Home Time Didn't Work - DH 2200 miles UT to NC

[x06col]

Aw Shucks. I figgured we were on to something here. Guess we'll have to go back to reading the whining, and, (hopefully) some touchy-feely consoleing by Dave, for non-issue type subjects. Like, the get me home (right now) macro not working to someones satisfaction. I only know of one place that can perform miracles like that.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Are you talking about the transporter room on the Enterprise? Now that Scotty's dead, I don't know if Sulu knows how to run it.

-Vampire Super Slooth Trucker!!!

 

[davekc]

You guys are hilarious.
All too often many get into expediting expecting a employer/employee relationship, and it is business to business relationship.







Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[x06col]

In reality Dave, your advice was sound. "Trust but verify". I've had drivers lie to me, dispatchers lie to me, shippers lie to me, recievers lie to me, and about everyone else in this business as well, in my couple years doing this. Problem is, they don't see their actions as bold faced lies, they view their actions as a bit of BS, not quite a lie. A lot of it is simply "by omission", but, still the same. I'm sure in this case however, that "if" there had been freight going from SLC exactly when the complainee needed it, the load would have been theirs, in all fairness to the get home macro.
But, some folks have not got it figgured out that the dispatcher just can't "crap" freight, particularly, going in a certain direction on demand. If "ALL the stars line up" it could happen. I certainly would not hold my breath, however.

 

[tonymcc]

My initial purpose for this thread was to find out if Home Time with other carriers and other Panther drivers was as this recent experience. We've only used it one other time in two years and it worked out okay that time. I think I got my answer, but a lot more. I've submitted a suggestion to upper management to possibly improve the effectiveness of Home Time and he seemed to think it was a good suggestion, and also said it was a topic they were discussing. One experience I had in LA after sitting 10 days was, after calling a key person at Panther, I got a load out of LA to VA in a few hours. Sure, that could have been a fluke, but when I called back in to voice my appreciation, he said he offered a bonus to the first dispatcher who could get us a decent load out of LA. It was at our full rate with a better than average FSC - not a backhaul. It was inferred that an incentive helped. I do wonder if there were loads we could have gotten, but other trucks were closer. I don't have the confidence that all dispatchers were looking further out than simply for available trucks rather than maybe higher priority trucks, but further from the shipper. Even so, we accepted the load after deciding we may not get a return load, and we were proactive ourselves in trying to find our own load. Mainly I wanted to know other's experiences, but I do think there is room for improvements in the Home Time system.

Thank you,

Tony
Panther Elite / Special Services - 2 years

 

[greg334]

Tony,
Maybe the problem with sitting is the lack of incentive for the people who actaully plan the loads and the dispatchers themselves.

Opps, I am bashing Panther again... Sorry.....

 

[x06col]

Most, that have been in the business for a while, know better than to place an extremely important, have to be there obligation in the "hands" of a program like that. I'd use it, and figgure if it worked, fine. If not, that's OK too. I certainly wouldn't hang my hat on it to be successful, given your time constraints and geography in this situation. Probably would have worked, if, given enough time. Remember IF is the middle word in life.

 

[davekc]

I have to agree. It is not going to be 100 percent all the time because of all the parameters needed for it to work. I would be happy with a 50 percent success rate.
But, at least they have a hometime program.
We have used it, and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.








Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[tonymcc]

So right to the last couple of replies. Though we've been at this for two years, we had only used Home Time one other time and it worked then. Even so, we did accept this load looking at the numbers if we had to DH home. Looks like there might be more incentives possible, but the driver should be prepared if they don't work. There's that word "if" again. Yep ... so right. Well, I guess I got my answers. Thanks again to all.

Tony

 

[are12]

Tony,

Whatever you do, don't use the message area when showing your unload, to put in for hometime - everyone just ignores it. We did that for 2 days and when I called today to make sure we were on the hometime board - guess what?? We weren't on it. Am I surprised? NO This has happened before so that is why I call in to verify our hometime.

The way we handle getting home is:

We pick a date to be home

We have a cut-off date as to how far out we will run. (We are scheduled to be home for this Sunday, so no loads going to CA,FL or Laredo for us)

Depending on where we are at on Friday, we may just head for home. We never count on Panther to get us home, since not much freight goes into NE PA but if we can get to the NY or OH area, we are grateful.

As for you taking that load to SLC, when you needed to be home by a certain date, the only think I can say is, "Live and Learn". We have all done our share of "helping" when we knew it was against our better judgement. The next time, we just say "no"!!

Be safe and SMILE!!! It could have been worse!:+ :+

 

[vandriver101]

Hi,
I have used the get home program 3 times,the first time I had to dh 800 miles,the second I actually got a good load home 650 miles,and the third I was empty moved(paid a portion of the fuel).I have been with panther only for a year and for the most part they did try to get me home.I have learned in this short time frame to not accept anything that your not prepared to drive back 100% for free!!.
When I need to be home I just drive that way with a message in availability NEEDS MI,and if I get something that way great!.When I'am already there and need to stick around,I tell them minis only or just go out of service(really sucks to not make any money but if you need to be home what can you do).The program probly could be tweeked a little to perfect it,but overall you just have to use your head.The dispatcher being snotty to you shouldnt have happened you should report the incident.





O/O B unit Panther #11514 Since 03/06

 

[tonymcc]

Arlene & Jim, that's good advice. I took the load with the condition I'd be put on Home Time. It's always good to check with the team leader on this, anyway. But since the load paid nearly $2.00 a mile, we knew worst case, we'd still make money. But I thought we'd get something. I'm not sure how hard everyone tried and how much the word got out. The loads that were offered in the wrong direction were business as usual. They didn't know we were on Home Time until we told them. Oh ..., yes, I see that. But yes, we learned.

Tony

 

[tonymcc]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Tony

 

[KYoung]

You asked if about "Home Time" with Landstar, we just go when we want and for long we want no questions asked. When we go Out of Service no one bothers us with load offers, unless we call specific agents and tell them to call us.

You may want to check on your status with Panther, under Ohio Law if a company tells a driver when they must work or puts any limitations on how , where or when they work they are considered an employee not an independent contractor. From what I have read Panther drivers are actually employees, that is if Panther requires you to be in service for so many days before you get to go home or qualify for home time. That seems like they put limitations on you, telling you when you must work, thats an employee, I think. If you are an employee then you should be entitled to Workers Comp, vacation pay, health insurance and all the other stuff Ohio requires them to give you. I,m not a lawyer, but on the surface it sounds like Panther has a lot of employees

 

[tonymcc]

Thank you for your reply. I was more interested in the "success" others were having with Home Time ... with Panther and other carriers. If Panther has conditions to qualify for Home Time, then it should be expected that it has preferred treatment. I think every dispatcher when covering a load ... even if they have found trucks 50 miles out, should see a flashing icon of trucks on Home Time ... even if 500 miles out ... and those trucks should be considered first. Maybe the same rate of DH to the shipper as usual isn't offered, but the driver should be contacted if they can make the load ... even if passing over other trucks. So, this preferred treatment would be expected if a driver qualifies ... or if Home Time was promised as a condition of taking a load. On their own, Panther drivers can go out of service and go home ... I think the same as Landstar. I don't think that would be the same as an employee.

Thank you,

Tony

 

[FAMILYEXPDT]

You can be on hometime whenever you want to be on hometime with Panther. I truly belive that you are misreading the gist of 74 posts...if that is possible. His question is not IF he could go home but rather a question about the home time program. Landstar does not have a "hometime" program in that you tell dispatch you want to be home on a certain day and you have priority for loads that head in the direction of your home over other people that may be empty waiting for a load. No one is an "employee" of Panther, we take what loads we choose and we go home when we want....no different than what Landstar does.


-Charlotte

 

[x06col]

That is precisely the problem with a program like that, you can be on it "any time you want". There are many varying degrees of "need to be home", from a third cousins birthday party to your mothers funeral. It is/will be abused, and thats why it don't work. I feel if you need to be home for something REALLY important, then just simply stay home!! End of story. Whats the problem here???

 

[davekc]

I think some just want to stir the pot. Your right, you are not an attorney, and your information is not accurate. They are not employees. Review of independent contractor laws and contracts will provide you a much clearer picture.
Providing a designated period of available time doesn't constitute the premise of being a employee unless it is limited to weekly or hourly performance or standard.







Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[are12]

KYoung,

You are definitely misreading the post about Panther. We are not "employees" of Panther and, yes, we pick and choose when we want to go home and for how long.

 

[fastrod]

I believe you are right about the employee status KYoung. A while back Panther fired some drivers for not meeting a certain load acceptance percentage. Because it is not cost effective for Panther or other companys to buy vans and trucks and set them around the country waiting for loads, they let the drivers bear the cost of buying the van or truck and maintaining it. They then call them independent contractors but treat them as employees. I see this as a very smart move by the companys.