Truck Topics
Fleet Focus: Panther II's Special Services
A growing segment of expediting is the transportation of high-value, special-handling freight. These shipments include freight from the medical, scientific and other high-tech industries along with a growing number of government shipments comprised of arms, ammunition and explosives.
The drivers involved in the transport of this high-dollar, sensitive freight are considered to be the "elite" of expediting because of the equipment, training and background security checks required.
Panther II Transportation of Medina, OH is one of those expedited carriers involved in this niche area of the fast freight business. Its "Special Services" Department was established around 18 months ago and has grown over 100 percent to include a staff of 15 specialists in just the last year, says Chris Koehring, the head of the department.
Chris has a fifteen year history of working with special handling freight, both with Panther II and other carriers, and he tells us that this type of freight usually requires team operations.
"Many of the loads in Special Services are in the 700-1000 mile range, so, obviously, it's preferable to have a team in the truck. We already have a number of tractor-trailers owner-operators in this department, so our recruiting efforts are currently focused on building our straight truck fleet."
He continues, "We're going to keep the Special Services fleet small; we're not adding a lot of equipment, but this is still a great opportunity for the owner-operator with the right truck and professional attitude."
"We're looking for owner-operators with 20-24 foot straight trucks with temperature-control equipment (reefers) and cargo control equipment such as liftgates, extra straps, pads, and even pallet jacks. Naturally, teams are preferred."
Ben and Melanie Easters are Panther II contractors who have been with Special Services since its inception. The Texas-based couple operates a reefer-equipped tractor-trailer and Ben Easters says that their Special Services qualification is, "all about expanding the freight opportunities."
"Our loads can run in the 10,000-15,000 lbs range but we also carry much smaller freight as well. We had one load of 150 lbs. that we transported from Kansas to Maine. That was a nice little trip."
Ben says that other Special Services freight that he and Melanie have transported includes: military and other government loads, chemical freight-shipments of paint requiring temperature control and shipments for companies who transfer data tapes in banking.
"We do a lot more hands-on freight in Special Services," says Ben, "and we carry a lot of pads because we do a substantial amount of pad-wrap freight."
"Our trailer is a little bit heavier than some, but it's 98' 3/4" wide, wall to wall on the inside, so we can carry just about any expedited freight. We put down a wooden floor in the trailer so we can nail the pallets."
"We can recommend Special Services to any teams out there who don't mind the extra hands-on requirement for this type of freight. It simply opens up the load possibilities for you, and should increase your revenue."
Types of freight
Chris Koehring says that fifty percent of the Special Services freight includes government loads that quite often require a SECRET clearance and background security checks.
About a third of the loads with Special Services require temperature control and this includes high-value freight like pharmaceuticals, fragile machines, computer tapes, chemical compounds such as paint, etc. Shipments requiring liftgates are also part of Special Services' responsibilities.
Chris tells of an expanding market down south: "We have been working with a few select Mexican carriers to provide expedited services in and out of Mexico. Our Panther II contractors will then take the freight to or from the border where it's transferred. These loads have substantial miles attached to them, so it should be a lucrative segment of the market for our company and our drivers as well as providing an additional service to our customers."
Being vetted for a SECRET clearance is a paperwork process with an extensive background check. Chris says that it will take about 4-6 weeks to complete the process.
Sergio and Michele Wilde are from Jacksonville, FL and have been in the special handling arena for a number of years. The couple has been in expediting since 1992, and signed with Panther II in 2001. They have an extensive history in hauling Special Services-type of shipments with other carriers.
"We already had our security clearances when we came to Panther II and we were the first team to qualify for Special Services when they started the department," says Michele.
The couple operates a Nissan UD with a reefer-equipped 22' box with a 60" sleeper. Michele says that they carry extra pads (to protect the electronic shipments) and straps, along with a pallet jack.
"We average around one Special Services load a week. We feel that a straight truck is a great size for this type of freight. We also enjoy the freedom that this size truck gives us."
Michele confirms what Chris Koehring stated about the longer mileage runs available for Special Services drivers. At the time of this interview, Michele and Sergio had on their truck a shipment of computers that originated in Orlando and destined for New England - 1300 miles.
Adam Walter, Panther II's Recruiting Manager says, "We're growing this department and we're at the point where we have the freight, but not the equipment.
"We can use owner-operators from other carriers who already possess their clearances as well as drivers who want to go through the security process to be able to run with Special Services."
For more information, contact Adam Walter at 800 830-7592, ext. 3712.