D Units on the Highways

[Broompilot]

I have been seeing more D Units with no name companies than name brand companies out here all summer. Panther seems to dominate, where FECC use to be on top now they do not even hardly seem to be out there. What gives? Unless its a special White Glove kinda Truck the regular D-Unit seems like a Dinasoar any more.

But one thing I am seeing is how OLD these trucks or the entire fleet of D units is getting. Seems like a 99 model is the Norm. Some are kept nice and even washed, but the large % are disscustingly filthy, showing there age and committment of ones pride in the ride.

You seeing what I have been noticing?

 

[ATeam]

>You seeing what I have been noticing?

No.

 

[cheri1122]

Gosh, BP, where have you been hanging out? I was just last night, as I rolled west through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, thinking that there sure are a lot of FedEx D units out here, and most of them looked pretty good, too.
Maybe that's why you didn't see them - they were mostly where I was, lol.

 

[Doggie Daddy]

>>You seeing what I have been noticing?
>
>No.

Me neither.DD.

 

[Jefferson3000]

Well, down here in Florida I see a lot of Fedex trucks. Comparatively speaking, of course. Lots of Fedex E units. Usuall amount of Panther trucks, primarily C and D trucks. The big surprise I guess is more and more Tri-State trucks (C and D). And yes, I have been seeing many more small carriers.


Drive Safe!

Jeff

Driver for 15 years
O/O for 13 years
OOIDA #829119

[em]"Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed." --Mark Twain[/em]

 

[x06col]

"No Name"??? I represent that remark. I suggest you clean your glasses up a bit there Broom. If you pay attention and LOOK, you will clearly see my name on ALL our trucks, bright and clear.

 

[Broompilot]

So what is the name of your company Col? Names that I do not see here by advertising, Fast Expedite, #1 Expedite, BTO Express, A&J, etc.....

Just seeing more and more of private small companies than the big FECC or Panther. See almost as many E unit panthers as I do Ds.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

I see a lot of "no name" companies with no logo. Only regular name and number deals, like they're expecting not to be in business long. Name recognition is part of the game. That's why these monster companies have monster logos on their trucks, which seem to take a million years to take off when you get tired of their monster egos. :7

What I'm saying, basically, is be creative. If it's worth getting your authority for, make a logo. Customers who see Foster's fireball remember it. Same with small companies like C&M.

No one can read little letters going the opposite way on the freeway. Maybe that's what they're hoping for? Dunno.

-Vampire Super Slooth Trucker!!!

 

[riverrat2000]

with the way freight is being done online, the massive percentages the major players are taking, and the expensive cost of doing business I am thinking that a lot of people are going to get their own athority, first why pay an agent to sit in front of a screen and make 15 percent or so for 10 minutes work now if they would actually get of their asses and go find some quality customers that is one thing but to make that kind of money on our sweat and blood is crazy, and the big companys getting 20 or 25 percent for basically using their authority, taking care of the paperwork, and managing the rules and regulations while raking in record profits year after year without accepting some of the financial pain of out of control expenses just can't go on forever, add the mexican truck problems,the hours or service turmoil, throw in the much higher tolls that are going to have to come out of our pockets, the enviromental upgrades for existing trucks and APUs or the price of a new one, just stop and think of all the crap the goverment and trucking companys have thrown at us in just the past few months, well after writing this and thinking about it I am starting to wonder when it is all going to come crashing down aroung us. It wasn't that many years ago that the trucking community would have been yelling loud and long,today its oh well they are not taking that much more from my pockets. big business and the goverment are conspiring together to put the American truck owner in his/her place and we are cheering them on as they do it

 

[MOUNTAINMAN]

how about letting someone drive a old truck leased to a company.tell them they can earn lots of money,pay for fuel,tolls,food,taxs,insurance,tires,services for truck,bla bla bla.while the owner drives his/her 4-door dually to bank loaded wih cash

 

[Broompilot]

This has really turned into one Crappy Post, from turning it all around to the Col. being such a cry baby and another personal attack on someone once again. Let me go get my Windex......

OK, the original comment if taken wrong wich some seem to be Cryinig over there spilt milk. Is I have just not noticed nearly as many FECC Ds or Panther, but many many other small independent carriers. Most of the trucks I also notice are older, much older. And to put insult into it you can also notice that at one time it was Leased to FECC, Panther, Tri-State, Express 1 etc...

Newer trucks generally not always seem to be leased onto FECC, Panther, some of the larger Carriers.

Now this has turned into MTN talking something about his Owners and the vehicle his owners personally drive?

Any other change of the subject, or personal insults there Col.? Someday you just might have something positive to say NAHH I would not put $ on that.

 

[are12]

Broom,

I know what you are talking about. I have noticed, more and more, that alot of trucks do not have the logo's on the box. If we look closely at the truck, the names are on the cab but that is it. I just chock it up to owner's being afraid to have the names on the box because of the way some of them change companies.

And, yes, I have seen alot more trucks that are leased on with smaller companies.

 

[MOUNTAINMAN]

i apologize for the rude post.do you think that all the lurkers that visite here found out that there is money in them six wheelers running under there own authority. it ant that hard to get it and all the other numbers.get a load board and start running.that might explain no big names on the box just small names on the door.not to mention lot cheaper.

 

[fastrod]

Or maybe some people do not like paying big money for a truck or van and have a company turn it in to a rolling billboard for themselves. And yes I have noticed a lot of older trucks with smaller carriers lately. Might be a sign of things to come.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

No... it's a sign that's been. Why invest $80k+ in a truck, only to be told in 5 years you have to buy another $100k+ truck? But the truck you're driving is still in great running order. I'll run my 01 century until it don't wanna run no mo, thanx. And if that means signing it on with a smaller company, or getting my own authority in order to run it, so be it.

-True independence can only be gained if you're trully independant.

 

[highway star]

The 5 year thing is only for signing the truck on. Most will let you keep a truck much longer once it's on. Rich had his on with the Fed for 9 years, I think?

 

[RichM]

H Star My 1996 FL 70 was in service 10 years 2 months, approximate 915,000 miles when I retired it.

 

[cheri1122]

I recently switched from one of the big carriers, to a small one, and I'm very happy to not be a rolling billboard. There is no logo, but we stay busy, nonetheless. I don't know how much 'name recognition' is involved, with most loads being bid on the internet, but I believe the owner has a good reputation, and I know I do what I can to uphold it. Just this morning, a customer was revising the delivery time, and when he asked what time would be convenient for me, I replied that the time that the customer wants me there would be the best time for me. And that was true, because a happy customer is the only kind I want.
While I agree that a name like FedEx carries great weight, us 'little fellers' can build a good reputation, too.
Now, please excuse me while I go find a truck wash - I'm seriously bugged, here.

 

[Turtle]

There are times when I seem to see a ton of FedEx or Panther or Tri-State Express-1 or <insert carrier du jour> trucks, and other times when I don't see one for days. Just like there are times when I rarely see a "no-name" carrier, and then a day or two later that's all I see. 2 or 3 weeks ago I pulled into a Flying J and there were six Landstar vans, and me. No one else.

Slow and steady, even in expediting, wins the race - Aesop

 

[CozDream]

I've taken the time to have numerous conversations with the vanilla D units we all see that appear to be a no-name operation. Most are locally owned business's with just a handfull of trucks. They derive the majority of work concentrating on localized accounts. Depending on how many feet of space used, they also depend on the vast resources of the common brokerage network to fill the box. Most i've spoken with are generally happy with the arrangement and pay. Hometime is generally weekly. I guess this really boils down to the amount of LTL freight there is readily available and the freedom to piggy-back multiple loads.
Most of these drivers reported averaging $800-1000 per week. Being that they have the flexibility of multiple P&D's in 2 different directions, that kind of money seems to be extremely believable.