Panther people! Talk to us

DreamTeam44 · Jan 20, 2008

We have been unsuccessful at getting any information on leasing to Panther with a BIG TRUCK, looks like most of you expediters here with Panther are of the Sprinter Van, Straight Truck variety. Would any of you have at least a tidbit of info on what we might expect leasing our BIG TRUCK to Panther? It looks like about 75% of their loads are of the Van, Straight Truck variety...do they need Big Rigs, is there decent amount of loads with a '53 trailer? We have been running 6K miles a week for over 2 years, expedited would give us a chance to make a bit more per mile while giving us a breather now and then, that we will not mind as long as there are enough miles in a month to make our truck, credit card payments, and of course Fuel and a few bucks for life on the road. We do not live anywhere, truck is home, we have an A.P.U., In-Motion Satellite TV, and are perfectly comfy hanging in the truck....We just need to know Panther is on the up and up when it comes to Paying us fairly and on time, and the benifits are decent as far as Insurance and the like. The Qualcomm will not be a problem as we have been leased to Werner 3m Dedicated so Electronic Logs don't concern us, in fact we prefer as a team it saves time. Please give us any bits of info as our decision is looming.....THANKS!

Turtle · Jan 20, 2008

Have you talked with the folks at Panther about their needs for big trucks? Might be as good a place as any to start. A trailer with the Panther logo on the side is a hard thing to miss. They're out there, lots of them, but I have no idea if they need more or less than what's out there.

As for pay, they will pay you what they say they will, and they'll pay you on time. Once in a while there's a discrepancy on pay, but that's rare, and usually gets corrected promptly. When something unusual happens that might affect pay, get it confirmed over the QC when it happens, instead of trying to correct it at settlement time.

As for the benefits, uhm,... benefits?

Tennesseahawk · Jan 20, 2008

Exactly! Benefits? Are you talking yours or theirs? About the only benefits they give you are fuel and tire discounts. Tho last I heard, they do offer some kind of medical insurance if you're willing to pay for it. Nothing comes out of their pocket.

dhalltoyo · Jan 20, 2008

If you decide to haul expedite freight only, it will be a very difficult adjustment considering the miles you have been running.

Expedite is "hurry, hurry, hurry" and "wait, wait, wait." And the wait can be 12-24-36-48 hours...

You might consider talking with Tri-State.

They have an expedite and truck load division. This may present more options for you and help you to find the mix that best suits your needs.

The nice folks at Tri-State are not known for "blowing smoke" when speaking with potential lease O/O's. If you ask, they will probably have a couple O/O's call you and explain what you can expect in the way of miles per week.

I hope to see you on the road wearing red and black!

Moot · Jan 20, 2008

Tennesseahawk said:
Exactly! Benefits? Are you talking yours or theirs? About the only benefits they give you are fuel and tire discounts.

Hawk, you forgot to mention the free wake up service. This morning at 03:52 while at home, I got a text message load offer for a 19 mile mini picking up Monday night at 21:00. That's 41 hours advance notice. Was it really necessary to offer me this load at that hour? The kicker is they never sent the offer via the QC. I checked this morning. I also just checked the web site and I am currently under this pro, one I neither accepted nor want. Does this happen to other people or just me?

Membership has its privileges.

Jefferson3000 · Jan 20, 2008

Moot said:
Hawk, you forgot to mention the free wake up service. This morning at 03:52 while at home, I got a text message load offer for a 19 mile mini picking up Monday night at 21:00. That's 41 hours advance notice. Was it really necessary to offer me this load at that hour? The kicker is they never sent the offer via the QC. I checked this morning. I also just checked the web site and I am currently under this pro, one I neither accepted nor want. Does this happen to other people or just me?

Membership has its privileges.

===============

Maybe the customer had "special needs........."

Expediteroftime · Jan 20, 2008

panther is ok if you dont know enough to truck on your own.I run more miles in 2 days than most panther big trucks do in a week.
plus what kind of rate is that with 3.50 fuel

pelicn · Jan 20, 2008

Moot said:
Hawk, you forgot to mention the free wake up service. This morning at 03:52 while at home, I got a text message load offer for a 19 mile mini picking up Monday night at 21:00. That's 41 hours advance notice. Was it really necessary to offer me this load at that hour? The kicker is they never sent the offer via the QC. I checked this morning. I also just checked the web site and I am currently under this pro, one I neither accepted nor want. Does this happen to other people or just me?

Membership has its privileges.

It's happened to us too Moot.

You'll be listed on the pro unless you told them politely where they could put it.

Moot · Jan 20, 2008

Shortly after my post (coincidence?) a very nice woman from Panther called to officially offer me the load. I found out some more information about it. It picked up in Indiana Wednesday bound for Ford, St. Paul. Due to bad weather the driver couldn't make the delivery before Ford closed at 15:30 on Thursday. The driver left the freight at UPS because he/she didn't want to hang around until Tuesday to deliver. Ford must be closed for Martin Luther King Day on Monday. They also must have been closed Friday?

I still don't understand why this load was not offered at a more decent time. Anyway I declined, but said if I was still around Monday night I would consider taking it.

RichM · Jan 20, 2008

Mr Moot you know better that to say "If I am still around Monday night I will take it". Guess where,you will be Monday night.

DreamTeam44 · Jan 20, 2008

Thanks people, guess we have a lot more research to do before we jump to Panther, the more current Tractor Trailer Operators that are with Panther is probably our best source. As far as doing it on our own, your post is vauge and lacking details of how we might run more freight in 2 days than w/ Panther in a week. Are you talking Expedited Freight? R U talking brokering direct with customers, no company ties? Please explain you comments a bit more clearly rather than insult us that we can't do something on our own...C/MON!
Look we have run as hard as anyone these last two years, we just wanted to investigate a change that would make us better pay per mile, and consistent enough to make our payments, we are not looking to run R azzes or R truck into the ground, a break here and there rather than constant go, go, go would be refreshing for us.....thanks for all your posts so far, we are still contemplating.

cheri1122 · Jan 20, 2008

As you can see by the number of posts Expediteroftime has contributed, he/she is not exactly a regular member here. And honestly, few of the regulars drive t/t, so the pool of members who can offer the information you're looking for is limited - I'd suggest visiting a truckstop, and talking to the drivers who are parked, if you see any Panther t/t's. I know I've seen them out there.

charlee · Jan 20, 2008

Panther tractors can do very well...we have done very well for 3 years with them. what is your rpm with werner Keep in mind expedited does not pay you for empty miles...not enouh to matter.rate for tractor is 1.45 per mile and our AVERAGE FSC has been .54 a mile....IF your rate is anywhere near what ours was with Covenant it takes us half as many miles at Panther to make what we did at Covenant.
Check your pm's

-charlee

Jefferson3000 · Jan 22, 2008

Easyrider is with the Kitty Kat. Drives an E-unit.

truk6264 · Jan 22, 2008

My Experience with Panther resolving pay issues is that problems are frequent and not resolved quickly. I have close to $1000 of unpaid issues from 3.75 years with panther. When you call in they submit an addendum which doesn't alway get you your pay and you have to remember to check back to see if they ever paid it. A lot of times they don't because if they can delay it 90 days ta da they won't pay it at all. Even if you called within the 90 days. They charged me $25 to send a van to look for me when my battery went dead in W. Memphis Flying J parking lot. And I was sitting next to 2 other Panther vans. More recently they sent a tow truck to do a swap load recovery and said there were no other vans in the area to do a hand transfer. I talked to the other van that was 1 exit away when I arrived at the consignee. She deadheaded to her shipper when she could have gotten my freight to take there paid and I got a tow bill. Panther efficiency.