countryboy55
Rookie Expediter
Does anyone know anything about this company or perhaps working for them. I just attended Expediting Expo Show in Wilmington Ohio and curious about more information on this company
TST Expediting
- Thread starter countryboy55
- Start date
Slo-Ride
Veteran Expediter
What makes you curious? Is it the so called lease purchase program they have going on with the banana trucks? If so, I would do some heavy research on those trucks before ya enter into a agreement with them. Make sure ya talk to the countless of ppl that had them and gave em back. Many have failed and few have made it work. A few have made it work and you may also. Do your homework. Most of those lease trucks have had several part time owners.
The reqruiter on the U.S. side is properly one of the best guys in the business. Any carrier out here would do well to seek him out. No doubt in my mind owners would follow him. Its very well possible he is the reason U.S. drivers stay there.
If your a U.S. driver keep in mind they are a Canadian based company. And many times you will play second fiddle to any Canadian drivers that come in behind you whether you go into Canada or not.
Canadian freight is their first and many days their only priority. U.S freight seems to low on their list for U.S. drivers. They will get some but if there is a chance of Canadian freight coming out of the area you in, there is a good chance you will be sitting waiting for them to be awarded a load.
countryboy55
Rookie Expediter
Why do you call them banana trucks and yes that is my concern. The are offering a lease to own deal that makes it easier for someone like myself to get into the business. Do you know why so many have tried and failed especially since you mentioned so many had the trucks and gave them back? I have driven over 30 yrs. and this is a new aspect of the driving industry that I am unaware of, but have been thinking quite seriously about. Thanks for the previous input any more that you can provide.
Slo-Ride
Veteran Expediter
In the beginning most of them started started off as being yellow. Some have been white washed.k
They where lease trucks from Piske or Ryder.. I can't remember which one. Look them over carefully if you go this route. The public all ready had a shot at using these trucks and Ryder gets rid of them just in time. There maybe a good truck or two in the bunch..Ask about warranty and is it a nation wide warranty?? Read your lease contract and make sure its spelled out.
Look the freight box over,, I understand they have some sort of splice plate to raise the the box height up to 13ft????
For many years even before TST started this program,, Truck drivers/Owner operator's where well advised to research before ya lease from the company your going to work for.
In no way am I saying you can't make it work. You may very well be successful with it. But if it doesn't be aware you can't drag up and take the truck elsewhere until you complete the lease..
Can you do a straight out purchase or does a person have to lease to own these trucks?
As far as why they failed... Good Q. And that's where the research would come in. To many factors come into play.. Any thing from lack of work,,Bad economy,, Poor business plans,,Repairs????
I know several that had done this and am still in touch with one of them.. If you want I can ask him if he willing to talk to you about it.
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I was talking to some guys today and that talked about TST. They do good in & out of Canada and was told with them don't go below Alabama cause you will sit. They do good with TX from what they said.
countryboy55
Rookie Expediter
That would be great to be able to talk to someone actually in the program, if that is what I understand you as saying. It seems to me that basically you are paying the company to drive for them with this lease arrangement but perhaps that is how it works. I don't even know how there rates compare to others. 1.20 per mile loaded .50 cents empty, there is a fuel surcharge that I believe they said puts it at about 1.43 per mile loaded and they also pay tolls. Does this seem in the ballpark at least?
Slo-Ride
Veteran Expediter
Ball park..Maybe close until you take in account you give up the first 100 miles on your M T moves. Once in awhile ya can get the deadhead paid @ .50 cents. Or a portion of it.
Sounds like your saying FSC is @ .23 cents right now?? That would be on loaded miles only.
Again if you want I'll try to put you in touch with a friend of mine that just went thru this. Let me know thru the PM here and will pass your info on to him if he is willing to talk to you about it.
Countryboy55,
you could join OOIDA and they would examine your lease for you. Telling you what your getting into.
you could join OOIDA and they would examine your lease for you. Telling you what your getting into.
Slo-Ride
Veteran Expediter
Also keep in mind and I dont know if you picked up on it or not..It has been talked about here before..
To my knowledge your not leasing this directly from TST..These are owned by a company called Crew Cheif in Canada I beleive..Or use to be..They are whats left of the Alumni-Bunk dealship that went under or closed up shop for one reason or another. How TST or if TST is in bed with them noone knows..
To my knowledge your not leasing this directly from TST..These are owned by a company called Crew Cheif in Canada I beleive..Or use to be..They are whats left of the Alumni-Bunk dealship that went under or closed up shop for one reason or another. How TST or if TST is in bed with them noone knows..
If you get by the Detroiter, pull in, park and walk over to TST. At any given moment there are probably at least 20 trucks parked in their lot. Odds are a few of those are lease/purchase units. Talk with some of the drivers of those trucks. Or, if you are really daring, go hangout in their beautiful driver's lounge in the front part of the office.
Slo-Ride
Veteran Expediter
Just so ya know..I think those doors have been locked as far as drivers acess to the front office from the xdock area..Maybe by appointment now?? Actually this building isnt owned by TST its owned by Crew Cheif last I knew. You can veiw a TV room inside the Xdock doors on the side of the building.
If ya look to the right side of the parking lot as ya first pull in you will see a long line of previous leased or leased to own trucks there for your choosing. Some Yellow some White..If ya look closely some of the white ones may become yellow again soon or without much work ya maybe able to remove the white if you prefer yellow.
Slo-Ride
Veteran Expediter
Funny you mention this LD..If I remeber right and without digging up old settlements my van was pulling down a better FSC then the Straight truck was,,at least for awhile??? I really dont know where they are at now. Its been awhile and I cant remeber the numbers right now. But it was a running J/K over there among the drivers.
countryboy55
Rookie Expediter
I would be interested in talking with your friend who "just went through this" however I don't know how to pm on here so if you could direct me that would be great. I have to ask though if your friend signed on with TST or not? Thanks again for your input, it is very much appreciated. Also too, as far as "being discussed on here before" I do apologize but I have just recently learned of this site. Thanks to all for any comments.
If you go below Alabama you're going to need pontoons.
Slo-Ride
Veteran Expediter
Ill see what I can do to put him in touch with you..He is a member here but not sure what his screen name is, so not sure how active he is..Next time I see him on the F/Book I will point him here..Wheter he will talk openly with you, I cant answer for him..
PM's can be found above..I guess you would call that the users control bar???
Best advise given so far I think has been to obtain copy of the lease and have OOIDA or someone well versed in these types of leases..If your really wanting to go this route have someone check it out for you.. Dont operate on a handshake...
TST Expediting is a great company, if you want to sit around the locations of your drops for 2-3 days, without a reload, with a promise: there will be load tomorrow, and again tomorrow. And on the 3rd day, you will go home empty.
Or waiting at the boarders for 6-12 hours, paperwork in process, because TST staff made an error, or " forgot".
Or driving to a weird locations, far away, despite your better judgment,just because there is an immediate load waiting for you to come back. But surprise, surprise, dispatch lied, no re-load, you go home empty, barely covering your fuel cost.
And the "banana trucks"? OMG, drivers are walking away from them and just leaving them standing at the parking lots.
I've been with TST Expedited for 12 years, more like 12 nightmare years!
Dispatched on 2-3 hrs notice, and that's on a good day!
If you refused a load for whatever reason, even if you are out of hours, do not expect a load any time soon!
And if you really want to drive for them , make sure you budget some money from your income, to pay the dispatch and the management cash bribes on regular bases to keep you in a loop of elite drivers and somewhat busy.
I could go on and on, but I guess that's more enough info for now.
I quit driving for them 2 years ago, and that was the best decision I've ever made.
Good luck
Or waiting at the boarders for 6-12 hours, paperwork in process, because TST staff made an error, or " forgot".
Or driving to a weird locations, far away, despite your better judgment,just because there is an immediate load waiting for you to come back. But surprise, surprise, dispatch lied, no re-load, you go home empty, barely covering your fuel cost.
And the "banana trucks"? OMG, drivers are walking away from them and just leaving them standing at the parking lots.
I've been with TST Expedited for 12 years, more like 12 nightmare years!
Dispatched on 2-3 hrs notice, and that's on a good day!
If you refused a load for whatever reason, even if you are out of hours, do not expect a load any time soon!
And if you really want to drive for them , make sure you budget some money from your income, to pay the dispatch and the management cash bribes on regular bases to keep you in a loop of elite drivers and somewhat busy.
I could go on and on, but I guess that's more enough info for now.
I quit driving for them 2 years ago, and that was the best decision I've ever made.
Good luck