Panther Sitting at Truck Stops

Eric1 · Mar 2, 2012

Hello good people of EO...... Im new to the forum and wanted to ask a question about Panther.

I noticed a lot of Straight Trucks and Vans at truck stops, in guessing they are waiting for loads, my question is; is it fair to assume that vans wait the most due to their size, then straight trucks? And I don't really see T/T waiting much so does it mean they are busy the most?

Thank You for your time.

OntarioVanMan · Mar 2, 2012

Eric1 said:
Hello good people of EO...... Im new to the forum and wanted to ask a question about Panther.

I noticed a lot of Straight Trucks and Vans at truck stops, in guessing they are waiting for loads, my question is; is it fair to assume that vans wait the most due to their size, then straight trucks? And I don't really see T/T waiting much so does it mean they are busy the most?

Thank You for your time.

Thats pretty much the order....

ChrisGa23 · Mar 2, 2012

Yep vans can sit a little more than the trucks. But just depends where in the USA the van/truck is sitting

Jenny · Mar 2, 2012

Think of of it this way also. A tractor can take a tractor, straight truck or van load. A straight truck can take.a.straight truck load or a van load. A van can only take a van load. More opportunity less sitting.

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cableguymn · Mar 2, 2012

Doubt a smart t/t operator would want a van load. But your right. They can take um.

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blizzard2014 · Mar 2, 2012

Van loads pay more than you think. We had a carrier call us with a van load out of texas and paid us 1.15 a mile for it. Turns out it was an NLM load that they bid on coming out of a border town and they were paid almost 2 dollars a mile on it. Two dollars a mile is a good backhaul for a tractor trailer. It's amazing how all this works and what you learn when you become the carrier.

tenntrucker · Mar 2, 2012

I get van size loads quite often. Don't mind it as long as it in my pay scale.

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Moot · Mar 2, 2012

Jenny said:
Think of of it this way also. A tractor can take a tractor, straight truck or van load. A straight truck can take.a.straight truck load or a van load. A van can only take a van load. More opportunity less sitting.

I agree with Jenny but would like to add: in expedite there are currently, as an individual truck classification, more vans and more straight trucks per class than tractor/trailers per class. This being the case you would be more apt to see more vans and straight trucks sitting than tractor/trailers.

Also, more straight trucks than vans are team operations with some exceptions, one being team JenEnemy. One more "also": Cruising a truck stop front lot may reveal many vans from different carriers all bunch together. One could conclude that van freight is slow. If one also factored in that the majority of vans are solo drivers, the auto parking for vans is much smaller than the truck parking area and that vans have no business existing other than for plumbers, perverts and ice cream sales guys, and here I'm being redundant, sure, you will see more vans sitting. But, yeah, vans certainly do and can sit more.

Eric1 · Mar 2, 2012

Thanks you all for so much info .... I'm starting CDL school Monday and plan on getting on board a large carrier in a T/T as a student driver to get some experience in trucking as a whole, but eventually would like to move to expedite freight, having said that i am doing my homework in advance to see what the market is overfilled with and what it still is in demand for. Sounds like in a T/T you would have lots of options.

Moot · Mar 2, 2012

Eric1 said:
Sounds like in a T/T you would have lots of options.

You will certainly have more freight hauling options in a tractor/trailer, but your parking, fast food drive ups, shade tree parking and residential neighborhood pervert cruising options will be severely limited.

Falligator · Mar 2, 2012

Also it's not quite the busy season yet....so a lot of companies are sittin right now.

Eric1 · Mar 2, 2012

Moot said:
residential neighborhood pervert cruising options will be severely limited.

haha .... kinda creepy ... but funny .... I'm just hoping to have the tires rolling as much as possible, being parked in the shade won't get the bills paid, and most certainly no pervert cruising (might get me in trouble with the law not the mention the wife) .... just trying to figure out what equipment stays busy the most, I'm sure i will also get a good idea once I'm out there driving (hopefully in April sometime) ... but this forum sure does help a lot of preparation.

Thanks Moot

Eric1 · Mar 2, 2012

Falligator said:
Also it's not quite the busy season yet....so a lot of companies are sittin right now.

Is it different every year, or do you know usually when things are gonna be picking up?

Falligator · Mar 2, 2012

Eric1 said:
Is it different every year, or do you know usually when things are gonna be picking up?

Usually around mid to end of March I notice a decent pickup in freight volume.

Eric1 · Mar 2, 2012

Falligator said:
Usually around mid to end of March I notice a decent pickup in freight volume.

Thats good to hear .... I wish all of you guys a productive upcoming season!

Bruno · Mar 3, 2012

I must say some are sitting maybe because they are cherry picking. Our trucks are sitting some, but that is because drivers are turning down 450 mile loads putting them in a better area like Chicago. I know what your thinking. What are they thinking?

morningstar55ny · Mar 3, 2012

driving a van / verse trucks .... welll.... the way I see it, I rather be back in a truck. the parking isnt a big deal to me , i like the income.. im up for trying the van thing.
but its just my 2 cents.
and parking in plaza's and such away from rif raf..nd in nieghborhoods is not always the case in wal mart parking lots and other plaza's where i thought i was ok... i had knocks on my door someone asking for $$ and another time some guy trying to sell me a watch ... soooooo it doesnt matter matter where you are...
I feel a bit safer at some truck stops due to the fact they are open 24/7 .... but thats just me .

morningstar55ny · Mar 3, 2012

Bruno said:
I must say some are sitting maybe because they are cherry picking. Our trucks are sitting some, but that is because drivers are turning down 450 mile loads putting them in a better area like Chicago. I know what your thinking. What are they thinking?

now thats plain stupid...... unless the DH was out ragious... i dont know ..but ,, i would NOT turn down them kinda loads at all.
i know chicago ... and i know chicago , you dont sit long there.
and the weather factor if thats what them drivers are scared about..... i drivin in more blizzards and storms ... im ok with that..

now id love to come work for mayfield... but im a solo ... and sitting for 4 weeks at home still....

Falligator · Mar 3, 2012

Eric1 said:
Thats good to hear .... I wish all of you guys a productive upcoming season!

Yeah, same here....I just wish I could get my problems at Transportation Alliance Bank solved. I'm about to pull all my money out and put it in Woodforest. I had balance yesterday of around $800 but now I have a balance of -$123. I'm about to throw my phone through the window. LOL Now if only I could get back on the road.