Panther Sitting at Truck Stops
- Thread starter Eric1
- Start date
Panther dispatchers don't play favorites, contrary to popular belief. They don't have the time. The CSRs book the loads, and then the dispatchers have to get them covered, as quickly as possible. The only time the play favorites is when someone is closer to the pickup, if the pickup time is critical, and when someone has a higher acceptance rate and a better on-time delivery rate. If you have a low acceptance rate, or a record of being late, they'll pass you over for another truck. Otherwise, it's the closest to the freight, or the highest on the board, depending on distance to the pickup.
Ever driven through a large metropolitan are and noticed tow trucks just sitting there, parked on the shoulder of the road? They're sitting there hoping and praying for the misfortune of others to have a rear-end accident, and to be the closest to the accident when it happens, so they get the call. It's being opportunistic, being in the right place at the right time. It's like the tick out in the woods who positions himself out on the ends of long grasses in order to be able to jump off and grab a passing animal, two or four legged. It's like the spider who builds her web on the porch by the porch lights so as to catch unwitting flying insects into the web. It's like the frog who positions himself at the base of the street lamp to nail low flying moths. It's like the the Cat who ate the cheese and waited for the mouse with baited breath. It's all about being in the right place at the right time, being opportunistic. You can and need to be smart about it, but in the end it's mostly luck.
It doesn't matter how smart or dumb you are, being in the right place at the right time trumps everything. And being in the same parking lot as 19 other Panther vans isn't the right place or the right time, unless you're in orientation.
Ever driven through a large metropolitan are and noticed tow trucks just sitting there, parked on the shoulder of the road? They're sitting there hoping and praying for the misfortune of others to have a rear-end accident, and to be the closest to the accident when it happens, so they get the call. It's being opportunistic, being in the right place at the right time. It's like the tick out in the woods who positions himself out on the ends of long grasses in order to be able to jump off and grab a passing animal, two or four legged. It's like the spider who builds her web on the porch by the porch lights so as to catch unwitting flying insects into the web. It's like the frog who positions himself at the base of the street lamp to nail low flying moths. It's like the the Cat who ate the cheese and waited for the mouse with baited breath. It's all about being in the right place at the right time, being opportunistic. You can and need to be smart about it, but in the end it's mostly luck.
It doesn't matter how smart or dumb you are, being in the right place at the right time trumps everything. And being in the same parking lot as 19 other Panther vans isn't the right place or the right time, unless you're in orientation.
Eric1
Active Expediter
I like that ... do you have copyrights to that or could i post it in my signature as my quote? ... just kidding ...
Newtothis
Seasoned Expediter
Double LIKE button on this one LOL
I'm not sure one can really become favored at Panther. I do have a better working relationship with some dispatchers more than others but the turn-over rate for dispatchers is high. About the time you get one properly trained, they disappear or move to driver relations. Also the number of drivers dispatchers deal with make it hard to remember who gets owed a favor.
I do know one can get a dispatcher so po'd that they will remember you to their grave. I had one guy scream and cuss at me. He denied me a dry run and an hour later was begging me to take another load. When he called me I asked for an extra $74 to cover the dry run as per my contract. He didn't realize I was under my Con-Way contract and was only reluctantly willing to pay $25. I declined and he screamed and cussed, so I hung up on him. A few minutes later he called again and used a line he learned in dispatcher school on me: "No need to raise your voice, I can hear you just fine." I laughed and hung up. He called again and agreed to my $74 bonus, but being the callous jerk I am, I upped it to $100. Finally another dispatcher or supervisor called and I accepted the load. They gave me the wrong address for the shipper, a town about 12 miles away. I refused to move until I was authorized extra stop pay because of the initial dry run pay problem. I was way late to the shipper, but still delivered on time. That particular dispatcher disappeared, but I'm still here. Guess in the end he was smarter than me and I'm still a callous jerk/moron. Oh well!
I do know one can get a dispatcher so po'd that they will remember you to their grave. I had one guy scream and cuss at me. He denied me a dry run and an hour later was begging me to take another load. When he called me I asked for an extra $74 to cover the dry run as per my contract. He didn't realize I was under my Con-Way contract and was only reluctantly willing to pay $25. I declined and he screamed and cussed, so I hung up on him. A few minutes later he called again and used a line he learned in dispatcher school on me: "No need to raise your voice, I can hear you just fine." I laughed and hung up. He called again and agreed to my $74 bonus, but being the callous jerk I am, I upped it to $100. Finally another dispatcher or supervisor called and I accepted the load. They gave me the wrong address for the shipper, a town about 12 miles away. I refused to move until I was authorized extra stop pay because of the initial dry run pay problem. I was way late to the shipper, but still delivered on time. That particular dispatcher disappeared, but I'm still here. Guess in the end he was smarter than me and I'm still a callous jerk/moron. Oh well!
Newtothis
Seasoned Expediter
I appreciate all the help I can get, I'll be a tick a spider whatever it takes! Not everyone can be a turtle.
So guys with this advice I guess I'll save the donut money... I've only had one issue with dispatch yelling at me while I was asking a simple question and voicing concern over my clock back in my week one. Out of the blue he starts screaming "so you want to be taken off the load? You will be hit with recovery!!" I never wanted off the load, and he's not there anymore either.
So guys with this advice I guess I'll save the donut money... I've only had one issue with dispatch yelling at me while I was asking a simple question and voicing concern over my clock back in my week one. Out of the blue he starts screaming "so you want to be taken off the load? You will be hit with recovery!!" I never wanted off the load, and he's not there anymore either.
Realy I did a Van load Friday in a Tractor Trailer. That paid me as a driver 110.00 for me and 110.00 for my Co driver. for only a couple hours of work. Show me the monie. I Love them straight throughs. To the other 9 that said no thanks dummies
Some loads pay and some dont.
That one did.
Some loads pay and some dont.
That one did.
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Excellent advice! Combine this with: http://www.expeditersonline.com/forum/newbies-paradise-forum/52026-cargo-vans-panther.html with special attention to posts 4,7, 13 and 15 and pretty much all you need to know about Panther is there in a Turtle shell. As Davekc mentioned, stupidity can be profitable. Use it to your advantage, but also know your threshold. Don't end up becoming stupid for stupidity's sake. Moderation in everything, including embracing stupidity.
It will be eligible in 2027.
quickpickup1
Seasoned Expediter
Tips that helped me out while I was with panther.
1.toggle switch(prevents your 16 hour clock from starting) probly start putting in tamper resistant ones now lol!!!!
2.run 16hrs non stop(prevents you from being swaped most of the time)
3.never shut off the van while loaded(for some reason if I shut the truck down during a load they thought I needed a break and swaped lol?)
4.every few hours key on your truck and get a ping this helps with power searches.
5.use your macro and online info to determine the best place to relocate,call relations up and ask where is a unit needed
6.locate away from other panther trucks and do this after you get unloaded so you have a fresh clock after you do a 5hr break.
7.dont worrie about mini loads dont even waste your time with them.(first out is crap out)unless they will preload you with something good that you have time to do
8.dont even bother worring about your board position bcos it means nothing,its all about the nearest unit!!
9.alway do your 5hr break and inform them your start and stop times on the qc
10.anything extra layover bonus etc have it on the qc
1.toggle switch(prevents your 16 hour clock from starting) probly start putting in tamper resistant ones now lol!!!!
2.run 16hrs non stop(prevents you from being swaped most of the time)
3.never shut off the van while loaded(for some reason if I shut the truck down during a load they thought I needed a break and swaped lol?)
4.every few hours key on your truck and get a ping this helps with power searches.
5.use your macro and online info to determine the best place to relocate,call relations up and ask where is a unit needed
6.locate away from other panther trucks and do this after you get unloaded so you have a fresh clock after you do a 5hr break.
7.dont worrie about mini loads dont even waste your time with them.(first out is crap out)unless they will preload you with something good that you have time to do
8.dont even bother worring about your board position bcos it means nothing,its all about the nearest unit!!
9.alway do your 5hr break and inform them your start and stop times on the qc
10.anything extra layover bonus etc have it on the qc
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greg334
Veteran Expediter
OK, I DON'T know Panther may or may not do this but some companies will look at their fleet owners/owners and see that they get loads while other companies who need to maintain an image will provide work to those who fit the company's image to their liking. Many will say this isn't possible because dispatchers are too busy, which I find rather naive but they do find a way as they find ways to do other things. I know of a couple owners from my former (unnamed) company who get really good loads and why, they are one of the favorite of the company.
My present company also has the favorite thing going in some cases, but see the difference is that my present company say that right in up front and doesn't lie about it or have defenders screaming it never happens. The company works with agents who are independent of the company itself and this means that if an agent has a favorite truck or owner, they will offer the work to them before anyone else. This may sound bad but in fact it is great because at the same time, you have the opportunity to sell your truck, services and yourself to the agents individually opposed to dealing with a "dispatcher" who isn't really into the business.
While this can be construed as negitive, it really isn't. It is about learning what you can or can't do but more importantly how to deal with it when it happens.
In the case of Panther, the nice thing is you can find your own work which means if you are sitting, you are sitting because you want to. I know one panther driver who when in some large cities went to different companies and kept busy doing short runs for good money. I understand when he was in the LA area, he was doing four loads a day and making more money than if he had a long run back to the east.
I, for one, would love to have people comprehend what I wrote. I didn't mention Panther, or imply it was part of that issue.
Is it favourtism that dispatch passes over the driver that has had service failures because after taking a long load fell asleep time and again?
Is it favourtism a certain unit has had 4 breakdowns on 6 loads and this is a good customer?
Dispatch will do what is right for the carrier and the customer.....YOU are the last consideration.....get used to it...
If your passed over many times...best look in the mirror and be honest with yourself....
Dispatcher Discretion....
Is it favourtism a certain unit has had 4 breakdowns on 6 loads and this is a good customer?
Dispatch will do what is right for the carrier and the customer.....YOU are the last consideration.....get used to it...
If your passed over many times...best look in the mirror and be honest with yourself....
Dispatcher Discretion....
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
Lets see....small fleet of unit, more per mile then industry avg, drive less make more, yea you have to sit , sometimes more then 24 hours or even 2 or 3 days..but wait, did i mention "layover pay" and "relocation pay for those days sitting and then the move if you need it!?!?...But then there are those "little helpers"....Cheesecakes, Pickles, Oranges from Fla, Coffee from Timmy's, donuts from "the Donut Castle"....LOL, I sure like it here...
PS: Hey OVM... I found that "stick"....
PS: Hey OVM... I found that "stick"....
Newtothis
Seasoned Expediter
Actually I have 100% on time, and acceptance so for me personally that can't be issue with dispatch.
I actually thought maybe that hurts me to the tune of "this one will take it, give the short run to this van"
My main problem is simply not knowing where the "customers" all are yet and positioning myself accordingly.
I drive for a fleet owner who also drives so shouldn't the company want to keep fleet owners happy by keeping their other trucks moving too? Honestly guys I'm not complaining just want to learn what Im doing wrong and try to be as successful as possible.
I actually thought maybe that hurts me to the tune of "this one will take it, give the short run to this van"
My main problem is simply not knowing where the "customers" all are yet and positioning myself accordingly.
I drive for a fleet owner who also drives so shouldn't the company want to keep fleet owners happy by keeping their other trucks moving too? Honestly guys I'm not complaining just want to learn what Im doing wrong and try to be as successful as possible.