Dollar General Private Fleet?

Fozzynok......you had mentioned earlier that in such a set up as outscourced trans, that turnover reached a crazed 100% at points during the year......that doesnt add any creedance to what you just stated very much......

 

That doesn't make any sense. The trucking companies during peak periods (and when it gets into the hot weather lose drivers by the ton. When they get short on dedicated drivers the fleets can always chum drivers into the account for a few loads by promising all sorts of things and by paying the drivers a LOT more money that the current dedicated drivers. The problem is that most of these drivers rarely pull more than one, and a lot of them do not finish the first load and have to be rescued by other drivers. Dollar General has the same issues. They are limited to the same hiring pool as the mega fleets are only they have no other sources to draw from. The DG fleet here is having all sorts of problems getting and retaining drivers and of course the trucks and trailers are being destroyed at a pretty good clip. The DG fleet has the same issues of offering this pie in the sky, super great opportunity for drivers using the same carrot that the fleets offer.. and they just cannot adjust to the losses as fast as the mega fleets can. How anyone makes any money hauling that freight is a mystery to me.

 

In what way? The large fleets can send drivers who are already drivers to the fleet in hours/days and they are trained (sorta) the DG fleet cannot add drivers unless they pull drivers from other DCs. And when it gets hot, all of these DCs have the same issues. My fleet could pull drivers from other DC's and use company drivers as temps. The temp's retention rate was even MORE abysmal than the people who really thought they wanted to be there.. there was no real motivation for them other than the money offered. Once the drivers is out there in the back of a trailer that is 130 degrees and they are 1/3 of the way into and about to have a heat stroke.. the money offered becomes less of an great deal.

 

You only strengthen my point further with this........they are drawing from mega carriers .....thats a problem......so when DG focuses on getting a private fleet.......they wont be getting loaners from anyone.......they do draw from the same hiring pool, but then again, so does Walmart, U P S , and fed- ex.......with your reasoning, we should now ask why Walmart, U P S and fed ex , although they hire from this same pool as well, do thsy not post 100% turnover?

 

The Dollar General website says up to 49 cpm plus unload pay.

 

Heres a solution to the 130 degree problem....put apu' s on the trailers ......with air conditioning.......does one really need to think toi much " outside the box" for some of these issues?

 

You are comparing Trucking jobs like Walmart, Fed Ex, and UPS with the DG/Family Dollar/Dollar Tree jobs? That's just ridiculous. The DG fleet will use the megas forever to back up their lack of drivers and trucks. The other option is not delivering the freight?

 

No, the solution is, get some "thinkers" up in mgmnt who can turn that operation around and get busy and serious.......it can be done.....

 

The lift gates and dunnage add tons to the loads.. the weight and costs of air conditioning a trailer would be literally insane.. Most drivers can only carry a box fan and extention cords to get some sort of relief. They did finally put AC on the DG Distribution center however.

 

The cost might not be so " insane" if it kkeeps drivers cool.......and turnover goes down drastically......and yes, Im comparing D G to walmart , fedex and U P S........they are a usiness just like any other.......with issues that need resolve.....in order to stay alive, competitive and GROWING........