

Steady Eddie · Mar 31, 2014

I guess the #1 bottom feeder is happy they're not alone down there....

coalminer · Apr 1, 2014

davekc said:
Sure. Many nameless carriers are all for quality service if they can get it for free. If not, you wouldn't have the goofy stuff going on you see now. Same with the multi's. If carriers can get something covered cheaper, they will in many instances do it whether they have trucks available or not. As for rates to the customer, they have ticked up. Latest Sylectus report indicates that looking across numerous carriers.
But like many, the bean counters in many carriers look to increase their profits on the back of operators only to later move their savings to recruiting costs because they can't figure out why their fleet is shrinking. Just baffles the mind sometimes.

In the corporate world, there is no such thing as long term thinking, its all about the current quarter, and what can I do to make sure I get MY bonus. There are plenty of examples out there (not just trucking) where a CEO will do massive damage to a companies reputation just so they can collect their bonuses. And why not, if they get fired, they have a golden parachute, so they win either way, and the people who do the work get screwed.

coalminer · Apr 1, 2014

jamom123 said:
Zorry, your giving way too much credit to julio his tractor only cost $5,000.

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I only paid $5000 for my straight truck, are you saying there is something wrong with that.....

OntarioVanMan · Apr 1, 2014

..................anywho's....

Turtle · Apr 2, 2014

coalminer said:
In the corporate world, there is no such thing as long term thinking, its all about the current quarter, and what can I do to make sure I get MY bonus. There are plenty of examples out there (not just trucking) where a CEO will do massive damage to a companies reputation just so they can collect their bonuses. And why not, if they get fired, they have a golden parachute, so they win either way, and the people who do the work get screwed.

To be fair, "current quarter thinking" is really more of a publicly traded company thing where they answer to shareholders. In privately owned companies, where the corporate officers are also the owners, they tend to have more long term thinking. But for public companies, your description is spot on.

coalminer · Apr 2, 2014

Turtle said:
To be fair, "current quarter thinking" is really more of a publicly traded company thing where they answer to shareholders. In privately owned companies, where the corporate officers are also the owners, they tend to have more long term thinking. But for public companies, your description is spot on.

Yes, very good point, privately owned businesses are more likely to think long term.

I used to work for Riddell, spent 20 total years of my life in that place, when we were bought by a private equity firm, the corporate morons came in and changed everything. It got to the point where I could not stand watching what these idiots do to a business that I put so much hard work into. After a year spent on the road in my Sprinter and straight truck, now I work for a company that does linen, they are a family owned business, responded to an ad on Craigslist, they needed someone to work on their laundry machines. I don't know how long I am going to work for this company, as they are the kind that only pays people minimum wage ( I make more than that for my skills) but its a matter of principle for me.

Big Al · Apr 2, 2014

davekc said:
Sure. Many nameless carriers are all for quality service if they can get it for free. If not, you wouldn't have the goofy stuff going on you see now. Same with the multi's. If carriers can get something covered cheaper, they will in many instances do it whether they have trucks available or not. As for rates to the customer, they have ticked up. Latest Sylectus report indicates that looking across numerous carriers.
But like many, the bean counters in many carriers look to increase their profits on the back of operators only to later move their savings to recruiting costs because they can't figure out why their fleet is shrinking. Just baffles the mind sometimes.

Got it exactly right when you referred to "the BEAN COUNTERS". They are the scourge of any business, especially the ones who have no experience only therories from their minds. I would hope any business would experiment on a small scale before going full scale. Even if it is a good idea it needs a workup to get it right before going full bore

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