Older Trucks

Bruno · Nov 13, 2008

I have a 1997 Freightliner that I bought in 1998 and is my favorite truck because I rode in It with my Father before he passed away. After asking FedEx if it would be ok if i put the truck out of service during the slow time to get the engine rebuilt and was told it would be okay. FedEx send us a letter saying they was going to pull the lease for not being in service. I called in and told FedEx that I asked if it would be okay if I did this without worring about the lease being pulled for not being inservice. I was told we won't pull the truck for that.

So after paying $6300.00 to get the engine rebuilt and paying months of Insurance and C-link with FedEx because the place that was doing the motor couldn't get to it for a month or two. Well it ended up being there for 9 months because it was slow at FedEx for us. We was having a hard time with drivers because we had a few leave because they was sick of they way they was treated at FedEx. So I paid the bill and got ready to put the truck back in service and get that letter. I told FedEx I was okey to do that. Then FedEx says well we want to bring the truck in for an age inspection. Now remind you I just got the truck back and the hadn't even been in the back of the box for 9 months.

So I took the truck to FedEx in Green and we was told we are going to pull the lease because there is rust on the E-track which I have had it removed and its looking nice. So I took the truck to Panther and ask them to come out and look at the truck because they had be asking me to bring our trucks over there for 2 years.

This truck has now been on with Panther for almost two months now and is our top running truck with Panther. It's doing better than the refer units we have on with them so far. So just because a truck is old doesn't mean it can't be a good truck for a company.

What Panther has gained so far because of it of rust on e-track.

2 dry box trucks

1 dry box with a liftgate.

3 refer units with liftgates.

6 trucks total so far.

Because FedEx pulled the 53 foot refer off the same loads that it had been doing for the last 3 months. Panther is getting that truck too.

Cost to replcae E-track on truck $100.00

Cost of 13 years of service at FedEx unknown

Moving 7 trucks to Panther.

Priceless.

davekc · Nov 13, 2008

Any truck with barn doors on the back may be a little more vulnerable to rust closest to the door. Just because rain and snow can come in when backing to a dock.
We got a little rust already on our trucks which are not nearly the age of what you have.
I can only assume based on your post I wouldn't be worthy.

LDB · Nov 13, 2008

I can't imagine them looking in the back and in horror saying EEK, RUST! You're terminated! There must be more to it than that.

Bruno · Nov 13, 2008

No, LEO that is the truth. Why would I post something like that when they could take me to court if it was unture.

moose · Nov 13, 2008

bruno , how do you explain,this truck doing better then the reefers/LG trucks ?
and good for you boy !

Moose.
Madison ,W.I

LDB · Nov 13, 2008

It just seems like that's so minor it would leave them open to trouble. Maybe they didn't tell you everything but it's hard to believe they would cancel over that. It seems they'd tell you the rust has to come off within a certain amount of time and until it does you won't be dispatched and then check it again when you tell them it's off. I'm not saying it's you, just that something seems fishy based on what they told you.

Dreamer · Nov 13, 2008

Where's Paul Harvey when we need him

.

Dale

Bruno · Nov 13, 2008

moose said:
bruno , how do you explain,this truck doing better then the reefers/LG trucks ?
and good for you boy !

Moose.
Madison ,W.I

I think just being in the right place at the right time. Plus my 2nd load with Panther was a load that was brokered out of Iowa to Philley, nice load 1350 miles. Never brokered a load at FedEx. Have more ways to keep the trucks moving. Plus two of the DR units have new drivers in them that never have been in this type of business. I'm sure they will do better in the long run.

Bruno · Nov 13, 2008

LDB said:
It just seems like that's so minor it would leave them open to trouble. Maybe they didn't tell you everything but it's hard to believe they would cancel over that. It seems they'd tell you the rust has to come off within a certain amount of time and until it does you won't be dispatched and then check it again when you tell them it's off. I'm not saying it's you, just that something seems fishy based on what they told you.

Who knows, maybe it was because of the post I started on (hows the new FedEx FSC Program) That was is one the biggest posts ever on EO. Maybe it was there way of getting back at me. After that post they gave us 2% more on loads. I yelled about them saying that all the D units got 10 MPG too, when it is around 9 mpg. They changed it to 9 mpg. I did alot for FedEx over the years like come up with message 55 for the drivers safety. I was one of the many people who fought to get the 5 year age limit on trucks removed and many other things for the drivers and owners. I should of seen it when Dave KC left. He did alot for Roberts Express/FedEX over the years. Jim Bais was another one.

LDB · Nov 13, 2008

I'd guess it must include either some of those things or some other things too. By itself it just doesn't make sense. Unless Paul Harvey steps in we may never know.

Dreamer · Nov 13, 2008

Perhaps... and I'm just saying... perhaps... if someone, say.. .a fleet owner who was well known, constantly ran down their company, said company might be less inclined to 'bend the rules' for said someone?

Just a thought... not trying to start something with ya Dave.. but you've been pretty vocal about your dis-satisfaction with FedEx.

Could that have had something to do with it?

Dale

Bruno · Nov 13, 2008

LDB said:
I'd guess it must include either some of those things or some other things too. By itself it just doesn't make sense. Unless Paul Harvey steps in we may never know.

What other things Leo. I take that as a slam from you and Dreamer on the Paul Harvey posts. I see how it is now.

Dreamer · Nov 13, 2008

Dave,
You've met me.. I can't hide.. LOL.. If I was gonna slam you I'd do it directly.

I'm saying, as Leo, there had to be more to the story... no matter who's side it was... etrack is easily painted.

The Paul Harvey comment was a JOKE.

Dale
Avatar borrowed from Chill-out!

Bruno · Nov 13, 2008

Okay Dale

Sorry I thought you was slamming me. I was hoping you wasn't. Sometimes people take things the wrong way.

Dreamer · Nov 13, 2008

No prob Dave... s'all good

Dale

LDB · Nov 13, 2008

I wasn't party to either side of the conversation or the event. I don't know what the rest might be. I'm not taking sides or slamming either side. I didn't say you weren't being truthful in what you told. I'm only saying that I do not believe rusty etrack alone is enough to cancel a truck. Unless someone from Fedex comes on here and says the truck was cancelled for a, b, c, d and e we'll probably never know. Paul Harvey is the rest of the story guy and there's more to this story than what you know and shared with us apparently because there's just no way that one single thing is enough. You are the one who listed some possible other reasons in your post. I merely said it must include some of those or something else on top of the etrack.

Bruno · Nov 13, 2008

Dreamer said:
Perhaps... and I'm just saying... perhaps... if someone, say.. .a fleet owner who was well known, constantly ran down their company, said company might be less inclined to 'bend the rules' for said someone?

Just a thought... not trying to start something with ya Dave.. but you've been pretty vocal about your dis-satisfaction with FedEx.

Could that have had something to do with it?

Dale

Yea your right. But someone had to stand up for the Owners and Drivers about the FSC program. I stayed at FedEx hoping that things would get better because I was very loyal to them. I started to lose drivers because the way they was treated be people at FedEx. I lost a good team out of Mi because the drivers hated FedEx. those drivers are now back driving for us with Panther. Dale Fedex took over a company that was doing over 1100 loads on a Friday just to lose all the good people that help make Roberts Express what it was. They messed up a great company. Dale you know you worked there. How many good owners did they run off?

They kept taking and taking from the owners and drivers to put more money in FedEx pockets. I seen for myself yesterday sitting with the agents of Panther that they want their owners to make it. I told the agent on some of the loads that Panther was not making that much money off that load. I was shocked at what she kept saying. If our owners are not moving and making any money and they lose their trucks then I don't have a job to come too. This agent see's the big picture that we all have to work as a team.

There is a big list of people that FedEx ran off. Here is just a few, Davekc, Ken Jackson, Jim Bais and many more. The one owner trucks that I managed bought 3 nice trucks and put them on with FedEx. I moved them to Panther because it was hard to find drivers that wanted to work for FedEx. Since moving to Panther all 6 of our trucks have teams them with Panther. The last time I had all of our trucks running at the same time was about 2 years ago.

I don't hate the people that work at FedEx. I just don't like the things done to many good people that help build Roberts Express. Will I ever go back there? I just don't know. Hey they may never even let me come back any way if I wanted too. Like Leo say's all business have warts. I'm sure Panther may do things I may not like but my stress level has went down 100% since going to Panther.

Streakn1 · Nov 13, 2008

Dave,

You and your fleet of trucks, like us with our one T/T are proof that there is "successful" life after FECC and that they are not the best game in town as so many like to think! FECC is "one" of many good carriers in this pot of expedite companies. Each has their own way of operating and tend to change over time. Either the shoe continues to fit comfortably or it comes time to try a new pair, so we did and are doing much better in our first five months than we ever did in our DR-unit or our T/T during our five year hitch with them.

Oh, for anyone ever thinking of reporting a dispatcher to safety after 24 hours of pointing out a safety issue to her on a run of hers that you are on, FORGET IT if you want to keep your job! Retaliation is HELL! At least that was the case with us until we left them. We are only one of many that have done nothing wrong, yet have had run ins with her. She knows who she is!

Dave, you can add my name to your list and yes my stress level is down 100% and then some!

Bruno · Nov 13, 2008

Thank you for the post. I'm sorry you was done that way. I think I know what agent your talking about too. Yea thats why the ER unit is going to Panther Monday. Having a new AUP put on that truck and the trailer updated to do T-val loads at Panther. When they pulled the truck off the loads they said the truck could have until the 1st of the year. I was told by the owner to pull it.