Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

Funny you say that. That is where I learned English.

 

I've improvised a few times. Had a top heavy industrial fridge on a liftgate. I wrapped a cargo strap around the thing and held on to both ends of the strap in one hand, while using the other to manage the switch on the side of the trailer to lower us. Just that bit of extra control was enough force to prevent it from tipping over.

Sometimes with this line of work you just gotta think on your feet.

 

It's asinine. When I left Reddaway and moved down into the deep south, I was qualified to work for any company given my LTL experience. I had endless options from XPO, SAIA, FxF, UPSF, SEFL, Estes, ABF, and so on. But the company I really wanted to be part of was Holland; Reddaway's sister company.

I was happy for the past few years that I worked for them. Aside from the maintenance side, all of us were treated well. People actually liked management and management liked us back. It was a very cordial working relationship we shared together. Never in my wildest thoughts did I think they would take four massive companies and merge them into one "super carrier". Not with YRC at the helm running this whole operation. Had I known this was going to happen I would have never come back.

Just to give you an idea of the chaos on the East coast where they are merging Holland and YRC, the Atlanta terminals are combining and are laying off 35 drivers. Not sure how many are line or P&D, or from what companies they are; but it's probably all seniority based.

My own terminal has lost about 15% of our drivers due to resignations. Granted, it's hard to put a number on who left due to the merger, but it is worth noting that the last few drivers that left were not replaced. This actually works out great since our freight volume plummeted and realistically, the loss of drivers is keeping up with the reduction of freight.

What's really upsetting is you are seeing this on the operational side from our customers. People that I've known and worked with for three past years no longer ship with us. Some of them I had a chance to talk to since they receive freight with us still but no longer ship out. They flat out say "sorry R/R, it's not you. It's the new logo on your truck and trailer. We just can't trust your new company". Then the most disparaging comment I got yesterday. Customer dug his destroyed freight out of my trailer. He shook his head and said "there was a time when Holland was a reputable carrier. You guys really destroyed your good name". Those comments were especially egregious because I signed up due to the USF name.

You are right. It really does not matter if you are at the top of the seniority board at either YRC, Holland, Reddaway, or New Penn. At this point we are just rearranging seats on the Titanic.

 

Tja. C'est la vie