Panther is cleaning House???

cheri1122 · Aug 11, 2008

Thank you, JJ.
Kanga: I fail to see how vans turning down cheap freight cost you anything - common sense says it's more freight for those who will take it. Having units sitting not only doesn't cost the carrier anything, (just the drivers, who still have to eat), it makes them money, because they collect the fees for insurance & QC & escrow, whether the unit moves or not, and they add a little extra to those fees, for their own bottom line, ya know? As was pointed out already, the QC that costs them $17 per month, costs YOU $140 per month - do you still think they're losing money, when you don't get a load?

CharlesD · Aug 11, 2008

Nobody should be obligated to take a cheap load, regardless of the vehicle you're in. A lot of van drivers get suckered into a bad load by this idea that there's just not much van freight and you never know when you'll get another load offer and after all, a bad load is better than sitting. Sometimes sitting is better than a bad load, if where you're sitting is a better area than where the load is going and you might catch something better by being patient.

As to Panther, I hope they keep all their cherry pickers. When they turn down loads, they get brokered out and that's more freight for me.

kangar0085 · Aug 11, 2008

cheri1122 said:
Thank you, JJ.
Kanga: I fail to see how vans turning down cheap freight cost you anything - common sense says it's more freight for those who will take it. Having units sitting not only doesn't cost the carrier anything, (just the drivers, who still have to eat), it makes them money, because they collect the fees for insurance & QC & escrow, whether the unit moves or not, and they add a little extra to those fees, for their own bottom line, ya know? As was pointed out already, the QC that costs them $17 per month, costs YOU $140 per month - do you still think they're losing money, when you don't get a load?

Of course it costs me, there are 20 vans on the Detroit board because of all these loose ends so my driver is pretty much FORCED to take a non profitable load just to not get thrown back into the rear of the line. Turning down alot of freight congests the boards and the customer's hot load takes longer to cover as they call different vans that keep turning it down, so the guy that has a high acceptance rating if he's 5th on the list he will get offered the crappy run which puts a gun to his head because he doesn't want to be thrown back to spot 22. The point is the people that aren't interested in making that much money are complicating things and congesting the profitability of PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO WANT TO MAKE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! The carrier doesn't care much if it's got a ton of vans sittin or less vans but what they do care about is efficiency and the bottom line is if you have less vans on that board that will accept and do work that group will be more efficient then the list full of 25 vans that cherry pick and that DOES suit the carrier.

cheri1122 · Aug 11, 2008

I'm really confused now - you say the carrier doesn't care if they have a lot of vans sitting, but they care about being efficient, and having a lot of vans sitting isn't efficient - did I get that right?
The bottom line is that the carrier makes money whether you do or not - if they didn't, there wouldn't BE all those vans sitting, right?
And how would you decide who "wants to make money" and who doesn't? Are folks declining loads because they don't want to make money, or because the loads they decline don't make money for them?
It's a tough situation for vans, Kanga - but maybe they're all wanting to make money, just as much as you do, only they won't accept loads that don't make them any money. I sure don't blame them for that, cause I won't either.

Falligator · Aug 11, 2008

A not so long ago....I used to turn down loads that didn't have a great fuel s/c. I now have an acceptance rate of 97%. I've only turned down 1 load that went against me and the course went like this. I dropped a load in Indy and dh to the Hagerstown, IN board. Flying J there at the 123 exit. Ok so I sat there all night with 9 vans in Indy and most of the day til round 1500. They sent me a load offer where I had to dh 30 miles and p/u a 130 mile load going to Lafayette, IN. Not really a good money maker since there was 11 vans on the Indy board by this time and nothing was moving. I did turn down this load, but the only one since I've been back with Panther in June. Nevertheless, I am moving like crazy....I haven't had much time lately to make any posts on here. I believe my unnaccounted for miles is something along the lines of 41%, but I have been making "extremely".......good $. I cannot complain! I even take the low fsc loads, because the fsc on other loads has been more than making up for the loads with the low fsc. I did gripe a little considering the fact when I go to canada they can't seem to get me a load out. and then when I dh home it seems as though I am getting loads back to canada. In the last week I was in Canada 3 times. but finally got loaded out of Smith's Falls, ontario to Trenton, MO .39 fsc with 1148 loaded. Not bad.!

theBeemer · Aug 11, 2008

Mr. Failigator

My on time 100
My acceptance 100
Safety 98
in service is low cause I use van for personal use.
Sit for days, move to better boards, use the paid moves, follow what my Mentors say..So what are you doing that we aren't.

Falligator · Aug 11, 2008

Do you do Canada?

Actually, I've even asked the dispatchers why I've been so busy and others haven't. I couldn't really answer that question. I once called driver relations and she was amazed b/c of the runs I have been getting. I asked her and she couldn't give me an answer either. I deadhead a lot....more than I'd like, but I don't want to be sitting around 20million other vans. I've also been going to the East Coast "alot". ie....New Jersey....NY........Conneticut....Phily.....There really isn't a lot of van drivers in that area. I live in Salem, Ohio, so when I am at home I can pick up freight out of Pennsylvania and they go east. I find myself deadheading a lot less than last year though. How long have you been with Panther? Also, what's the size of your van? I've hauled a couple of loads where I used every inch of my Ford 3500 extended van. i can flip my mattress up...(if needed and a short load) to where I can get freight up to my seats...Send me a pm and I'll try to answer you ASAP, I'll check one more time. I'm on my way to Florida and will probably stop for the night down there at the Flying J there exit 2 off of 75 and check my messages there.

theBeemer · Aug 11, 2008

Falligator said:
Do you do Canada?

Actually, I've even asked the dispatchers why I've been so busy and others haven't. I couldn't really answer that question. I once called driver relations and she was amazed b/c of the runs I have been getting. I asked her and she couldn't give me an answer either. I deadhead a lot....more than I'd like, but I don't want to be sitting around 20million other vans. I've also been going to the East Coast "alot". ie....New Jersey....NY........Conneticut....Phily.....There really isn't a lot of van drivers in that area. I live in Salem, Ohio, so when I am at home I can pick up freight out of Pennsylvania and they go east. I find myself deadheading a lot less than last year though. How long have you been with Panther? Also, what's the size of your van? I've hauled a couple of loads where I used every inch of my Ford 3500 extended van. i can flip my mattress up...(if needed and a short load) to where I can get freight up to my seats...Send me a pm and I'll try to answer you ASAP, I'll check one more time. I'm on my way to Florida and will probably stop for the night down there at the Flying J there exit 2 off of 75 and check my messages there.

Than you my friend,,,wow Florida.
I got a E350 too but its the short one.Unless something drastic happens this week..meaning more then 900 miles..I am throwing in the towel for now. I get a nice long run I can easily do and then get pulled off it. Tired of it. I Still beleive the favorites are getting them..Everything is slow now so they pull loads and are given to their buddies..Except when they do it me I end up somewhere else. One time on a thursday they wanted me to take a load from Sandusky Ohio, to Moorehead Mn,,25 hours 932 miles easy run..But for safety I got pulled.Excuse was vans average 47 mph.....yea ok...I think it was a favorite is sitting in Milwalkee for a couple of days and needs a load. Yes you sat from monday till thursday on a good board but so what. Will make you wait in Wisconsin and you might get a load out on Friday,,probably Monday or Tuesday..Or dead head to Chi Town and wait the same time....
I spoiled those plans...Told them not going any further then Chicago...I didn't back down so a team came and got it in Indiana. If the rest of us had the guts do that it would start to slow down in that practise. Its happening to others too.

Falligator · Aug 12, 2008

theBeemer said:
Than you my friend,,,wow Florida.
I got a E350 too but its the short one.Unless something drastic happens this week..meaning more then 900 miles..I am throwing in the towel for now. I get a nice long run I can easily do and then get pulled off it. Tired of it. I Still beleive the favorites are getting them..Everything is slow now so they pull loads and are given to their buddies..Except when they do it me I end up somewhere else. One time on a thursday they wanted me to take a load from Sandusky Ohio, to Moorehead Mn,,25 hours 932 miles easy run..But for safety I got pulled.Excuse was vans average 47 mph.....yea ok...I think it was a favorite is sitting in Milwalkee for a couple of days and needs a load. Yes you sat from monday till thursday on a good board but so what. Will make you wait in Wisconsin and you might get a load out on Friday,,probably Monday or Tuesday..Or dead head to Chi Town and wait the same time....
I spoiled those plans...Told them not going any further then Chicago...I didn't back down so a team came and got it in Indiana. If the rest of us had the guts do that it would start to slow down in that practise. Its happening to others too.

I've been switched out too. Not recently though. If I find a dispatcher isn't giving me the miles to run then I will call safety and tell them that they need to find another switch point. Sometimes you get those "geographically challenged" dispatchers who will try and switch ya after 200 miles. This happened to me on a load from Maine to Rockford, Il. it was 1172 miles and they wanted to switch me after 400 miles. I told them they had to find another switch spot b/c i deadheaded 130 miles to the pick up. They did end up switching me in Tonowanda, NY so I got 620 out of it. I still ended up with 3700 miles in that week. best ever. well, besides this month. It's really on where you end up and at what time. Like I mentioned, PA is a great place to get freight. If you're in Chi town, I'd go to the TA there on either Russel Rd. off of 294 or the TA there off of 90....can't remember what town it's in it's halfway between chi town and rockford, il. Well....give me a pm and I'll try to answer it by tomorrow morning after I wake up....gotta sleep....

mjolnir131 · Aug 12, 2008

the ta is in morris,il

Moot · Aug 12, 2008

The T/A on Russell Road is off I-94, just south of the Wisconsin line.

The T/A off I-90 is in Hampshire, Ill. about m.m. 36.5

The T/A in Morris is off I-80

MR.SNAPPY · Aug 12, 2008

I was wondering, Panther is cleaning house. are they looking to hire a janitor as I sure could use the extra money.where would I apply.LOL

mss1963 · Aug 12, 2008

the ta is in Hampshire not Morris

OntarioVanMan · Aug 12, 2008

Falligator said:
Do you do Canada?

Actually, I've even asked the dispatchers why I've been so busy and others haven't. I couldn't really answer that question. I once called driver relations and she was amazed b/c of the runs I have been getting. I asked her and she couldn't give me an answer either. I deadhead a lot....more than I'd like, but I don't want to be sitting around 20million other vans. I've also been going to the East Coast "alot". ie....New Jersey....NY........Conneticut....Phily.....There really isn't a lot of van drivers in that area. I live in Salem, Ohio, so when I am at home I can pick up freight out of Pennsylvania and they go east. I find myself deadheading a lot less than last year though. How long have you been with Panther? Also, what's the size of your van? I've hauled a couple of loads where I used every inch of my Ford 3500 extended van. i can flip my mattress up...(if needed and a short load) to where I can get freight up to my seats...Send me a pm and I'll try to answer you ASAP, I'll check one more time. I'm on my way to Florida and will probably stop for the night down there at the Flying J there exit 2 off of 75 and check my messages there.

You are using "The Turtle Strategy" And it's paying off..work the fringes, stay away from the crowds, costs abit more in DH but pays off in diamonds in the average....I do that as well....sometimes it works sometimes you eat it...Congrats...you've graduated to Master Game Player....*LOL*...

kangar0085 · Aug 12, 2008

Falligator you are making money because of several factors. You don't sit in one spot, you hardly ever turn down freight, you keep the numbers up and you do Canada. Cheri I understand what you are saying I dont accept all loads myself. For example they offered me one from Michigan going up to Alberta. Nice mileage would have had enough time to finish it myself but there's no point in going there because I can't get back. But you do have to accept mini freight from time to time and the people that "want to make money" that you mention...they don't make money because of the problem I've pointed out. There are to many people turning down freight and congesting boards you can't defy my logic...it's simple fact there's a reason why we have acceptance rates. This is perfectly executed Expediting analysis. When I was in my van I averaged 1600 miles a week because I did what Falligator does. You have to stay mobile and work the system. Sitting in Detroit and crying because they're giving you crappy freight is only your fault...move to Chicago or start deadheading towards Cleveland I bet you'll get an offer on the turnpike, or just simply do a copuple of mini's and stop crying, you'll eventually get a TN run.

Tennesseahawk · Aug 12, 2008

kangar0085 said:
This is perfectly executed Expediting analysis.

Sounds like someone is listening to Andrew Wilkow.

I'm a Mark Levin guy myself.

aristotle · Aug 12, 2008

I'm with you T-hawk. Mark Levin is a national treasure.

whitewolf · Aug 13, 2008

Panther is the only company who is using drivers against drivers but you don't realize that...Why you don't see angry O/O from TriState, fedex ...Because this companies treat their drivers like their not like Panther who's got 40 vans in Detroit and the only one who make money are some old Ford cargo vans with Ohio plates...if you ever meet a driver in a 1999 Ford van OH plates with Panther for sure he's a favorite
I would love to see Panther out of business and this is gonna be soon with 500 loads a day I'm sure Fenway people are not to happy
Have a nice day

Moot · Aug 13, 2008

kangar0085 said:
Well they do offer good loads and If I was one of them and it took me 2 hours to cover a load after calling carriers that promise quick coverage and fast delivery I'd go shop around the next time I had longer freight. The problem is you have these vacationing van drivers that take freight one way and go back home to deny 10 more loads and then take another longer one and they are just costing the rest of us all money. When you are in a van you have few choices and have to accomodate to the game. See I'm in a tractor and it makes sence for me to refuse to haul cheap freight because I'm not as limited as vans are but when you are in a van you have to do a mini or two especially in michigan and you're somewhat helped with a first out. You're not going to stop the Detroit Mi - Grand Rapids Mi orders from happening companies will continue to do business across the state, the only thing you're doing is hurting us all by denying so much freight. Again I must repeat myself you are in a van and are limited, t/t's and s/t's can deny freight all day in Mi and still be ok but if they accept it they will do even better. Panther needs to get rid of these high refusal drivers ASAP and cut down on insurance and weekly expendatures and maybe start covering some of these loads by offering it to the drivers that stay out there and work the system and watch their numbers, unfortunately having to accept minis from time to time. I'm in a t/t and I get offered crappy freight all the time short runs and minis all day but my acceptance rate is at 91 percent and I make alot more money then people that deny freight.

WOW! I have said this before and I am not afraid to say it again. BAN THE VAN! This goes for das Sprinter too! The van/Sprinter has completely ruined expediting. Stealing loads from T/T just isn't fair and must stop. Making a delivery and deadheading to a busy board is inexcusable and unfair. Those pesky van drivers should be made to wait in the middle of Kansas for at least 3 days before being allowed to move to another board. And they shouldn't be allowed to decline any loads. Why should a van with limited choices be allowed to turn down a loser load?

Most Sprinters and many vans use diesel fuel. No wonder fuel prices are so high! These jerks are burning precious fuel and driving up the cost.

BAN THE VAN BAN THE VAN BAN THE VAN BAN THE VAN

das Sprinter ietch chrome dinette ich bin der dreck unter deinen walzen ich bin dein geheimer schmutz und verlorenes metallgeld ich bin deine ritze ich bin deine ritze und schl...

kangar0085 said:
I'm in a t/t and I get offered crappy freight all the time short runs and minis all day but my acceptance rate is at 91 percent and I make alot more money then people that deny freight.

Then what exactly is the problem?