Panther Driver Council Meeting

[davekc]

As many know, Panther has recently formed a drivers council. For the benefit of current or prospective drivers, I thought a short review would be of value. While not part of the council, I did have the opportunity to sit in and observe their first meeting. I think the approach of elected driver/contractors verses appointed ones was the right choice for this program.
There was roughly 40 items that were put on the table to be addressed. Of that 40, approximately 10 items were council specific, such as term limits, qualifications, and communication issues.
The remaining were operational issues with over half having solutions in place immediately or in the next few weeks.
They have totally revamp the drivers web page so all of this information will be available. It is also interactive so the ability to communicate with the specific members of the council and management will be available. Other programs that will be initiated or contemplated, can be reviewed for drivers feedback prior to implementation.
Another change coming in the next few weeks is using a vendor at the Canadian border to handle all of the brokers. No more walking from broker to broker looking to get cleared. This is just one of many things that were addressed and resolved quickly at this meeting.
Again, these items will appear on your website as they are implemented.
All in all I thought it was very productive and successful first meeting. I applaud everyone at Panther for taking the time and inititive to set this program in place.
I wish much success to the newly elected council members in their future meetings.








Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[garman351]

It's stylish that Panther has put this thing together, since half of its fleet has left them because of lack of good management and how poorly the drivers were treated.

I personally feel this is a last ditch effort for a Company who is in trouble and is on the down side of a long term slope.

Garman351

x( x(

 

[davekc]

There isn't a company out there that can be all things to every driver. If so, everyone would be there. I read your post prior to your editing, and you should have left it as it dispelled some of the myths regarding fleet owners.
Maybe you want those myths to exist?
With regards to fleet size, Panther did not lose half of its fleet, but did lose some through the Conway aquisition. If it was half, you would have 700 plus trucks floating out there that no one knows anything about. Maybe a new phantom carrier?
I as well don't think a drivers council was formed with the intent of "saving the company"
Just my penny in the pond









Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[x06col]

I don't know about the number 700. However, there was recently a large number of trucks floating around, and, a lot of people knew about them. The vast majority settled in with Ma and Pa's it seems. I have noticed a lot less whining on this site lately, for some reason.

 

[pelicn]

Thank you for the update Dave. As a new Panther team, there are things we believe need improvement, but are reserving judgment. It will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[LDB]

I was very pleased with the meeting and the group chosen to participate as well. The absence of the "me" attitude was very refreshing. The list of action items was well thought out and covers things from small to large that will make life in a closet better. Panther is not a company in trouble struggling to survive. That is so inaccurate it isn't even on the same field as the true status of the company. Panther also isn't a perfect company. There are none in expediting. I am confident the council will do good work. It will be very interesting to see the changes come online.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Struggling to survive, no. I would say struggling to grow. Word of mouth, mostly from their own drivers, have kept a lot of ppl from joining, and causing others to vow never to sign on. It's in Panther's best interest to listen to their fleet if they want to keep expanding it. Once they turn things around, the word will get out.

"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas

 

[garman351]

(Daveke)
I revised my original thread/responce back to you to take out my personal feelings about how we were treated as best I could! (OH) Panther lost several hundreds of trucks that is a fact! I know one fleet owner who took out over fifty in the last year alone.

You can paint the picture any way you want to, that is your right. just like my opinions, we hate Panther for all the hardships they caused us and forced us to move to another Company so we did go Bankrupt! (And that is a fact)

I hope everything works out for all of you who still hang onto the dream of Panther getting turned around, but I'm sick of hearing everything has been just wonderful, and continues to get better.

We spent two years of our lives with this Company and did a very good job for them and we are very thankful they gave us an opportunity, until the fall of 2005 the busiest time of the year and up and until we left them in early October of 2006 their business was lousy at best.

Sorry Daveke. "I feel very bitter" we struggled with Panther hanging on to the next month etc, thinking things will get turned around. It was very hard for a team being out there for weeks at a time getting part time wages for all of our devotion to Panther.

Garman351

 

[LDB]

Garman, I don't know your situation so I can't respond to it however I do know that Panther hasn't lost "hundreds" of trucks. They have lost quite a few of the Con-Verts who didn't want to be converted but nowhere near hundreds. I am sincerely sorry things didn't work out for you. As I said, I don't know the circumstances to be able to comment on specifics and that isn't the point of this thread anyway. I just know there's only one fleet with anywhere near 50 trucks at Panther and that fleet is still there. I do believe the drivers council is going to do some good things. Good luck to you wherever you are now.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[davekc]

I am sorry things didn't work out for you. But do keep in mind that we haven't had your experiences. I am sure that applies to many others or their fleet wouldn't be the size that it is. Without a doubt they did lose trucks right after the Conway buyout, but like Leo said, "hundreds" is inaccurate.
As mentioned, they weren't the right fit for you. Hopefully you found a fit that is working for you.
Panther isn't perfect, but I feel they are at least making a sincere effort to improve where it is needed.






Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[Dog_House2691]

As I posted on the remarks Leo said about sitting in with dispatch Friday.They do skip over drivers who are 1st out.I am in Knoxville,TN. with a 1st out and a Driver who arrived here last night just left with a load to Davenport,IA. with a 2nd out.I have been here since Saturday afternoon.Of course my conversation with my Team was we dont know what happened.So these elected officals need to look at this problem further,dont tell me it does'nt happen. Bret Panther Van 2691

 

[garman351]

Thanks Guy's, weve all made our points and clearly we seem to see things differently. I hope 2007 will be a great new year for all of us!

Its early but I hope you all have great Holiday's.

It's hard to beleive another year is almost gone, god I feel old.

Take care,
Garman351

 

[are12]

I only have one question, where did the 40 items come from that they discussed? Just curious!!

 

[davekc]

I said in my earlier post it was 40. It was actually 38 with several of those directly related to how the council would work. The remaining were all questions or concerns presented by the elected council.
Specific questions can be related to the council members via the new drivers web page starting on the 19th.







Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[kempers_gramp]

Hate to let the air out of your bags fellas but there has been repeated admitance right from the mouths of "babes". (I mean dispatchers at Panther.) There have been multiple occasions where dispatchers have told about and apologized for favoritism. How they, in particular, have no control over it, and how Panther is doing everything it can to stop it from happening, but yet it continues. So please don't try to patronize us, and please do try to do something about it. My success now not only lies in my hands but also lies in yours.