Panther purchased by ABF?

Moot · Jun 15, 2012

As a Panther vanner I hope ABF terminals are available to us for swapping loads. I've run into too many problems with some of these towing outfits wanting to get paid.

Does anyone know if ABF still operates a break-bulk off U.S. 30, just east of Ill. 394? ABF, Roadway and one other LTL were back in that hole off 30.

OntarioVanMan · Jun 15, 2012

Moot said:
As a Panther vanner I hope ABF terminals are available to us for swapping loads. I've run into too many problems with some of these towing outfits wanting to get paid.

Does anyone know if ABF still operates a break-bulk off U.S. 30, just east of Ill. 394? ABF, Roadway and one other LTL were back in that hole off 30.

They were about 2 months ago....

blizzard2014 · Jun 15, 2012

BigCat said:
Why would that happen do you think?

Mayfield Express

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

XPO didn't need to purchase Panther. All XPO has to do is take things to the next level with Express-1. Panther was a 20 million dollar a year company before the Fenway boys came into the picture. Then they went up to a 146 million dollar a year company! Jaccobs is putting 150 million into Express-1. If he can't at least bring E-1 into the 100-200 million dollar a year range with all that capital then it is never going to happen.

Panther has increased revenue but they are top heavy. Most of the money is going to management which is why there is huge debt liabilities. Just because you are bringing in 146 million over 20 million dollars a year it doesn't mean that you are keeping more of that money. Especially when you have the original owner of the company, the new management team to include Andy Clarke, and then an entire team of board members and then the Fenway Partner Investors all collecting money. It's kind of hard for a company to grow and remain profitable when there are too many people getting paid off the top! Once again, go into the websters dictionary and look up what it means to be a top heavy company!

Darmstadter · Jun 15, 2012

Two birds and one stone for XPO. 1) pickup a solid LTL offering and 2) become the largest expedite carrier.

zorry · Jun 15, 2012

Ok historians. In recent history has any purchase of a non- union company worked ?
Jevic ?
Glenn Moore ?
Saia?
Alot of management in these union companies are successful in spite of themselves.
Good frieght base. And hard working union drivers.
Get away from the UAW and you can find hard working union people.
Few people on this site have worked as hard as your typical United Parcel Driver.

Moot · Jun 15, 2012

zorry said:
Few people on this site have worked as hard as your typical United Parcel Driver.

Has anyone here ever seen an overweight UPS package car driver? I mean even slightly overweight.

blizzard2014 · Jun 15, 2012

Moot said:
Has anyone here ever seen an overweight UPS package car driver? I mean even slightly overweight.

That guy from the tv series King Of Queens is an overweight UPS driver. But then again he is not a real UPS driver!

zorry · Jun 15, 2012

Kevin James is an I P S Driver...(I'm Panther, Stupid ?)
Embrace the Stupidity.......

usafk9 · Jun 15, 2012

zorry said:
Kevin James is an I P S Driver...(I'm Panther, Stupid ?)
Embrace the Stupidity.......

That's funny right there.

Falligator · Jun 16, 2012

Moot said:
With just a little bit of tweaking we can turn your quote into a genuine IBT press release: ABF possibly putting LTL loads on Panther trucks meaning shorter miles for our union members.

So true! Lol

Rocketman · Jun 16, 2012

Moot said:
Go Razorbacks!

I see your adjusting well....and wisely

Repeat after me: WOOOOOOOOO!!......PIG!!.........SOOOOOOOIE!!!!

skyraider · Jun 16, 2012

Everything is gonna be fine, bumble bees are not suppose to fly, but they do. Yep thats right, they are flying bricks that sting ya. Stay away from flying bricks, dont get caught with ur pants down over a bumble bee hole, no, dont do that.

ABF: All Bumblebees FLY,,,,,,,,,,,I wish them well.

Scuba · Jun 16, 2012

Moot said:
In today's 4 part fleet message concerning the sale, installment #1 hit the high points of being owned by ABF. One of these was: "Shedding A Big Debt Load." I don't know who Panther is into for this, but my guess would be the Fenway Boys. I'm also guessing that as part of the deal ABF will incur this debt.

When the dust settles it will be interesting to see the final numbers, provided someone can simplify them for me to comprehend. Go Razorbacks!

Fenway was getting 1 million a month from Panther for "mangament fees"

Bruno · Jun 16, 2012

I feel the ABF purchase is a great move for Panther Expedited Services, it's employees, it's contractors and drivers. Mayfield Express LLC has talked with a few carriers over the last three months to see what they had to offer. Other carriers can offer you more miles but with less pay per mile. If your happy with getting $1.10 a mile plus a fixed FSC then that is for you. I like the fact that Panther offers a base rate for D-units of $1.20 plus .05 per mile for, lift-gate, being a team, and many other things that can make your rate per mile increase.

I feel Panther Expedited Services is the best fit for us at this time, as we have made the most money with Panther of any carrier we have leased on with. Will that change in the coming months due to the ABF purchase? I doubt it as we plan to add more trucks on with Panther in the coming months.

davekc · Jun 16, 2012

I would agree. No one can touch our current rates and we are running up against the 72 quite often. The more "miles" concept just doesn't work unless you have the rates to go with it.
On the other side of the coin, Panther can be challenging at times, but if you have some patience with some of their goofy stuff, they can be a great fit.

ATeam · Jun 16, 2012

Bruno said:
I feel Panther Expedited Services is the best fit for us at this time, as we have made the most money with Panther of any carrier we have leased on with. Will that change in the coming months due to the ABF purchase? I doubt it as we plan to add more trucks on with Panther in the coming months.

Go for it, Bruno, but be careful too. Keep your Plan B at the ready as all wise expediters do. As well connected as you may be at Panther things may develop such that you will not be the first to know.

Do you remember this post?

The man at Panther knew full well that the company was for sale at the time but denied it to you when you asked. That is not surprising since he was probably bound by a non-disclosure agreement, but it also shows that things can develop that can catch expediters flat-footed.

Plan B is especially important for people who have a high investment in multiple trucks and teams.

davekc · Jun 16, 2012

Good advice. A plan "B" should always be in place. If things go south with the Cat, I plan to remove the translucent box roofs and haul watermelons in Florida.

Bruno · Jun 16, 2012

ATeam said:
Go for it, Bruno, but be careful too. Keep your Plan B at the ready as all wise expediters do. As well connected as you may be at Panther things may develop such that you will not be the first to know.

Do you remember this post?

The man at Panther knew full well that the company was for sale at the time but denied it to you when you asked. That is not surprising since he was probably bound by a non-disclosure agreement, but it also shows that things can develop that can catch expediters flat-footed.

Plan B is especially important for people who have a high investment in multiple trucks and teams.

We always have a Pan B Phil. Panther is not the only place we have trucks lease on with, 80% of our fleet is with Panther at this time. Over all Panther is a good fit for us and our drivers at this time. Will that change over the next six months? I don't know.

As for the e-mail from Andy Clarke, any good CEO would say the same thing. He didn't say no at the time, Andy just said it was rumors. Everyone knew that Panther was for sale because they was owned by a investment company. I could start a rumor that Ateam, Davekc and Bruno was opening a Pizza shop in Medina, Ohio. People would think it may or may not be true, but until it happens it's just a rumor.

ATeam · Jun 16, 2012

Bruno said:
I could start a rumor that Ateam, Davekc and Bruno was opening a Pizza shop in Medina, Ohio. People would think it may or may not be true, but until it happens it's just a rumor.

We have problems already. It appears we have already lost 1/3 of the staff to a watermellon venture, and Bruno, we're not going to sell many pizzas with you constantly talking online about how great all the other pizza places are.

Best for now to live in a truck with my wife, I think.

Bruno · Jun 16, 2012

ATeam said:
We have problems already. It appears we have already lost 1/3 of the staff to a watermellon venture, and Bruno, we're not going to sell many pizzas with you constantly talking online about how great all the other pizza places are.

Best for now to live in a truck with my wife, I think.

I wouldn't do that. Because I make some of the best pizza around. Before started at Roberts Express in 1995 I worked in the Rent to Own business in the daytime and the Pizza Business at night. I got into Expediting to save money to open a Pizza shop to be honest. That is one of the goals in life I have failed to do as of yet. Maybe someday I will open a pizza shop, who knows. But for now expediting is what I do.