FedEx

[ATeam]

It's funny. I was talking with a Sprinter operator the other day and he was telling me how all the B loads were being given to C trucks because dock-high C trucks are more important in the fleet. Now, in this thread I read how C loads are going onto B trucks (Sprinters).

Whatever kind of truck you own, the concern that "your" freight is going onto other trucks is easy to entertain. A Buddhist monk once taught me, "Keep your eyes in your own rice bowl."

Diane and I do just that. We are in a CR truck and are doing just fine; notwithstanding the fact that C loads go on E, D, and B trucks too.

We continue to command a higher price because of the special equipment and services we offer to our customers (our carrier first and through it, the shippers and consignees we serve). We are profitable because we focus more on the freight we can haul and less on the freight we can't.

 

[davekc]

Most of it is price driven. It would only be common sense that three pallet loads could go to a sprinter because of a cheaper rate. Most load boards clearly identify that. Customers that are price sensitive is where you will see this.
As far as T/S vs the Fed, I think you made the right call for now. I would stay at T/S

 

[Jefferson3000]

As far as the C rates go, what I'm seeing is the emergence of a "C" rate that has it's base about 10 cents higher than a cargo van, as opposed to the old method that was about 10 cents less than a D rate. Who knows. Everyone seems to have a new definition for every truck these days.

 

[CharlesD]

It appears to be easier to get good rates for my Sprinter when I'm dealing with a customer who doesn't know what a Sprinter is, and there are still plenty out there like that. Anything too big for a cargo van is automatically a straight truck load to them and then I call and tell them that I have enough room for that load but I'm not dock high. No way am I going to call it a van. The customer has all the pertinent information. They're told that I have a truck that will handle their three 60" tall skids but that my truck isn't dock high. They know that I can handle the load and that I will need a ramp to load it. In those cases I get darn good rates, but the people who know what a Sprinter is are more likely to classify it as a van and want to pay the lower rate. It's all playing with words, but I've found that a 12 foot non dock high truck gets a better rate than a longer taller cargo van.

 

[Jefferson3000]

It appears to be easier to get good rates for my Sprinter when I'm dealing with a customer who doesn't know what a Sprinter is, and there are still plenty out there like that. Anything too big for a cargo van is automatically a straight truck load to them and then I call and tell them that I have enough room for that load but I'm not dock high. No way am I going to call it a van. The customer has all the pertinent information. They're told that I have a truck that will handle their three 60" tall skids but that my truck isn't dock high. They know that I can handle the load and that I will need a ramp to load it. In those cases I get darn good rates, but the people who know what a Sprinter is are more likely to classify it as a van and want to pay the lower rate. It's all playing with words, but I've found that a 12 foot non dock high truck gets a better rate than a longer taller cargo van.

Exactly! Keep on negotiating.

 

[greg334]

It is clear, if you don’t know what is going on around you, than you can never ever get out of the ‘in the box’ thinking that some companies want you to maintain. If you like being in that position, well you like it and there is nothing you can do about it.

As a company driver, you got to know more than ever if C units are being loaded with D units and b units taking C units loads, (what ever combination you want to make out of it). It is all about business, it is all about how to leverage your limited ability to make decisions, secure offers but it is not about making a million dollars. As Phil said “A Buddhist monk once taught me, "Keep your eyes in your own rice bowl.", which has an important part missing, in order to understand that which is taken out of context (I am told), you got to look beyond the material things and get into the mindset that money does not always matter, status does not matter but what matters is you and your attitude.

I really feel that people like Charles, Col and a few others (*among a lot of others not mentioned) actually say a lot and many ignore the message or just don’t get it. They instead listen to people who toe the company line among the different carriers; they believe how easy this all is and get into this just to learn the hard way that there is no easy path to make a buck.

I am still trying to get out of this employee mentality. It is hard but because I have to do a lot of things alone, it is harder than what most go through. I feel fortunate to land where I am at and take responsibility for my inability to move my truck, not to be told that there it nothing wrong when there is. This company allows a lot more lateral discretion and a lot more flexibility than my previous company, and it is one step from being independent. The important thing is for me at least is that money is the motivation behind the business, not status, not a buddy system and surely not the feeling that everyone is not equal.

 

[ATeam]

As Phil said “A Buddhist monk once taught me, "Keep your eyes in your own rice bowl.", which has an important part missing, in order to understand that which is taken out of context (I am told), you got to look beyond the material things and get into the mindset that money does not always matter, status does not matter but what matters is you and your attitude.

My monk can beat up your monk.

 

[greg334]

My monk can beat up your monk.

That's funny