volunteer 1
Expert Expediter
I am a long time reader and have enjoyed the forums, now I need to know about Tri States. Would appreciate any info on them. Thanks, Riverman
Tri State Expediting
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Here is my two cents: Cons: a) very low load rates- the lowest of them all
b) singles cannot survive there in D units (unless your truck is paid for and you like working for free) c) You cannot be dispatched over 500 miles, you cannot, you cannot...
Pros: I see lots of team drivers, some who came from other companies, and like Fed Ex, they seem to do o.k. x(
b) singles cannot survive there in D units (unless your truck is paid for and you like working for free) c) You cannot be dispatched over 500 miles, you cannot, you cannot...
Pros: I see lots of team drivers, some who came from other companies, and like Fed Ex, they seem to do o.k. x(
I used to run a solo van with Tri-State, also had drivers with them.
I never had a problem, rarely had complaints and then they got resolved quickly with driver resolution, never had a pay problem unless I caused it (like mailing in my paperwork too late to make the weekly payday), and always got respect and assistance from dispatchers and truck movement. Recruiters didn't blow smoke up my shorts, dispatchers didn't mislead load terms just to get me to take a "bad" load.....but then again, nobody volunteered any bad information, so if you don't ASK, you might not find out something important. At that time, my van averaged .75 per loaded mile....if T.S. now pays .80 for all loaded miles for vans, then you won't get the higher paying runs, but your AVERAGE should be higher than what it was because you will always get .80.
I never had a problem, rarely had complaints and then they got resolved quickly with driver resolution, never had a pay problem unless I caused it (like mailing in my paperwork too late to make the weekly payday), and always got respect and assistance from dispatchers and truck movement. Recruiters didn't blow smoke up my shorts, dispatchers didn't mislead load terms just to get me to take a "bad" load.....but then again, nobody volunteered any bad information, so if you don't ASK, you might not find out something important. At that time, my van averaged .75 per loaded mile....if T.S. now pays .80 for all loaded miles for vans, then you won't get the higher paying runs, but your AVERAGE should be higher than what it was because you will always get .80.
RodeHawg69
Expert Expediter
I was with Tri-State for 6 mos. and experienced the following:
1. Company has a "cold" attitude...you're a number, not a person. Dispatchers are rude & impersonal. After 5:00 PM, no trucks are allowed in their lot and if you need paperwork, an employee will leave it OUTSIDE for p/u. According to various employees, this atmosphere has existed since 9/11. Don't believe it. It's the collective CHARACTER (or lack of) that's being personified!
2. Company screwed a number of O/O's in March, 2004 when they went to a "new" pay scale from 1.10-1.15/mi. Personally, I was listed as a "D" truck in my lease contract, received a new addended contract which INCORRECTLY listed my unit as a "C" (5 cents less/mi), notified them of the "error"...even faxed a copy of my contract, but they still refused to remunerate me for the 4,500 miles in March @ .05 cents ($250). I wonder how much money they scammed from drivers on this maneuver?
3. Their personnel director THINKS she's a cultural icon...LOL. If only she could see herself...and her 50 yr.old pics from her 1950ish NY ballet days
I've been w/Fed Ex CC, TST, Tri-State & Conway...TST had the best "family atmosphere" of them all!
1. Company has a "cold" attitude...you're a number, not a person. Dispatchers are rude & impersonal. After 5:00 PM, no trucks are allowed in their lot and if you need paperwork, an employee will leave it OUTSIDE for p/u. According to various employees, this atmosphere has existed since 9/11. Don't believe it. It's the collective CHARACTER (or lack of) that's being personified!
2. Company screwed a number of O/O's in March, 2004 when they went to a "new" pay scale from 1.10-1.15/mi. Personally, I was listed as a "D" truck in my lease contract, received a new addended contract which INCORRECTLY listed my unit as a "C" (5 cents less/mi), notified them of the "error"...even faxed a copy of my contract, but they still refused to remunerate me for the 4,500 miles in March @ .05 cents ($250). I wonder how much money they scammed from drivers on this maneuver?
3. Their personnel director THINKS she's a cultural icon...LOL. If only she could see herself...and her 50 yr.old pics from her 1950ish NY ballet days
I've been w/Fed Ex CC, TST, Tri-State & Conway...TST had the best "family atmosphere" of them all!
RodeHawg69 said, "....>1. Company has a "cold" attitude...you're a number, not a person...."
This reply is not about TriState or the other items in RodeHawg69's post. It's about the "treat you like a number" issue; or on the flip side, "treat you like family" issue.
We chose our carrier BECAUSE it treats drivers like numbers. When we picked our carrier, we weren't seeking buddies, we were seeking a professional business relationship. We felt a company that would treat us like a number would likely treat other drivers like numbers too. In other words, it would treat all drivers the same.
Because we did not expect anyone to be friendly with us when we started (professional, yes; friendly, no), we were not disappointed when the dispatchers and company officials took a strictly business approach with us. It's an approach we appreciate. It makes it easy to do business, and easy to cut ties and leave for another company if the business relationships fail to produce their intended results.
This reply is not about TriState or the other items in RodeHawg69's post. It's about the "treat you like a number" issue; or on the flip side, "treat you like family" issue.
We chose our carrier BECAUSE it treats drivers like numbers. When we picked our carrier, we weren't seeking buddies, we were seeking a professional business relationship. We felt a company that would treat us like a number would likely treat other drivers like numbers too. In other words, it would treat all drivers the same.
Because we did not expect anyone to be friendly with us when we started (professional, yes; friendly, no), we were not disappointed when the dispatchers and company officials took a strictly business approach with us. It's an approach we appreciate. It makes it easy to do business, and easy to cut ties and leave for another company if the business relationships fail to produce their intended results.
"I want to be treated like a number" That clearly doesn't work for me. I don't want their load decisions based on a average of other drivers. Some of those drivers may be poor performers. I want the carrier to know that when they call us, we deliver, without a bunch of complications and complaining. You wouldn't send a new driver to your newest or most sensitive account. That in itself would be a poor decision on their part. No, we want them to know EXACTLY who we are. As one becomes more experienced in the industry, they will appreciate this quality.
Dave,I couldn!t agree more with you.Over the years we have been sent in to rescue difficult loads and special Haz/Mat shipments because the inexperienced drivers did not know had to do the appropriate paperwork or could not handle the freight for what ever reason.
I like my reputation and do not want to be a number.
I like my reputation and do not want to be a number.
Perhaps we're saying the same thing in two different ways. I take great satisfaction in knowing that when dispatchers pull our (wife and my) numbers, they see stats that put us above average in the fleet. I'm far more concerned with the way our numbers look on HQ's computer screen than with our reputation in the minds of dispatchers. Those folks come and go. The numbers remain to tell our story. Because we have good numbers (load acceptance, service failures, time in service, etc.), a brand new dispatcher that has never met or talked with us can look at our names and say, "There's a good team."
Ok, and do you really think that there are numbers by your names in the dispatch screen? Coming from an ex dispatcher, I can tell you this one. No there isn't. You find out about the drivers from the others in the office and how you have interacted with them. They will tell a new dispatcher if the team is willing to work, or if they are just a pain in their butts.
romoore245
Expert Expediter
Please that is something we would all like to know, also if anyone knows do all companies use a nameless system?
What I want to know is what kind of name is PeachyPoo?
I have heard of HammerDown, ShoeString, DieselDevil - praytell, what is PeachyPoo?
LOL! :7 :7 :7
Lawrence,
Expediters Online.com
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine
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I have heard of HammerDown, ShoeString, DieselDevil - praytell, what is PeachyPoo?
LOL! :7 :7 :7
Lawrence,
Expediters Online.com
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine
-----------------------------------------
Thanks For Visiting EO!
http://www.expeditersonline.com/hotnews/sterling_eo_forum.jpg
Please Help Us Get The Word
Out About Expediters Online.com!
-----------------------------------------