FedEx Freight | Going to be more like freight??? (heard it thruogh the grapevine)

IMO the Watkins purchase had more to do with making FX a one stop shop for customers. They have a division for every need a shipper has now. Long lanes, short lanes, package, LTL whatever they need. Wanna get it there faster? Ok, pay a little more. Got plenty of time to get it there? Ok, pay a little less. Cross town to cross country, a envelope to 10 skids, we got it covered. It's all about giving the customer all the options they need to operate effecient, and Watkins was a good choice to cover the 3-5 day LTL option. I don't think it would make anymore sense to merge FXN with FXF as it would to merge FXF with FXG. It's the same type of thing Wal-mart does, with gas high and schedules busy, if you need several things at once pretty quick were do you go? Wally world, cause you know they've got it all in one stop, and at a good price.
 
King..

I have heard all of that..It gives the customer more options...I Agree..dont know if it was the best thing to do....unless YRC goes down....No one at our house wants to merge..But profits are down (not just from the economy) and FDX really tore watkins up.

Will see what happens..
 
[quote author=Kings disciple link=topic=79648.msg831029#msg831029 date=1274231088]
IMO the Watkins purchase had more to do with making FX a one stop shop for customers. They have a division for every need a shipper has now. Long lanes, short lanes, package, LTL whatever they need. Wanna get it there faster? Ok, pay a little more. Got plenty of time to get it there? Ok, pay a little less. Cross town to cross country, a envelope to 10 skids, we got it covered. It's all about giving the customer all the options they need to operate effecient, and Watkins was a good choice to cover the 3-5 day LTL option. I don't think it would make anymore sense to merge FXN with FXF as it would to merge FXF with FXG. It's the same type of thing Wal-mart does, with gas high and schedules busy, if you need several things at once pretty quick were do you go? Wally world, cause you know they've got it all in one stop, and at a good price.[/quote]

One stop shop?
I don't think that's a viable business model.
The reason is due to the rise of 3PL's and consolidators such as Hub Group, Expeditors, CH Robinson, Menlo, etc.
More than 1/2 of all LTL shipments are tendered via a 3rd party these days.

The problem with FedEx National is that it competes in long-haul lanes.
Unlike regional LTL, long-haul LTL is subject to much greater competition from other modes of transportation such as truckload, intermodal, etc.
You also have lighter-asset models such as Roadrunner who can do long-haul LTL at a fraction of the cost of a traditional hub-spoke model.

The keys for FedEx National to compete are:
1) money-back guaranteed shipments in long-haul lanes
2) consolidate duplicate general/administrative/operational functions and some facilities with FedEx Freight (not a merger, tho).

But to compete in today's "freight" market (notice I didn't say LTL), you must think outside the traditional hub-spoke box.
You need a strong brokerage/3PL/logistics arm (CH Robinson) to offer consolidation, distribution, brokerage, etc.
Also a lighter-asset model such as Roadrunner which could be like FedEx Ground on the parcel side in that the LTL services are 1) deferred and 2) non-guaranteed...and also offer truckload.

Where a company like FedEx can really leverage it's opcos is not in a one stop-shop but in the bundling of it's services.
 
PLEASE just stop for a minute!!! Think about all the phony numbers the government wants us to swallow!!!Unemployment 9.7 percent when in reality its more like 20 plus !!! Any number I hear from those crooks I think to myself, WHO ARE THEY TRYING TO FOOL ??? THE ECONOMY SUCKS!!! we HAVE BLOWN ANY HOPES OF EVER LIVING LIKE WE ARE USED TO !!! OUR kids and grandchildren will never have what we had!!! LOOK OVER SEAS !!! THEY are dropping like flies and we are next!!! TAKE your 401k, BUY GUNS, AMMO, GOLD, FOOD, and alot of ROTTweilers!!! BOYSCOUTS MOTTO ... BE PREPARRED !!!!!!!!!!!! IF you think FEDEX doesnt know all this your kidding yourself !!! They have the best financial people in the world !!! THEY WILL COMBINE COMPANIES TO SURVIVE !!! FEDEX STOCK WILL SKYROCKET !!! ALL ELSE WILL FIGHT TO SURVIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WRITE IT DOWN ! MEATMILKER
 
[quote author=meatmilker link=topic=79648.msg831094#msg831094 date=1274243947]
PLEASE just stop for a minute!!! Think about all the phony numbers the government wants us to swallow!!!Unemployment 9.7 percent when in reality its more like 20 plus !!! Any number I hear from those crooks I think to myself, WHO ARE THEY TRYING TO FOOL ??? THE ECONOMY SUCKS!!! we HAVE BLOWN ANY HOPES OF EVER LIVING LIKE WE ARE USED TO !!! OUR kids and grandchildren will never have what we had!!! LOOK OVER SEAS !!! THEY are dropping like flies and we are next!!! TAKE your 401k, BUY GUNS, AMMO, GOLD, FOOD, and alot of ROTTweilers!!! BOYSCOUTS MOTTO ... BE PREPARRED !!!!!!!!!!!! IF you think FEDEX doesnt know all this your kidding yourself !!! They have the best financial people in the world !!! THEY WILL COMBINE COMPANIES TO SURVIVE !!! FEDEX STOCK WILL SKYROCKET !!! ALL ELSE WILL FIGHT TO SURVIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WRITE IT DOWN ! MEATMILKER
[/quote]

Would I be flaming if I said that you sound like a raving lunatic? Lol, seems like I bashed your name before (meatmilker) so I better not keep at ya..... ;) But really, how many Israeli gas masks do you have stashed in the basement beside the water purification tablets and wind up am radio?
 
[quote author=I R DRVR link=topic=79648.msg830215#msg830215 date=1274007807]
[quote author=cocheesehead link=topic=79648.msg830181#msg830181 date=1273979638]
There is NOT going to be a merger between National and Freight, the logistics would never, ever work, this talk has been going on and on and on-it will never happen, so if you get an offer from National, you would be crazy to not take it and stay at Conway--we have several ex-Conway drivers at our barn and I personally know 2 more who are in the process and will start soon--those already here said it was the best job decision they have made and the 2 that I know who are coming on board cant wait for there start day so that they can get away from Conway---take the job if it is offered to you.
[/quote]

Not sure what "logistics" you are referring to. Mergers happen all the time in this industry. FedEx Freight used to handle the 3-5 day freight before it was handed to National and could just as easily go back to it. I don't claim to be any kind of expert so, if I'm missing something, please tell me.

They have a long history of keeping everything hush-hush until it's time to pull the trigger on a change. You will be able to see some signs if you are paying attention... like small changes in rules and procedures and things that don't seem important at the time but really become crystal clear after the big move is made. I know from experience that this is how Freight operates.

Could be, that National is hiring like crazy, because Freight is hiring like crazy. I think it's easy to see that if they did merge then all the National employees would become Freight employees...new hires and all. Also, they probably have the whole thing already mapped out and know where they will need the major increases in staffing. I do think it would be a lousy thing to do to someone. I mean, hire people who think they will be working for National, but the bosses know all along that they will all be working for Freight in a few months, or however long it may be. Of course, that could be why the corporate honchos keep it hush-hush, to give their subordinates "plausible deniability" to the situation. Just a thought.

As a Freight guy myself, I have always thought the merger would eventually happen. If, for no other reason but the costs associated with redundancy of operations in the same cities. I always saw this thing as two companies doing the work that one could do. Again, I'm no kind of expert...just the way I personally always saw it.

We don't know what the future holds for any of us. I wish everybody the best.
[/quote]why would this not work? You could give fxf an fxfn pro books to to one driver stll offer bothe servicse load fxf the faster 1st then cube trl with slower freight then hold left over til you you can load it to go remember fxfn is a slower svc. right now both doing same thing p/u's being duplicated and fxf an fxfn both going into same places to p/u daily. Like i' ve always been told you have to see the big picture.
 
[/quote]why would this not work? You could give fxf an fxfn pro books to to one driver stll offer bothe servicse load fxf the faster 1st then cube trl with slower freight then hold left over til you you can load it to go remember fxfn is a slower svc. right now both doing same thing p/u's being duplicated and fxf an fxfn both going into same places to p/u daily. Like i' ve always been told you have to see the big picture.
[/quote]

??? Do some of you bother to read what you type before you post it? I can't understand anything you wrote here. Please, Please click on the preview link and check what you said to make corrections before you post them. If you are going to take the time to give your oppinion, don't you want us to understand what your opinion is?
 
[quote author=xcsp link=topic=79648.msg828422#msg828422 date=1273432219]
Well I just interviewed for a job at Fed-Ex national now with this information about the merging of the two do not think it would be a good Idea to go for it.

I wen't thru a merger with Yellow/Roadway and the result is out of a job I have been working for Conway for 4 weeks now and I might have to just stay there because If I get hired and they merge I would be out of a job ??????????

What does everybody think ??????[/quote]

If I could turn back the clock and have another go at it, I'd apply at Conway for sure.
The main reason being one-board seniority based on your hire-date.
Over there, you can jump from line to city and vice versa without losing board seniority.
They respect company seniority there...this two-board seniority system based on "job class" is a joke.
We've got guys with less than a year ahead of guys with 10+ years simply because they were in the right place at the right time.
At the very least...if a man wants to make a change...then dovetail after 1 year and a day....2 years and a day for terminal transfers.
I'm not a huge union guy...but if the Teamsters could get company seniority to mean something here, I'd sign that card in a heartbeat.
And I'm not the only one...
 
[quote author=Kings disciple link=topic=79648.msg831164#msg831164 date=1274282506]
You rambled on for days to say the exact same thing I did. :biglaugh:
[/quote]

No I didn't.
There is a big difference between being a one-stop transportation shop vs. bundling services.
You need to re-read what I wrote and figure out what you're talking about.
 
Mike..you had your changes to be on line...quit your crying

I posted this on the freight board..sounds like you need to read it..

I started at the bottom of the city board 20 years ago. When my kids got out of school and i didnt need the evenings and the weekends I switch to road...When i got older and didnt wont to push that freight around anymore i switched..

You know dam well thats why you guys want one board..So you can switch with no sacrufise...Its BS..

The city boys dont want to work nights and weekends..so lets make it one board so i can work days monday thru friday and bump the guys that put in there time and maybe my spouce wont devorce me because im not there sleeping with them everynight..

Any one who votes 1 board are all weak and lame. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE...GETS SOME BACK BONE AND STOP TRYING TO SCREW THE GUYS WHO SUCKED IT UP AND DID THE RIGHT WAY.

Jack
 
[quote author=Mike Varnco link=topic=79648.msg831329#msg831329 date=1274325892]
[quote author=Kings disciple link=topic=79648.msg831164#msg831164 date=1274282506]
You rambled on for days to say the exact same thing I did. :biglaugh:
[/quote]

No I didn't.
There is a big difference between being a one-stop transportation shop vs. bundling services.
You need to re-read what I wrote and figure out what you're talking about.
[/quote]

Ok big guy...whatever you say... :biggrin:
 
[quote author=Mike Varnco link=topic=79648.msg831296#msg831296 date=1274319496]
[quote author=xcsp link=topic=79648.msg828422#msg828422 date=1273432219]
Well I just interviewed for a job at Fed-Ex national now with this information about the merging of the two do not think it would be a good Idea to go for it.

I wen't thru a merger with Yellow/Roadway and the result is out of a job I have been working for Conway for 4 weeks now and I might have to just stay there because If I get hired and they merge I would be out of a job ??????????

What does everybody think ??????[/quote]

If I could turn back the clock and have another go at it, I'd apply at Conway for sure.
The main reason being one-board seniority based on your hire-date.
Over there, you can jump from line to city and vice versa without losing board seniority.
They respect company seniority there...this two-board seniority system based on "job class" is a joke.
We've got guys with less than a year ahead of guys with 10+ years simply because they were in the right place at the right time.
At the very least...if a man wants to make a change...then dovetail after 1 year and a day....2 years and a day for terminal transfers.
I'm not a huge union guy...but if the Teamsters could get company seniority to mean something here, I'd sign that card in a heartbeat.
And I'm not the only one...
[/quote]
I realise I'm new here and new with FDX and I mean no offense and am not flaming but what ever happened to you made your bed now lay in it. If you chose line over local or vice versa then that is it no crying later on because you want to change. I don't want to get bumped off my run as puny as it is because some local guy decided he wants to run line for the summer then go back when the weather is bad. Once you are in a job catagory you are there that is the way it always has been and it seems fair to me but that's just my opinion. Now excuse me while I go put on my flame retardent suit. :banana:
 
I think FedEx bought Watkins clearly to secure the Canada lanes. And for a good reason......Vancouver freight is up over 70% from last year alone.

My only thought on whether FXF and FXNL merge or not.....is what were Yellow and Roadway doing to differenciate themselves? Was one offering more next day freight and the other 3-5, like FedEx Regional does? We all know how their companies ended up, but maybe FedEx had already thought of that and what they should do different?

If a merge does happen though, it won't be for a while.
 
[quote author=livlly909 link=topic=79648.msg831861#msg831861 date=1274502662]
I think FedEx bought Watkins clearly to secure the Canada lanes. And for a good reason......Vancouver freight is up over 70% from last year alone.

My only thought on whether FXF and FXNL merge or not.....is what were Yellow and Roadway doing to differenciate themselves? Was one offering more next day freight and the other 3-5, like FedEx Regional does? We all know how their companies ended up, but maybe FedEx had already thought of that and what they should do different?

If a merge does happen though, it won't be for a while.
[/quote] my bet is june to aug it will happen in some form
 
Everyone used to say that Fedex Ground and Fedex Express were going to merge also---gee last time I looked they were still 2 seperate divisions, just like Fedex Frt and Fedex Ntl, the only thing going on in here is someone wanting to start rumors and stir up a bunch of BS, there will not be a merger--my opinion and I am entitled to it just like all the trouble makers starting rumors in here :threadsux: :drama: :thumbsup: :duel: :buttkisser:
 
[quote author=Mike Varnco link=topic=79648.msg831296#msg831296 date=1274319496]


If I could turn back the clock and have another go at it, I'd apply at Conway for sure.
The main reason being one-board seniority based on your hire-date.
Over there, you can jump from line to city and vice versa without losing board seniority.
They respect company seniority there...this two-board seniority system based on "job class" is a joke.
We've got guys with less than a year ahead of guys with 10+ years simply because they were in the right place at the right time.
At the very least...if a man wants to make a change...then dovetail after 1 year and a day....2 years and a day for terminal transfers.
I'm not a huge union guy...but if the Teamsters could get company seniority to mean something here, I'd sign that card in a heartbeat.
And I'm not the only one...
[/quote]

Perhaps if you could do it again you could have been born Michele instead of Mike, wouldn't a god who respects such flexibility have been a better creator than simple natural selection or such a restrictive single gender existence? What is so hard about simply showing up at work and doing the job that YOU APPLIED FOR? A job that many other people in the industry would give anything to have!

If you would have applied at Conway you would have another issue there that would be making you unhappy. The joys of signing cards are clearly reserved for people like you. I hope that you remain in the minority....
 
[quote author=steelmiller link=topic=79648.msg832213#msg832213 date=1274622596]
[quote author=Mike Varnco link=topic=79648.msg831296#msg831296 date=1274319496]


If I could turn back the clock and have another go at it, I'd apply at Conway for sure.
The main reason being one-board seniority based on your hire-date.
Over there, you can jump from line to city and vice versa without losing board seniority.
They respect company seniority there...this two-board seniority system based on "job class" is a joke.
We've got guys with less than a year ahead of guys with 10+ years simply because they were in the right place at the right time.
At the very least...if a man wants to make a change...then dovetail after 1 year and a day....2 years and a day for terminal transfers.
I'm not a huge union guy...but if the Teamsters could get company seniority to mean something here, I'd sign that card in a heartbeat.
And I'm not the only one...
[/quote]

Perhaps if you could do it again you could have been born Michele instead of Mike, wouldn't a god who respects such flexibility have been a better creator than simple natural selection or such a restrictive single gender existence? What is so hard about simply showing up at work and doing the job that YOU APPLIED FOR? A job that many other people in the industry would give anything to have!

If you would have applied at Conway you would have another issue there that would be making you unhappy. The joys of signing cards are clearly reserved for people like you. I hope that you remain in the minority....

Good post Steel
 
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