Panther Drivers Council

[Scuba]

I hear some of you complain about us I have a question. Are you just complaining because you like to see your name in print here on the EO board? Because very few of you go to the drivers web and post your questions concerns suggestions and or complaints. If you see something that you would like to see changed let us know. When we do get some changes done I see people say well it would have been better this way or that way. Did you contact your rep and let them know how you feel about a problem? Did you offer any input? Did you get involved? Or is it you would just rather complain?
We want to hear from you we want your input we need your ideas this is your council.
We are not paid for our time spent at meetings we are not compensated for time spent on the phone trying to take care of problems. We do this because we are being offered a chance to make changes to make things better for ALL of us. Most companies do not have things like the Drivers Council they don’t care if you like their policies. Most do not want your input they feel you have a contract if you don’t like it go else ware. So please go to the drivers web and post to us so we know what it is you are looking for from Panther and we will do our best to make it happen. We won't win all of the battles that's not going to happen but we do win our share.

 

[Turtle]

Quite frankly, I had assumed that when Driver Council members read comments here on EO about things that the Driver Council should be taking to the meetings, things like problems with procedures and possible remedies, that the Council members did, in fact, do just that. I wasn't aware that the Council members required direct contact with the same information that was presented here in order to take it to the meetings. Seems to me that when a Council member reads about an issue here, they would be able to recognize it as such and act accordingly. Am I giving the members of the Driver Council far more credit than they deserve?

You won't see me complain much about the Driver Council. I know how it works. I know that the Driver Council will work very hard to get things accomplished, but in the end the only things that will get accomplished are the things that most benefit Panther.
And that anything that Panther changes to benefit Panther may have the side effect of benefiting the drivers, and as long as the side effects aren't detrimental to Panther in any way, shape or form, they'll go with it. Panther will give up nothing to benefit the drivers, unless their own benefit is greater than what they are giving up. That's what the Driver Council is faced with.

 

[arkjarhead]

Turtle,
Are you saying they have a uphill battle on their hands? If so I have more respect for them than I did before. I don't drive for Panther, but I respect anyone that would stick their neck out for someone else. Especially someone they don't know personally most of the time. I know of one person on the driver's council that took something he saw on EO to Panther and the driver went nuts on him online for trying to help him out. It sounds like a thankless job to me.

I mean just yesterday the driver's council was getting burned for discussing vehicle inspections with Panther. Most fleets do that already. From what I've seen recently it's needed. A couple of months ago I was traveling to visit my Mom close to Memphis and right there on I-40 I saw a Panther D Unit that made embarassed to have ever driven for that company. He had a newer white class 7 Freightliner. He had a bugsheild on the truck with a certain saying on it in vinyl stickers. He must have put them on after he leased. I can't beleive Panther would allow that. Heck after the truck I was driving got hit by a drunk I took a big magnetic band-aid and put on it to lighten my mood. When safety saw it a couple days later they kindly asked me to remove it. So I know if it's the same safety guy he would blow his top at this driver's little quote.

 

[Turtle]

Turtle,
Are you saying they have a uphill battle on their hands? If so I have more respect for them than I did before.

Yup, that's exactly what I'm saying. Except, "uphill battle" may be an understatement.

 

[arkjarhead]

Turtle is like trying to squeeze blood out of a turnip?

 

[davekc]

At a bare minimum I think folks should show these people on the driver councill just little gratitude and respect for doing a tireless and often thankless task.
What Panther does or doesn't do, has absolutely nothing to do with their dedication to task.
Not a thing happens unless someone puts forth the effort.
Will everything change???????? Not likely. If one thing changes for the better, you are farther ahead than you were yesterday. I have sat in these meetings and a very large percentage of the items addressed from its inception, have been changed. At that time, there was 40 items, and 31 were addressed and implemented.

 

[arkjarhead]

31 out of 40 sounds good to me.

 

[Turtle]

I have nothing but respect and admiration for the members of the Driver Council. I have kept a close eye on the Action Items, who proposed the suggestion, and who is in charge of implemented them. I've watched closely the items that are yet to be implemented, and the ones that have been implemented, and just as importantly, the manner in which they have been implemented.

I stand by my statements.

 

[davekc]

I have nothing but respect and admiration for the members of the Driver Council. I have kept a close eye on the Action Items, who proposed the suggestion, and who is in charge of implemented them. I've watched closely the items that are yet to be implemented, and the ones that have been implemented, and just as importantly, the manner in which they have been implemented.

I stand by my statements.

I totally agree with your first sentence. Additonally, I do think that any resource whether the drivers web or posts at EO should be utilized to further any benificial cause. Limiting information to one source is foolish.
Just because something isn't adressed to a specific member on the council, doesn't mean it shouldn't be addressed.

 

[ebsprintin]

I started sending in inputs to my rep after I found out through this site that they were having meetings. One of my inputs was that I found people here more useful than trying to find out things through dispatch.

That anything gets done through the council is a plus, because I think the main reason it exists is because ISO standards require some sort of feedback mechanism.

eb

 

[Scuba]

1 I only know of 3 Coincil members that come to this forum
2 The council is set up so that each of us represent our fleet
3 This forum here doesn't tell me what you drive
4 It's set up that way because there are issues that effect solo tractors that do not cross over into other types of trucks. Same with vans and straight trucks.
5 That is what makes the drivers web an important tool this way i get feed back from the other solo tractors about issues that we deal with.
6 I do not know the van end of Panther so i would be foolish to try to address them7 We all work together for the betterment of all fleets. Again using Vans Bob brings an issue to the table about vans we talk them out try to find a middle ground together. But without Bob giving me the insight about the problems you van guys have i would know a lot less than i do now.
7 one of the issues we have with Panther is we want the board to be more like this board. It isnt user friendly now but it is the best tool for each type of truck we have.
8. There are some things i wouldnt want to post in this forum because anyone can see them
9 People can be more open in the Panther page because the company CAN NOT go to the site and read the posts. We each have our own passwords to the site and i have not given my password to Panther. They must ask to see the page it is set up that way so people dont have to worry about getting canned over a complaint.
10 As you can see by the few posts i have made here i have only just started coming here myself and no i am not about to go back and read every thread there is.
11 I have worked on the behalf of several drivers to help them as much as i can when they are having problems that they post there even if it isn't an council issue ie personal problems with dispatchers because many don't think their complaints to Panther get anywhere.
12 And last but not least i have recieved several very nice privet messages and i wish to say thank you for you kind words. All of us on the council work hard every day for those we represent not just at the meetings. I know that i meet via phone message board and instant message with many of the guys i work for im sure the others do the same

 

[butterfly610]

I really respect the driver's council and think it's nice that we have people who try and make a difference...not only for themselves, but everyone who works here. How do you submit a suggestion, or what have you to them on the driver's website? Also, these messages are sent to them without anyone knowing who sent it? Is that correct?

 

[Turtle]

How do you submit a suggestion, or what have you to them on the driver's website?

Go the Panther driver Web site <Panther Expedited Services, Inc.> and enter your login and password. If you don't have one, call Safety. I think the login is the last 6 numbers of your SS#.

At the top of the page is the menu: Driver Council, Messaging, Submit Message to Rep

And you'll be able to send a message that way.

Also, these messages are sent to them without anyone knowing who sent it? Is that correct?

No, that's incorrect. They (the driver rep) will know who sent it. Panther won't, though, unless your rep tells them about it for some reason (unlikely).

 

[dhalltoyo]

Assume nothing.

Be proactive.

What is my responsibility in such matters?

Do I simply gripe, grumble, complain, back bite, nit-pick, criticize, gossip or cast disparaging remarks about the offender. If I do, then I am at fault for doing so!

Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Oh, by the way…even if things do not go the way that I think they should go, I am still bound to go to the person directly and voice my concerns.

 

[arkjarhead]

Rev,
Do you all still have the mentors at Tri State? I know when I finished oreintation they gave me a sheet with names and phone numbers of mentors. It was a big help.

 

[dhalltoyo]

Yes.

They still have mentors.

These folks are a great help to new drivers.

Tri State has an open door policy. I can go into the Administration Building without an appointment and speak with anyone in management.

That is probably why we do not need a Driver's Council.

 

[Turtle]

Tri State has an open door policy. I can go into the Administration Building without an appointment and speak with anyone in management.

So does Panther.

That is probably why we do not need a Driver's Council.

Assume nothing.

 

[Moot]

Why is that I am unable to view any of this Panther Driver Council stuff? I login and can view my availability and payroll but that is all. Oh, I was able to see the new board position pfd. If I click on contact team leader, I get an unable to connect message. Clicking on other areas I get a no logs for 30 days message. I was unable to view the new Panther Paws Spring Edition 2007. Bummer.

 

[davekc]

What kind of browser are you using? I just checked, and everything seems to be working? The meeting attachments are the PDF file at the bottom. They seem to be opening ok.
I am using internet exploder XP.

As for management access, I can't think of anyone at Panther you can't see. It isn't locked down like a fort or anything like that.

 

[greg334]

Moot I think maybe that they are trying to tell you something?