Expedite With Tractor and Pup Trailer?

[zorry]

I believe it's really a low cost of entry thing.
Hundreds of excess pups.
You can buy a decent class 8 tractor for $10-15,000. At that price you can afford to scoot around regionally and be home weekends.
Opens the driver pool at little cost to the carrier.
At the cost of pu and del for Fedex Frt I imagine anytime a shipper loads a few pallets on a pup it'll be cheaper to let these o/o's run it direct.
Fedex Frt is a great job,with driver's hitting $100,000 per year plus benefits.
Why not pay an I/C to do the work ? Give him home week ends and half a trl and he'll almost pay Fedex to pull that pup.
Ain't no dummies in Green.(Green,Oh.)

 

[Rocketman]

I believe it's really a low cost of entry thing.
Hundreds of excess pups.
You can buy a decent class 8 tractor for $10-15,000. At that price you can afford to scoot around regionally and be home weekends.
Opens the driver pool at little cost to the carrier.
At the cost of pu and del for Fedex Frt I imagine anytime a shipper loads a few pallets on a pup it'll be cheaper to let these o/o's run it direct.
Fedex Frt is a great job,with driver's hitting $100,000 per year plus benefits.
Why not pay an I/C to do the work ? Give him home week ends and half a trl and he'll almost pay Fedex to pull that pup.
Ain't no dummies in Green.(Green,Oh.)

Agreed. FDXCC does a lot of things that don't go over so well, but they have always been on the ball with trying new things. Most forget that corporate's main goal is corporate profits.

 

[Rocketman]

If they offered the right gig, I would be willing to try it myself. If they decide to make it a permanent offering, I would likely buy a new single axle tractor for the job.

 

[layoutshooter]

I guess I don't understand...other than the actual swapping, the security would be the same ....given equal training. I guess it could be a risk at the moment that there is no tractor under the trailer. In a swap, that would be a very, very short time though. With a company the size of fedex or any of the other LTL carriers, they could easily do the swap at a company facility.

I just see it as very "do-able". I had not actually considered secure loads. Regular surface freight doesn't see as much of that. But, if they wanted it to happen with secure loads too, I believe it could.

Every time the truck stops, there is added risk. Every swap is added risk. I know on certain government loads regulations forbid this, at least they used too. It would not surprise me if there were not the case on other kinds of loads. It would be a REAL pain with a courier on board.

It would be perfect for surface, low value loads.

 

[zorry]

Surface, low value loads I would think would be their niche.
I believe they are non-air ride trls. At first I imagine they will be pulled by low end equipment that passes inspection.
It'll probably be great for a small group and affect the solo surface trucks the most.
Look around. Don't y'all see more Fedex trucks off all colors everywhere ?
I think they are slowly dominating the frt market in the US.
Expeditors will always have our peaks and valleys. This may help us as they pick up market share.

 

[Rocketman]

I'm guessing that the rates for "easy entry" are equally dismal...lol

 

[fatboy1]

Yeah i saw these about 3 yrs ago at fdcc talked to the couple they said they were one of the original teams they used. I have been thinking quite seriously on talking with a company recruiter about doing this. I like it and think it will work.

 

[zorry]

I think three years ago they started the company trl program for WG.
The pup program I believe is only a few months old.
The WG trls didn't kill WG for most of us.I wouldn't think the pups would have much of a negative impact.

 

[BigBadBill]

Do the math, cost of ownership like described is only pennies a mile less than 53'. But the rate per mile would be significantly less. It may be an alternative if you specialized in local or city delivery but as general OTR option don't see it working.

 

[BigCat]

Do the math, cost of ownership like described is only pennies a mile less than 53'. But the rate per mile would be significantly less. It may be an alternative if you specialized in local or city delivery but as general OTR option don't see it working.

According to the advertisements on road dog radio that use them for regional. They are hiring for Midwest regional right now. I considered looking in to it.

 

[iceroadtrucker]

I wasn't sure on how many there was, but the first one I seen was around 1996. Those were the days back then.

That man and Wife team Are still around, The Trailer is fitted with a Thunder Bird Reefer Casing.
Very astute. (Carrier).
Yupper. They seem Happy!!

 

[rollincoal]

I saw an independent TT o/o using a pup trailer to haul the same expedited loads I was working at a hot location several months ago. These shipments could have gone out on ST's but over time they did get larger. He was local to that area and simply taking advantage of the situation like we all were. Where it screwed him was the full TL of racks going back down he had to pass on but the rates were fantastic and worth going back empty anyways. For a small operator in the right situation like this it could work but really not often enough for me to try it. Not steadily anyways.

 

[Moot]

Do the math, cost of ownership like described is only pennies a mile less than 53'. But the rate per mile would be significantly less. It may be an alternative if you specialized in local or city delivery but as general OTR option don't see it working.

You're missing the point. A 28' pup would be more versatile than a D unit and could pull a 53'.

 

[Moot]

According to the advertisements on road dog radio that use them for regional. They are hiring for Midwest regional right now. I considered looking in to it.

The ad was probably for FedEX Ground not Custom Critical.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

This was brought up back in 05, I believe. I was this close to doing it myself. Even found the tractor. But like so many other opportunities, I chickened out.

I honestly believe there's a niche to be made with this, as there is one with an Argosy and 28-30' box. Problem is no one will go balls to the wall with it, and not many carriers will take them on. Come to think of it, the lack of acceptance from companies was ultimately what pushed me away from the idea. It's something I might have to look at again.

 

[Doggie Daddy]

The ad was probably for FedEX Ground not Custom Critical.

No, this is just what Custom Critical is using them for, regional work.

 

[purgoose10]

Do the math, cost of ownership like described is only pennies a mile less than 53'. But the rate per mile would be significantly less. It may be an alternative if you specialized in local or city delivery but as general OTR option don't see it working.

I agree. I also agree with about all the posts. But, with the cost of operating a tractor (licenses, ins etc) why not put a 53'? Cost of operation between a 28' pup and a 53 in miniscule. You also have more freight available with a 53. Kind of like sitting somewhere in a van and the Sprinter next to you gets the load.

 

[zorry]

This is an alternative to a D unit. How many decent D units do you see out there for sale ?
For a much lower price you can get a used tractor.
Cheap plate. Stay close to home and be home weekends.
I know a TValer that just went to Supply Chain. Loads her D reefer Mon and Wed near home. Always back empty. 2 two day trips per week. No partner.
Easy seat to fill.

 

[Moot]

No, this is just what Custom Critical is using them for, regional work.

Is the freight running regional or just the driver and tractor?

 

[Tennesseahawk]

This is an alternative to a D unit. How many decent D units do you see out there for sale ?
For a much lower price you can get a used tractor.
Cheap plate. Stay close to home and be home weekends.
I know a TValer that just went to Supply Chain. Loads her D reefer Mon and Wed near home. Always back empty. 2 two day trips per week. No partner.
Easy seat to fill.

It is an alternative. With a dual axle, I believe you can run as much weight as in a 52'. But why take a 28' (I've been checking out low-mid 30'ers) instead of a 53'? Same reason people drive straights... they're easier to get around in. They're easier to park. And they give more opportunities than traditional straights, weight-wise, and length-wise.

Downside is finding a company that will take them on. FXCC is probable, as is Landstar. But others are in that mentality of "Why not go all the way with a 53'er if the insurance is the same?"