FedEx or Panther

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
I'd also say they are both good for teams, the difference being different management and operational styles and customer bases. While a team should do well at either one, they'll probably do it more comfortably and happier at one than the other.
 

Streakn1

Veteran Expediter
You did not specify what type unit you plan to drive. Are you planning to go into a C, CR, D, DR, E, or ER unit? You may find some differences as we did when we switched from a DR-unit to a tractor trailer.

Credentials and choice of equipment will impact the amount of revenue you can earn, especially important if you plan to be an O/O. If so, you want to be able to make the most amount of revenue on the least amount of investment, of course keeping in mind what your comfort needs on the road will be.
 

arkjarhead

Veteran Expediter
If I personally were wanting to get into the special services area I would lean more towards FedEx. If not I think Panther. I think a team in the right truck, driven by a couple that understand how to snag some decent backhauls out of areas that are dead for expedite can do good at Panther. I think I would have enjoyed my time at Panther more had I been part of a team. Not to say there is no place there for a solo they just put more HOS restraints on you than the FMCSA does that's why I enjoyed the smaller outfit.
 

nightcreacher

Veteran Expediter
ive had trucks on with both,If you dont mind useing the load board,you can make money at panther,you may sit more at fecc but you should make same money sitting as to runnning your butt off at another company.If your in specialized equipment,right now i think fecc would be better,panther is just getting into that market.
Gary,dont dicourage people from fedex,your situation from DR to Tractor Er is not the usual,as per size of your tractor.You are limited to size of load,do to the 43' of cargo space that was in your trailer,and not being TVAL,you r reefer trailer wasnt helping you.Im glad your doing well hauling jet engines and parts,and i still hold you as a friend,but your situation at fecc was different than anyone elses here.Its not fare to compare apples to oranges,as you actually made more money pulling the company trailer than when you bought the reefer,and remember where you live,being in fl isnt a plus here either,it is now with what your are doing,and thats great.
 

easyrider2697

Expert Expediter
You did not specify what type unit you plan to drive. Are you planning to go into a C, CR, D, DR, E, or ER unit? You may find some differences as we did when we switched from a DR-unit to a tractor trailer.

Credentials and choice of equipment will impact the amount of revenue you can earn, especially important if you plan to be an O/O. If so, you want to be able to make the most amount of revenue on the least amount of investment, of course keeping in mind what your comfort needs on the road will be.


Excellent response!! my thoughts exactly.
 

easyrider2697

Expert Expediter
Gary,dont dicourage people from fedex,your situation from DR to Tractor Er is not the usual,as per size of your tractor.You are limited to size of load,do to the 43' of cargo space that was in your trailer,and not being TVAL,you r reefer trailer wasnt helping you.Im glad your doing well hauling jet engines and parts,and i still hold you as a friend,but your situation at fecc was different than anyone elses here.Its not fare to compare apples to oranges,as you actually made more money pulling the company trailer than when you bought the reefer,and remember where you live,being in fl isnt a plus here either,it is now with what your are doing,and thats great.

Maybe I read it wrong but I did not see any discouragement here...just facts of the business.
 

Streakn1

Veteran Expediter
Steve, where is the discouragement towards FedEx if any in my post? I was only interested in what type equipment and what credentials the original poster would be throwing into the pot. As we all know that can greatly effect ones revenue potentual depending on the carriers needs and customer base.

Just maybe if I had privately shared my experiances regarding the choices I made while leased to my previous carrier, the original poster would have found them to be helpful. Just maybe it would have helped them to avoid some of what I experianced. Maybe my previous carrier would end up working out quite well for them, or maybe not.

Furthermore, I don't remember mentioning FedEx or our experiance with them in a discouraging way in my reply, nor did I intend to publicly on this thread.
 
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OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
Differences between FedEx and Panther:

FedEx is expediting for dummies---essentially they know your every move.

Panther is expediting for dictators---essentially they dictate your every move.

:p
 

Streakn1

Veteran Expediter
Now theres a real encouraging insight to both carriers! LOL Have we scared off all the Newbies yet?
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
OVM,
That is pretty funny actually.
All seriousness aside, Panther you can do pretty much what you want. If you don't like their load, book your own.
As far as Elite services, they are are growing and WG at the Fed isn't.
If so, they would be adding trucks and business.
If you have a specialized truck, you can't even put it on there as many of their current contractors are on a waiting list.
Only option that way is to find a fleet owner in that division.
Unless of course, something has changed since the last post indicating that.
Have to watch in a slow economy if all your eggs are in one basket.
I get calls weekly from drivers that are stuck and sitting for a week or more waiting on the carrier.
Go somewhere where you actually have control over YOUR business.
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
Dave...I know better but I just threw that out there....still waiting to be slapped by the party faithful.....;)
 

arkjarhead

Veteran Expediter
Ken I knew there was a reason I needed to go to the Expo. To keep everyone from jumpin you and beating you down. :)
 

TeamCaffee

Administrator
Staff member
Owner/Operator
OVM if we make it to the Expo I am going to be the first one to give you a smack up side the head!!! LOL for this post and a few others. Really hope to see you guys at the Expo and can only hope at this point the next load will send us in the right direction.
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
OVM if we make it to the Expo I am going to be the first one to give you a smack up side the head!!! LOL for this post and a few others. Really hope to see you guys at the Expo and can only hope at this point the next load will send us in the right direction.

Linda
I am sitting in Tulsa now just itchin to go east and make the BIG shew...JuJu's at home ...am flying solo.....
I knew one of the party faithful would finally jump in....
Darned I thought it would be Are or Cheri to slap me down!!!:rolleyes:
 

TeamCaffee

Administrator
Staff member
Owner/Operator
Well I guess if you are afraid that my smack might hurt you I will get in line and hit your third as I think there could be a line! Hope you get out of Tulsa and make it to the Expo we are heading for Florida and hope we get something going towards Ohio also.
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
Well I guess if you are afraid that my smack might hurt you I will get in line and hit your third as I think there could be a line! Hope you get out of Tulsa and make it to the Expo we are heading for Florida and hope we get something going towards Ohio also.

So I hears this rumour at a truck stop so it must be gospel right?

Well anyhow story goes the Feds pay bonus bucks to select contractors(not mentioning names to protect the innocent) to monitor the web and quell any "discomforting stories" about Fedex....;)

if I volunteered for the dunk tank the charties would make a ton of bucks....:rolleyes:
 
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