Eagle Logistics Services. Indianapolis, IN

This logic fails, what, while making the payments you are supposed to starve????

The business model is supposed to support even the purchase of a NEW truck. This is not impossible, in fact, it should be expected. Hence FR8's frustration!!!! now, are operators totally blameless??? NO

But they should, at the very least, have the aid (aid which their paying for) from the fleet managers and dispatchers. His point is their knowledge is spotty at best, and they rely on cheap freight instead of hunting and negotiating for good paying freight. Also, unresponsiveness to L/O requests seems to be an ongoing theme throughout this thread (not just from him).

Eagle Ops, I must commend you for, at least, having the conversation in this thread. Bravo!

 

I want to go home and get the good allowance again!if I'm good

 

It's been 90 days. The tractor you have are exactly the ones Quality leases to Mercer, payments are the same of course but fixed drops drastically. Will have to lease a trailer from X-Tra Lease for about $400 a month, but that beats what you're paying now. I passed the hiring process but Quality wouldn't let me take the W900 over to Mercer. Eric said," Those are for Eagle and Celadon only. Now that could change, so don't quote me." The clock is ticking on the busy season so I drove it to the Butler yard, no more time to keep playing this half-axxed manipulation game.

At the end of the day you'll never convince someone who's never been in your position that 1 to 2K a week is horrible. Even with your writ-offs you're in the hole tax wise. Luckily for me I got out of there before things got to bad.

We all thought Eagle was somthing it clearly doesn't even desire to be. They're feeding drivers, and ops, a line of nonsense. Mr. Whipper is doing better than he's letting on lol. I know a guy who's been there since January. Schneiders figured out the key to retention and possibly lease completion, I'm definently keeping an eye on them.

 

Amen.

 

Mr loke you returned!lol....a true voice of reason and sanity.....and u do know what we are saying here,so thank you sir and good luck to you always

 

No, why would you think that. You're making money (ideally) while you're paying for the truck.

Agree 100% and plenty of drivers are doing just that. Plenty aren't as well, but there's typically a clear separation between the two.

I said in this thread a long time ago that I think there are some ops guys at Eagle that aren't up to snuff, but that's true anywhere and in every company.

I can't speak to Fr8's situation because I don't know him or his record, but as others have said, if your ops manager is giving you cheap freight, refuse it. Good paying freight is out there and there are a lot of people getting it and running it.

If a driver feels like his OM isn't giving him good options, then search for your own and show him what's up. Ask for a new ops manager. Build relationships with other brokers. Whatever path you choose, it has to come with some self-agency.

The most successful Drivers aren't the luckiest guys, they're the guys that take the most personal responsibility for their business.

Thanks, but to me it's pretty simple. Like I said, we have 600 Drivers now, and if need be I can see all their pay checks and all their driving histories, so it's possible to gather a lot of data and respond to general trends with real time info. I feel like that can help out a ton in some cases.

 

This is not how a L/O should view a lease purchase. Just as with any other business the lease is an "Operating Expense" it never goes away! It should be viewed no different than leasing an office/retail space to run your business, there is No expectation of ownership.

Also worth noting that the vast majority of companies today keep trucks up to or just past the warranty expiration.

I point this out not to belittle but as a selling point of a lease it's a mute point to those of us running the numbers.

Yes Sir it should be the Expectation!

I was going to point this out, well said, EagleOps there is no reason to claim these "Operating Cost" as profit just doesn't add up?

fr8, When I started reading this thread I was looking forward to coming to Eagle, your positive post's lead me to believe I could find a place to call home. I have watched as your enthusiasm has diminised to a point of complete and utter frustration. I feel your pain. On the bright side there are other places that you can take your lease, many have been mentioned already.

I thought you might need one of these hope it helps!

Having been in management for years before driving a truck, I can say with confidence that "It's easier to change companies than to change a company".

I wish all of you the best of luck!

 

You're exactly right. I can't speak to any one else's ability, experience, or skill level but Eagle wasn't my first rodeo. Knew/know what it takes to complete a lease make money and more importantly, save money. Personal responsibility is a must. But you can be the most responsible person in the world and still fail if the aspects of the business beyond your control isn't functioning properly. With Eagle it's way to hit or miss in that regard. As with any company, your dispatcher, fleet manager, or driver manager can make or break you. Period.

But I'm noticing a new trend. Companies that are foregoing that traditional dispatcher route, running an in house load board, and truly letting the drivers dispatch themselves are gaining steam. Lots of Landstar/Mercer clones these days, and their drivers are doing quite well.

 

This is true..
When I'm out 7 days if I don't clear AT LEAST $2k after all expenses then I'm doing something terribly wrong.
And that's with paying for a new Kenworth also.
Part of the reasoning for taking on the risk and responsibility of running your own truck is because you CAN earn a lot more money if you do it right.
$1.20-$1.40 to the truck just isn't worth it in my opinion.

 

That's right but if u don't cNt get at least decent rates no matter what eo said its not happened here and not just me a whole host of what I feel are good experienced operators have experienced the same I don't just talk here with them I've had many and email exchange with lots here and there facebook page we all start the same enthusiastic eager ready then slowly as things happen don't happen they have dropped off and seperAted from eagle! There the smart ones already moved on....don't know why it's so hard d for me too but it is seems that's what eagle wants anyways eo said it many times walk away quit !way to retain drivers eagle encouraging it even sheesh