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What's up w/ panther

acvox24

acvox24

Expert Expediter
Owner/Operator
Is it just me or is one load a week the new norm for panther CV. When I started with this company 2 years ago I was averaging 1500 miles a week. But in the last 4 months even in good areas I have to sit a week to get a load. Like right now I'm in Iowa and if I called Panther they would empty move me to Chicago. But the run that took me here came from that area and if I knew I was going have to deadhead all the way back. I wouldn't have taken this load to begin with. And if you can't take loads to places like Iowa where can you go. Are other CV,s running into the same thing or is this just bad luck.
 
davekc

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
May be isolated to vans. With straights, we have been pretty busy.
 
T

Treadmill

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
acvox24 said:
Is it just me or is one load a week the new norm for panther CV. When I started with this company 2 years ago I was averaging 1500 miles a week. But in the last 4 months even in good areas I have to sit a week to get a load. Like right now I'm in Iowa and if I called Panther they would empty move me to Chicago. But the run that took me here came from that area and if I knew I was going have to deadhead all the way back. I wouldn't have taken this load to begin with. And if you can't take loads to places like Iowa where can you go. Are other CV,s running into the same thing or is this just bad luck.
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This is what we get with an over saturated segment of trucking. Also too many cut throat artist trying to out do themselves.
 
OntarioVanMan

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
Treadmill said:
This is what we get with an over saturated segment of trucking. Also too many cut throat artist trying to out do themselves.
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well like it or not...that is what we are into....cutthroat....the very same unregulated market we made a living at before, has been invaded....and now them unregulated conditions will be our undoing.....
 
Moot

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
acvox24 said:
When I started with this company 2 years ago I was averaging 1500 miles a week. But in the last 4 months even in good areas I have to sit a week to get a load.
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What do you consider "good areas"? Name your top 3 "good areas".

Like right now I'm in Iowa and if I called Panther they would empty move me to Chicago.
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Where in Iowa, the Quad Cities? Why not call and take the paid empty move to Chicago and be loaded and rolling by tomorrow afternoon?

But the run that took me here came from that area and if I knew I was going have to deadhead all the way back. I wouldn't have taken this load to begin with.
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So why did you take the load? You stated that the last four months you had to sit a week for a load. What made you think this load to Iowa would be any different? If you were in Chicago when you got offered the Iowa load, why didn't you ask for a bonus?

And if you can't take loads to places like Iowa where can you go. Are other CV,s running into the same thing or is this just bad luck.
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Watford City, North Dakota comes to mind.
 
skyraider

skyraider

Veteran Expediter
US Navy
I think I have heard the same conversation in 2009, yep I know I have,,,never changes...
 
JohnWC

JohnWC

Veteran Expediter
Lol plenty of freight that way wished I was there get off the auto type loads out west is fun and profitable ups yards with panther what is it 500 miles then yards got to take a break lot of 8 hundred + loads out thar
 
T270_Dreamin

T270_Dreamin

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Freight is down and they have too many vans on their fleet. Lets see what happens after March 15th. For now i'm thinking slow and steady wins the race 1200-1500 miles a week (with the exception of xmas and new years week). Its all about the empty moves and staying in the freight lanes. Bounce around like pin balls. Ok no more secrets :) OVM has them all.

From a fleet owner perspective I'd imagine its all about volume and driver retention. Haven't gone that route yet. Adding a van seems like trouble.
 
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OntarioVanMan

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
T270_Dreamin said:
Freight is down and they have too many vans on their fleet. Lets see what happens after March 15th. For now i'm thinking slow and steady wins the race 1200-1500 miles a week (with the exception of xmas and new years week). Its all about the empty moves and staying in the freight lanes. Bounce around like pin balls. Ok no more secrets :) OVM has them all.

From a fleet owner perspective I'd imagine its all about volume and driver retention. Haven't gone that route yet. Adding a van seems like trouble.
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Why oh why would you want too?....You see all around you...not only the price on the loads, there are the driver issues...be prepared to travel hundreds of miles to pick up that abandoned van...a driverless van just costs you money.....
 
OntarioVanMan

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
Moot said:
What do you consider "good areas"? Name your top 3 "good areas".

Where in Iowa, the Quad Cities? Why not call and take the paid empty move to Chicago and be loaded and rolling by tomorrow afternoon?

So why did you take the load? You stated that the last four months you had to sit a week for a load. What made you think this load to Iowa would be any different? If you were in Chicago when you got offered the Iowa load, why didn't you ask for a bonus?

Watford City, North Dakota comes to mind.
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Moot and I play on I-29 to I 35.....where the real men play.....LOL
 
T270_Dreamin

T270_Dreamin

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
davekc said:
Not really. But you do have to pay to play. ;)
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Agreed but I wouldn't want to put junk on the road. Even a used volvo with over 500k commands well over 60-70 grand depending on year! Build a class 7 and you're still paying 40k for truck 10k for sleeper and 10k for the box. I've looked into it and its kept me out of the game, hanging strong with the 2006 Sprinter's still. I'll need about 5-10 more years or maybe a imaginary inheritance to fall out of the sky.
 
T270_Dreamin

T270_Dreamin

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
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rollincoal

rollincoal

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
FlyingVan said:
More fuel, more expensive maintenance, log and scale.
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I guess after dealing with those things every day for years it just seems like ordinary routine. No big deal. Anymore with computers there's no need to worry about form/manner violations. Can count on both hands how many times I've been run thru the wringer by the DOT in about 15 years. Only had minor issues on less than half of those. Maybe I'm lucky I don't get checked out more or maybe I just don't look guilty? I dunno. The plus outweighs the minuses you list by a long shot. Namely, with the right company you can take full advantage of market conditions with a straight and get paid what you're truly worth. There is still competition but with the bar higher at least you have a better chance.
 
Dynamite 1

Dynamite 1

Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
T270_Dreamin said:
Agreed but I wouldn't want to put junk on the road. Even a used volvo with over 500k commands well over 60-70 grand depending on year! Build a class 7 and you're still paying 40k for truck 10k for sleeper and 10k for the box. I've looked into it and its kept me out of the game, hanging strong with the 2006 Sprinter's still. I'll need about 5-10 more years or maybe a imaginary inheritance to fall out of the sky.
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Dont know about that. All depends on how well you shop and bargain, we have 3 pretty nice class 8's. 1 Freightliner and 2 Sterlings, all 06's payed 30k for the Freightliner with 190k on a full rebuild with a 3 year unlimited warranty and 22k & 27k for the Sterlings with 350k & 420k on full rebuilds. All are C9's all big sleeper trucks. You just have to look and not be a desperate buyer !!!
 
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