Why does panther put you on a pro before you even accept?!

[blizzard2014]

You have to be put on a pro/load so it can be send to you. It's like that at FedEx, Tryhours, Tri-state, TST-Expedite. They can't send it out to your truck unless your on the pro/ load.

This is true Bruno, but I have a friend with Panther and sometimes he calls in wondering why he is not getting a load out of Chicago for 18 hours. They tell him that he is being held on a pro that picks up the next day and they wait till they feel like it to send him the offer. How many times are trucks being held on a pro for a day and not knowing about it? The only way to know for sure is to log onto panther and check your availabiluty status. Not everyone has access to a computer and wants to spend all day on the phone with dispatch trying to get things straightened out.

One of the big reasons for this is that Panther does not call the drivers and ask if they want the load before the bid on it. They simply have 20 trucks in one area, so they just bid on everything that pops up, then they hold it, and then they eventually force one of their 20 trucks to accept the load. This is a good practice if you want to snag up as many loads as you can get, but it is not good for the owner operators.

 

[T270_Dreamin]

This is true Bruno, but I have a friend with Panther and sometimes he calls in wondering why he is not getting a load out of Chicago for 18 hours. They tell him that he is being held on a pro that picks up the next day and they wait till they feel like it to send him the offer. How many times are trucks being held on a pro for a day and not knowing about it? The only way to know for sure is to log onto panther and check your availabiluty status. Not everyone has access to a computer and wants to spend all day on the phone with dispatch trying to get things straightened out.

One of the big reasons for this is that Panther does not call the drivers and ask if they want the load before the bid on it. They simply have 20 trucks in one area, so they just bid on everything that pops up, then they hold it, and then they eventually force one of their 20 trucks to accept the load. This is a good practice if you want to snag up as many loads as you can get, but it is not good for the owner operators.

So say I'm trying to go a specific place, sometimes it's nice to get working going in the direction you're looking to go, they will try and get me to go to other places then I have to refuse, the suggest going out of service which I would do but what if that big 1200 mile load comes up that you want going exactly where you want to go comes up and your out of service, so plan a is stay in service turn down a ton of load to get the one you want. But then you're user rating goes down, they shouldn't penalize you for that.

 

[T270_Dreamin]

This is true Bruno, but I have a friend with Panther and sometimes he calls in wondering why he is not getting a load out of Chicago for 18 hours. They tell him that he is being held on a pro that picks up the next day and they wait till they feel like it to send him the offer. How many times are trucks being held on a pro for a day and not knowing about it? The only way to know for sure is to log onto panther and check your availabiluty status. Not everyone has access to a computer and wants to spend all day on the phone with dispatch trying to get things straightened out.

One of the big reasons for this is that Panther does not call the drivers and ask if they want the load before the bid on it. They simply have 20 trucks in one area, so they just bid on everything that pops up, then they hold it, and then they eventually force one of their 20 trucks to accept the load. This is a good practice if you want to snag up as many loads as you can get, but it is not good for the owner operators.

I always know when a load comes in and call in and tell them to take me off a pro if I don't want to take that specific load. I frequently log in and check board positioning and other pertinent details such as how many truck are in one city and average amount of loads that are going out each day.

So say I'm trying to go a specific place, sometimes it's nice to get working going in the direction you're looking to go, they will try and get me to go to other places then I have to refuse, the suggest going out of service which I would do but what if that big 1200 mile load comes up that you want going exactly where you want to go comes up and your out of service, so plan a is stay in service turn down a ton of load to get the one you want. But then you're user rating goes down, they shouldn't penalize you for that.

Nobody should have any problem in Chicago I turned down 8 loads the other day there. I ended up doing a mini (before I got the big one from New Berlin WI to Smyma Tn) 125 total miles in heavy traffic 5 hrs total $55 -20 for fuel. $35 = $7 per hour. Some back scratching going on

 

[zorry]

but you will get hit with a refusal if it does not meet one of the refusal guidelines..

Curious. What are the refusal guidelines ?

What is the penalty for a refusal ?

Is this system set up to benefit the multi-truck owner ?

Always want to learn what I can about the other outfits.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I always know when a load comes in and call in and tell them to take me off a pro if I don't want to take that specific load. I frequently log in and check board positioning and other pertinent details such as how many truck are in one city and average amount of loads that are going out each day.

So say I'm trying to go a specific place, sometimes it's nice to get working going in the direction you're looking to go, they will try and get me to go to other places then I have to refuse, the suggest going out of service which I would do but what if that big 1200 mile load comes up that you want going exactly where you want to go comes up and your out of service, so plan a is stay in service turn down a ton of load to get the one you want. But then you're user rating goes down, they shouldn't penalize you for that.

Nobody should have any problem in Chicago I turned down 8 loads the other day there. I ended up doing a mini (before I got the big one from New Berlin WI to Smyma Tn) 125 total miles in heavy traffic 5 hrs total $55 -20 for fuel. $35 = $7 per hour. Some back scratching going on

I have no doubt about Chicago...if your under .95 a mile....

 

[zorry]

Is it common to see $55 load offers in the van world ?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Is it common to see $55 load offers in the van world ?

I thought most have a $50 minimum charge?...at E-1 it was 50 + the FSC on the miles run...so yes it is possible...like a 10 mile load for $50 buck then 10x.20fsc= 2.00 for a total of $52.00

 

[BigBadBill]

Many have hit on the answer to the OP's question. I will add coming from a carrier prospective, and we are small, even in our office if we don't match a load with a vehicle it would be very easy to give the load to someone else or try and book a 2nd load with that vehicle.

If they didn't have a way of doing this then you would be on here asking "why do they offer me a load and then give it to someone else".

But it seems there is more of an issue that just this. Sounds like they will also show you loaded with a load after you have turned it down. But that is also an issue for them. Now another planer is not looking at that load thinking it is covered or at least offered. Seems that it is less sinister and more one of the issues with running for a large company.

 

[davekc]

This is true Bruno, but I have a friend with Panther and sometimes he calls in wondering why he is not getting a load out of Chicago for 18 hours. They tell him that he is being held on a pro that picks up the next day and they wait till they feel like it to send him the offer. How many times are trucks being held on a pro for a day and not knowing about it? The only way to know for sure is to log onto panther and check your availabiluty status. Not everyone has access to a computer and wants to spend all day on the phone with dispatch trying to get things straightened out.

One of the big reasons for this is that Panther does not call the drivers and ask if they want the load before the bid on it. They simply have 20 trucks in one area, so they just bid on everything that pops up, then they hold it, and then they eventually force one of their 20 trucks to accept the load. This is a good practice if you want to snag up as many loads as you can get, but it is not good for the owner operators.

Seems a need for some clarification.
This situation only happens in rare instances. Tell your friend, he doesn't need a computer. If out of the truck, and unsure, he can dial the "800" number which free in the US and Canada, enter his truck number, and it will say if they sent him a pro. This is all automated, takes less than a minute, and you don't need to talk to anyone. Very simple. He might want to install this concept if he waited 18 hours unknowingly.

Does Panther call the driver on a load they are bidding? Happens all the time. They will even say "I have the customer on the line" and provide details of the load to determine if you are interested. That happens whether there are 10 trucks there or none.

Like other carriers, they don't "Force" you to take anything. If they can't cover something, they up the rate or provide a bonus. If that fails, they broker it out.
Again.....very simple practice that most carriers utilize.

As for acceptance policy, a refusal isn't counted if more than eight hours, lower than contract rate, over 40 percent deadhead. There are a few other exceptions I believe but those are the basics.

 

[Bruno]

I would have to agree Davekc, Panther is pretty laid back when it comes to refusals. Other carriers don't care what time a day it is, how many miles away you are, if don't pay rate. Your getting hit with a refusal no matter what. Someone would get upset if I gave them a million dollars. They would be mad maybe because I gave it to them in one dollar bills and not one hundred dollar bills. People are just never happy about anything these days.

 

[T270_Dreamin]

Seems a need for some clarification.
This situation only happens in rare instances. Tell your friend, he doesn't need a computer. If out of the truck, and unsure, he can dial the "800" number which free in the US and Canada, enter his truck number, and it will say if they sent him a pro. This is all automated, takes less than a minute, and you don't need to talk to anyone. Very simple. He might want to install this concept if he waited 18 hours unknowingly.

Does Panther call the driver on a load they are bidding? Happens all the time. They will even say "I have the customer on the line" and provide details of the load to determine if you are interested. That happens whether there are 10 trucks there or none.

Like other carriers, they don't "Force" you to take anything. If they can't cover something, they up the rate or provide a bonus. If that fails, they broker it out.
Again.....very simple practice that most carriers utilize.

As for acceptance policy, a refusal isn't counted if more than eight hours, lower than contract rate, over 40 percent deadhead. There are a few other exceptions I believe but those are the basics.

Davekc thanks for the clarification, what do you mean isn't counted if more then 8 hours?


Zorry... 57 mile load not too common but they call it a mini. They will give you the first out when you finish, but having the first out in a place like Chicago is irrelevant, freight moves so quick everyone leaves with a smile on their face and a full stomach if you're in a van and can get to all the good food!

 

[wvcourier]

Smart phones are invaluable, im always checking my board position ect. And its not difficult to get off the pro, most of the time,they call as soon as they send it anyway. And if they dont call,then you kinda know thier fishing, almost expecting you not to accept,but crossing thier fingers anyway.And when you call them back, they can usually give you some type of bonus to make it worthwhile.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using EO Forums mobile app

 

[Turtle]

More than 8 hours means the load doesn't pick up for at least 8 hours from now. A refusal isn't counted if it is offered to you more than eight hours in advance of the pickup time.

It's 0900 and they offer you a load that doesn't pick up until 2200, you can turn it down without suffering a refusal.

 

[zorry]

What is the penalty for a refusal ?

 

[Turtle]

Three licks with a rough cat tongue.

Actually, it is accounted for in your Acceptance Rate percentage. Your Acceptance Rate is calculated based on how many loads you refused divided by the number of loads you are offered. It is calculated using the previous entire calendar month, plus all of the days in the current month. If you percentage drops below 67% (I think it is) then you will get last-call for load offers if there is anyone else in the area who can take the load.

 

[zorry]

You need 2 out if three offers to stay in good graces or you are harshly penalized ?

Seems pretty FORCED to me.

Doesn't it take a lot of INDEPENDENT out of Independent Contractor ?

You'll take one of these loads or we put you on a do not call list unless we're in a bind. Then you really got to take a lot of offers to get up over the magic number.

May be okay if there's not much difference between loads.

Seems scary to the uninformed.....

 

[Turtle]

2 out of 3, 7 out of 10, 15 out of 22, yeah.

Some look at it as forced and taking the independent out of independent contractor, but just like a customer with a roofing contractor, if the contractor says no enough times the customer won't use him as often. It would be nice to have actions without consequences, but life generally doesn't work that way.

It seems scary to the uninformed, but to a cherry-picker it's a veritable nightmare.

In five years at Panther I dropped down below 90% twice that I can recall, but it was probably three or four times.

 

[RETIDEPXE]

Sign up for texting of the load offer. If they send you a load, you know it right away if you have your phone. $2 per week, reimbursed once you reach the rewards program level. And, like Dave recommended, you can always call and know within a few seconds if the "we see that you are on a load" message comes thru.

I have had a dispatcher a time or two ding me with a refusal when they should not have but a simple call to driver's relations takes care of the problem. All and all, I like the set up at Panther.

 

[Wolverine]

You need 2 out if three offers to stay in good graces or you are harshly penalized ?

Seems pretty FORCED to me.

Doesn't it take a lot of INDEPENDENT out of Independent Contractor ?

You'll take one of these loads or we put you on a do not call list unless we're in a bind. Then you really got to take a lot of offers to get up over the magic number.

May be okay if there's not much difference between loads.

Seems scary to the uninformed.....

Oh yeah, now I'm beginning to remember why I left the Two-headed ***** after such a short time...

I had trouble stifling laughter from the moment I walked into orientation and the little guy who thought he was Hitler, Napoleon or my first drill sergeant started screaming at everyone. I thought "Holy Crap, I'm having a flashback to basic training" and immediately gave him twenty pushups!

Seriously, my acceptance rate must be dismally low at the Fed compared to what the ***** expects. Hard to tell, because if CC really tracks that stat it must be privileged information - in several years I haven't had it brought to my attention.

FORCED?? Maybe not...but their system sure smells of coercion.

 

[Wolverine]

Hmmm....perhaps if I had used the French term 'chatte' instead of P*ssy my reply would not have been censored...