Is it just Panther ?

[Bruno]

I will say this again," Most people don't plan to fail, THEY fail to plan". When you get into this business most Expedite carriers perfer teams. You have the choice to run team or not to run team. Panther didn't keepyou from running team, you did.

The meaning of Expedite.


ex·pe·dite   /ˈɛkspɪˌdaɪt/ Show Spelled [ek-spi-dahyt] Show IPA verb,-dit·ed, -dit·ing, adjective
–verb (used with object)
1.to speed up the progress of; hasten: to expedite shipments.
2.to accomplish promptly, as a piece of business; dispatch: to expedite one's duties.
3.to issue or dispatch, as an official document or letter.
–adjective
4.Obsolete. ready for action; alert.

 

[whitewolf]

I have a question... Is it possible to have a request from customer for a team (cargo van) on a 400 mi run? Or just Panther invented this?
Thanks

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I have a question... Is it possible to have a request from customer for a team (cargo van) on a 400 mi run? Or just Panther invented this?
Thanks

There is a possibility...everything/anything is possible...some customers don't really understand how this all works...some don't know we don't have to log....We have customers request a Sprinter for all their loads regardless of load size...they like us...

 

[Turtle]

Sure it's possible. Customers request all kinds of things that are irrelevant to the load at hand. Some will request dock high only when one isn't needed. Some will request a 5AM delivery time when the consignee doesn't even open until 8AM. I once had a load that was "E-track tie-down only", when in reality they merely wanted a van with "some kind of secure tie-downs", because they once had a van show up with zero cargo securements.

Now, if they tell you that the customer is the one who requested a swap in mid-load, make 'em prove it.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Some even request that driver have valid drivers license...

 

[davekc]

Some even request that driver have valid drivers license...

Might become a question of great frequency if they start letting Mexican trucks come in.

 

[cheri1122]

I once had a load that was "E-track tie-down only", when in reality they merely wanted a van with "some kind of secure tie-downs", because they once had a van show up with zero cargo securements.

My last load included a 'special note': "must have straps" and I thought "Well, duh!" but I guess I was giving some drivers too much credit, huh?
It's hard to believe that some carriers don't bother to ensure that all units flying their colors are appropriately equipped to transport freight securely.....

 

[jj214]

In 20+ years in this business, I have made one important observation: You will get more good runs by accident than you ever will on purpose. When you least expect it, that great run will come along. You might be DH home discouraged after sitting for two days and bang, here comes the 700 mile run with 20 DH to pickup and confirmed delivery. It is that kind of luck that keeps you in the business. If you do not have a steady income from another source and are trying to support a family, this is not the business for you. Most of the other guys I run into with as many years in as I do, have a retirement income or a mate with a great job. Running single in a CV is a hobby job at best. Getting all worked up with your company is not worth it, get out and find something you like doing.

 

[RLENT]

It's hard to believe that some carriers don't bother to ensure that all units flying their colors are appropriately equipped to transport freight securely.....

It's hard to believe that anyone who considers themselves a professional would fail to have the requisite equipment to necessary to do the job in a professional manner.

I can't count the number of times that I have unloaded at a consignee and had them express amazement that I carried both a chain and a pallet puller to facilitate getting unloaded .....

Considering the self-interest (and the relatively minimal cost), in terms of making one's vehicle available at the earliest opportunity to accept another load, I find it amazing that every van driver doesn't carry at least something to get the load off their vehicle.

 

[gsmacker]

I've done swaps with drivers that I wouldn't want to put my garbage in their van and I wonder what the consignee thinks of "drivers" that show up lookin like crap and the van just as bad. I'm a big boy and will hang out in a ts with my superman pj pants on and my monster racing cap on backwards. But you won't ever see me with poor hygeine. And when I'm pickin up or deliverin I'm in presentable attire and my hat on forward. The van I drive (I drive for an owner and make enough $$ to support the household bills and don't have that "other" income) is always presentable and the load is always secured and set-up for easy unload. I will put a strap on the front pallet before the back one gets put on. Its just how I roll. Something along the lines of taking pride in your work. I also believe in living within your means. If you want more then you should be willing to do more. As far Panther being slow verses others, I dunno. I think Panther could treat their own contracted fleet a lil better. I would be happy if they stayed consistent with their policies on who gets offered what, that way people could set-up their game plans better. If you're in the red at the end of the week/month you shouldn't blame yourself or anybody else, you should look it over and figure out where things went wrong. LEARN from it.

 

[easyrider2697]

Some even request that driver have valid drivers license...

You say that like its a requirement or something..to have a Dl that is..

 

[fastrod]

I can possibly understand the AZ or TX slow down, but not Chicago. The reduced rate program is a smoke screen of BS. One of my pet peeves with how Panther operates.
Rates to the customer haven't changed that much.
Ever wonder why you could be the only one on a productive board but it takes them most of the day to come up with something?

When they book a load and it can be brokered (they ask the customer), they send it out right away on their broker board. For some strange reason, they must think no one is watching this. They are brokering loads out when they have many of their own trucks sitting in that very area. In most instances, they are paying the broker a greater rate than their own lease trucks. That is why in certain areas you get hit with numerous short loads.
They are on the bid board and no one is bidding on them.

Bottom line is, they need to utilize their fleet more effectively.
Once that is done, they will find that they won't have to pay a higher rate to outside sources and subsidize those costs on the backs of their own fleet. I am sure the argument is they have to do that in order to cover loads their fleet turns down. That is true in many cases, but if they paid a little better on those types of loads, they would operate more effectively.

They don't have any problem paying a outside broker a higher rate for these loads, they should extend that same courtesy to their own fleet.

It might be that with the costs of the fleet plus the rate they pay to their contractors that the rate they pay to outside contractors when they broker the load might be cheaper for Panther.

 

[davekc]

Absolutely true in some cases, but it is not the majority. There are other exceptions as well when you get to cigarette & liquor loads just as an example.