Panther Drivers

[drivingmecrazy]

We might be the last drivers to find this out.. but it was new news to us when our team leader told us that Panther has suspended their bonus programs. We have asked for bonuses when we go to places like Saskatoon, and know that it is really far back to a freight lane- we would negotiate a bonus to offset dead head. And when we have turned down loads- they have come back to us and asked " What would it take for you to carry this load?"
The Elite trucks will still have the bonus program... I guess we will be getting our hazmats over Christmas- and see about joining!

 

[davekc]

We won't run at a loss. Using your scenerio I would advise them to call an Elite truck. Any consistency to it, and we will be at another carrier or running under our own authority.











Davekc
owner
23 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[babs3361]

Not true we just got a bonus to go to CT. so someone is feeding you a line

 

[easyrider2697]

Keep turning down bad paying loads, and loads delivering in the bad areas, and watch how fast they offer you a bonus, I was offered 4 this week and took 3 (bonus pay) out of the 5 loads I ran this week (mon-fri).I dont think they have stopped the program, I think they are trying to get a handle on how much is being paid out.

 

[davekc]

That was my feeling. They have too many accounts that can't be brokered to another carrier. I think a dispatcher gave you a line.










Davekc
owner
23 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Good to know! We were offered a load that was 900 miles with a .17 F.S.- they would not bonus this load because they said the miles were too good. What is your advice on that load offer? F.S. is what made us ask for a 100.00 bonus... have talked to other drivers and owners that say you should take those loads and just average your F.S. over several runs? (It was to a good freight area) but we were also in a good freight area to start with. What do you think?

 

[davekc]

Hard to say depending on how many trucks were where you were at, time of day, day of the week. You get the picture. Many things have to be factored before making the call.










Davekc
owner
23 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[greg334]

OK, so let me get this straight -

the rate yous' all get is $1.20

then yous' get a FSC on top of that, sometimes it is less than a real FSC (.34 per mile for me now), right so far?

THEN you get a bonus to take a load?

Something's doesn't look right to me with all that money you could make, it seems that you would all be driving super trucks.

 

[skoalman315]

we figure our loads on a 1.50 minimun all miles scale includeing deadhead, plus 1.00 mile to EM back out of a bad area to the service area. They pay bounus to make it so or we dont go. I give them 24 hours in any area then i back haul. We our in a tractor in elite. Favors our for freinds not business.

Remeber If it dont make dollars it dont make cents.

 

[MR.SNAPPY]

Once again Dave hit on the right answer.there are alot of variables when you get a load offer, such as, how many trucks in the area with hours available, how soon it needs to be p/u. they are still offering bonuses but only when they have to. just ran a load to Columbia,SC that paid over 400.00 hundred in a bonus. I was the only truck in the area that the freight would fit on and I was under a load going to Memphis,Tn..they called and said they really needed my help.{love when they say that] and made me a deal to good to turn down.so it does happen just not as often as we would like.

 

[Turtle]

I had one just the other day where I was sitting in Memphis (Horn Lake, MS Flying J) and the load was 385 miles from Heber Springs, AR to Garland, TX. Paid my van rate of %0.77 plus $0.17 FSC. Not a bad load at all, but it came with 155 miles DH. The 155 DH in and of itself wouldn't prevent me from taking the load, as that's just 28% DH out of total miles driven. Kind of high, but certainly not a loser.

The problem was, I didn't want anything to do with Heber Springs in the middle of the night. The road to get there from Memphis isn't bad the first half, but the rest of the way in is winding, curving roads, some switchbacks, and... and! it's deer season. It's beautiful up there during the summer, during the day, middle of the Ozarks, but even the locals don't do a lot of driving on those roads after dark.

I told them straight up I didn't want anything to do with it, but that I'd do it for $100 bonus. They said the best they could do was $50. I thanked them, said I understood, and declined the load offer. Five minutes later they called back. Asked if I still wanted it for the $100 bonus. I said no, but that I'd run it cause I said I would.

Then I got a load from Dallas to Tulsa, where it looks like I'm gonna head right back down to Dallas to get out of this ice that on it's way. Yikes!

Slow and steady, even in expediting, wins the race - Aesop

 

[cheri1122]

Turtle, I was in Dallas yesterday, too - did you trade in your Sprinter for something even cooler?

 

[Turtle]

hehe killer.

Slow and steady, even in expediting, wins the race - Aesop

 

[hello7]

Ok well i have a question? Iam just starting out in the biz and want to know is (bad areas) driving or crime ?

 

[jaminjim]

Both, but the crime areas can be put up with if you have a load. So they are talking about low freight counts.

 

[Falligator]

Ok just like the bonuses I was offered a load going 169 mi from Columbia, SC to Fayetteville, NC. It was a 169 mi load but I had to DH 50 miles to the shipper to p/u. I asked the dispatcher if they were willing to give a first out for the load since i would have to dh from fayetteville to greensboro (most likely) but she told me they had a big meeting at P2 and wern't allowed to offer first out's for any loads under 100 miles. Well, i dh home from fayetteville and as soon as i got home they sent me a load offer p/u in Shippingport, pa going to cleveland, oh for 109 mi and got a first out for it. guess it depends on wether the dispatcher is in the giving spirit. or is playing the role of Christmas Scrooge...lol

ShawnF

 

[drivingmecrazy]

Thanks for the picture... we SO cracked up !!!!!!!!!!