Holland | New terminal

Holland currently lists terminals in Windsor, London, Toronto and Montreal. All of them, like the new Ottawa terminal, belong to Speedy Transport. I've been to every one of them.
In my opinion, the whole thing stinks. What it boils down to, the Canadian customers are led to believe (by the "new" Holland sales people now in Ottawa) that they are shipping their product on USF Holland trucks, when in fact they are shipping on Speedy. That becomes obvious when the Speedy truck and driver shows up at their dock. Is the USF Holland misrepresentation used ONLY on freight destined for the US or is it also for freight staying in Canada? What is the "New Holland Sales Team" office consist of? (1) desk (1) telephone (1) desk clerk and (1) sales solicitor? Or is that all shared with Speedy, too? Does Speedy deliver and service the same customers as USF Holland on the US side of the border? Where do their territories overlap and who determines who get what for customers since the sales records of customers, routes and rates are an "open book" to both Speedy and Holland (at least on the Canadian side of the border)? As I said, the whole thing stinks and it seems to benefit Speedy a whole lot more than Holland. Maybe union or non-union doesn't matter to Canadian shippers but these Holland sales reps "selling" service described as union service
when it actually is not, initially, are being deceptive. (As for me I hate sales people who misrepresent their product or service, just to sell the product).If the Canadian shippers prefer a non-union Canadian company, why don't they just call Speedy to begin with? Speedy would still take it and either deliver it themselves or inter-line it with whoever DID make that point in the US. 2+2 does not add up to 4 in this arrangement.
 
In my opinion, the whole thing stinks. What it boils down to, the Canadian customers are led to believe (by the "new" Holland sales people now in Ottawa) that they are shipping their product on USF Holland trucks, when in fact they are shipping on Speedy. That becomes obvious when the Speedy truck and driver shows up at their dock. Is the USF Holland misrepresentation used ONLY on freight destined for the US or is it also for freight staying in Canada? What is the "New Holland Sales Team" office consist of? (1) desk (1) telephone (1) desk clerk and (1) sales solicitor? Or is that all shared with Speedy, too? Does Speedy deliver and service the same customers as USF Holland on the US side of the border? Where do their territories overlap and who determines who get what for customers since the sales records of customers, routes and rates are an "open book" to both Speedy and Holland (at least on the Canadian side of the border)? As I said, the whole thing stinks and it seems to benefit Speedy a whole lot more than Holland. Maybe union or non-union doesn't matter to Canadian shippers but these Holland sales reps "selling" service described as union service
when it actually is not, initially, are being deceptive. (As for me I hate sales people who misrepresent their product or service, just to sell the product).If the Canadian shippers prefer a non-union Canadian company, why don't they just call Speedy to begin with? Speedy would still take it and either deliver it themselves or inter-line it with whoever DID make that point in the US. 2+2 does not add up to 4 in this arrangement.
When it crosses border it goes to holland terminal worked and serviced by holland employees. If I'm correct speedy move the freight across border to Detroit Toledo and Buffalo. We don't sell service to freight moved only in Canada only cross border.
 
In my opinion, the whole thing stinks. What it boils down to, the Canadian customers are led to believe (by the "new" Holland sales people now in Ottawa) that they are shipping their product on USF Holland trucks, when in fact they are shipping on Speedy. That becomes obvious when the Speedy truck and driver shows up at their dock. Is the USF Holland misrepresentation used ONLY on freight destined for the US or is it also for freight staying in Canada? What is the "New Holland Sales Team" office consist of? (1) desk (1) telephone (1) desk clerk and (1) sales solicitor? Or is that all shared with Speedy, too? Does Speedy deliver and service the same customers as USF Holland on the US side of the border? Where do their territories overlap and who determines who get what for customers since the sales records of customers, routes and rates are an "open book" to both Speedy and Holland (at least on the Canadian side of the border)? As I said, the whole thing stinks and it seems to benefit Speedy a whole lot more than Holland. Maybe union or non-union doesn't matter to Canadian shippers but these Holland sales reps "selling" service described as union service
when it actually is not, initially, are being deceptive. (As for me I hate sales people who misrepresent their product or service, just to sell the product).If the Canadian shippers prefer a non-union Canadian company, why don't they just call Speedy to begin with? Speedy would still take it and either deliver it themselves or inter-line it with whoever DID make that point in the US. 2+2 does not add up to 4 in this arrangement.
Troubleman is correct. We do not service Holland's US freight at all. We deliver it via linehaul to Detroit, Buffalo or Toledo. The service areas do not overlap. Holland freight is billed directly to Holland, with Speedy only providing the transportation and delivery. Holland has an independent sales team. Holland and Speedy share customers on both sides of the border, with Speedy providing domestic Canadian service as themselves. Speedy and Holland also share equipment, and when picking up or delivering Holland freight we try to do it with a Holland trailer. Unionized freight service doesn't matter to most shippers in Canada these days, and I do not think that sales tells customers union workers are servicing the freight.

The only reason Speedy provides 100% of the crossborder linehaul, instead of sharing with (or even giving it to) Holland is because Holland's tag axle tractors would not be legal in Ontario or Quebec. Driver controlled liftable axles aren't legal here anymore and automatic ones aren't granted full tandem weight allowance.

We DO NOT offer LTL service into the US. We DO offer TL service. That is expressly so we do not step on the toes of our client carriers. If a Holland customer approached Speedy directly to ask about other service options we are obligated to tell them to draw their own conclusions because we do not advertise for our client carriers.
 
Why are the other union companies unifor, and not teamsters? What companies are represented by unifor?
Reimer is split. Two locals are Teamster (BC and Ontario/Quebec) but the rest (including linehaul) are Unifor. TST Overland Express is split similarly. Clarke Transport is Teamster in BC and Unifor in the rest of Western Canada. Canadian Freightways is split similarly. Kingsway Transport is Teamster. That's just off the top of my head.

As for why they picked the Canadian Auto Workers over the Teamsters, I can't really say. I do know the Teamsters tried to hijack Unifor's members a few years ago, but the membership elected to continue being represented by Unifor. What I know of the collective agreements tells me the CAW represented their members well, and Unifor continues to. Being a linehaul owner/operator at TST, Reimer or CF pays pretty handsomely and makes me wish they offered those packages here in eastern Canada. Sadly, CF doesn't operate out here anymore (Kingsway does instead, and they don't hire o/o's), TST doesn't hire o/o's for LTL out here and Reimer doesn't answer calls or emails despite a standing ad for linehaul.
 
Troubleman is correct. We do not service Holland's US freight at all. We deliver it via linehaul to Detroit, Buffalo or Toledo. The service areas do not overlap. Holland freight is billed directly to Holland, with Speedy only providing the transportation and delivery. Holland has an independent sales team. Holland and Speedy share customers on both sides of the border, with Speedy providing domestic Canadian service as themselves. Speedy and Holland also share equipment, and when picking up or delivering Holland freight we try to do it with a Holland trailer. Unionized freight service doesn't matter to most shippers in Canada these days, and I do not think that sales tells customers union workers are servicing the freight.

The only reason Speedy provides 100% of the crossborder linehaul, instead of sharing with (or even giving it to) Holland is because Holland's tag axle tractors would not be legal in Ontario or Quebec. Driver controlled liftable axles aren't legal here anymore and automatic ones aren't granted full tandem weight allowance.

We DO NOT offer LTL service into the US. We DO offer TL service. That is expressly so we do not step on the toes of our client carriers. If a Holland customer approached Speedy directly to ask about other service options we are obligated to tell them to draw their own conclusions because we do not advertise for our client carriers.

In my opinion, it still stinks, but like a commercial fisherman's boat, the smell is in his favor and likewise in your's and Speedy's favor, not so for Holland or the Teamsters'.
I can see it from your perspective as being all good, from our side, not so much.
As for the movable tag axles on Holland equipment, that could easily be remedied by Holland if they so chose by simply having dedicated tractors (single axle or fixed tandem units) used solely for cross border use going in and out of Canada. Just a call to the leasing company and it would be done.
The "no movable or lift-able tag axle" law in Canada must be a fairly new one. I used to make regular trips between Port Huron, MI and Buffalo, crossing Canada always with "adjustable" rear tag axle tractors. Nobody ever said a thing about it at either border crossing or a word from any OPP officer.. Why is it not allowed now? Tell me the year the law changed.
 
Last edited:
In my opinion, it still stinks, but like a commercial fisherman's boat, the smell is in his favor and likewise in your's and Speedy's favor, not so for Holland or the Teamsters'.
I can see it from your perspective as being all good, from our side, not so much.
As for the movable tag axles on Holland equipment, that could easily be remedied by Holland if they so chose by simply having dedicated tractors (single axle or fixed tandem units) used solely for cross border use going in and out of Canada. Just a call to the leasing company and it would be done.
The "no movable or lift-able tag axle" law in Canada must be a fairly new one. I used to make regular trips between Port Huron, MI and Buffalo, crossing Canada always with "adjustable" rear tag axle tractors. Nobody ever said a thing about it at either border crossing or a word from any OPP officer.. Why is it not allowed now?
Our wonderful provincial government changed the laws regarding user controlled lift axles a few years ago, ostensibly in the name of preserving infrastructure. The process began in 2005. The regulations are called SPIF, "Safe, Productive & Infrastructure Friendly". They must now be load sensing and self steering. And the tag axle issue stems from what the government perceives as a risk of overloading the drive axle. "Dumb" non adjustable tags are legal, but "smart" ones aren't.

And I don't necessarily perceive it as "all good", I just tell it like it is. Holland's TNT era partner still does business today as TST Overland Express. USF would have had an opportunity to buy them between 1998-2000 before TransForce came along and snapped them up. For whatever reason, Holland and Red Star stuck with Speedy and Reddaway stuck with Rosenau. I don't know if Dugan had a partner.

The deal benefits Speedy as a small regional carrier by giving them access to a large region of the United States. It benefits Holland by giving them access to the important Canadian markets of Toronto and Montreal without the cost of developing the infrastructure themselves. Holland would have to buy into Canada due to protectionist laws, so it's really the Canadian government favoring their own little guy over the big American corporation.
 
Last edited:
In my opinion, it still stinks, but like a commercial fisherman's boat, the smell is in his favor and likewise in your's and Speedy's favor, not so for Holland or the Teamsters'.
I can see it from your perspective as being all good, from our side, not so much.
As for the movable tag axles on Holland equipment, that could easily be remedied by Holland if they so chose by simply having dedicated tractors (single axle or fixed tandem units) used solely for cross border use going in and out of Canada. Just a call to the leasing company and it would be done.
The "no movable or lift-able tag axle" law in Canada must be a fairly new one. I used to make regular trips between Port Huron, MI and Buffalo, crossing Canada always with "adjustable" rear tag axle tractors. Nobody ever said a thing about it at either border crossing or a word from any OPP officer.. Why is it not allowed now? Tell me the year the law changed.
Now, YRC does have the option of using Reimer as Holland's Canadian agent, as they do now with Reddaway (Reddaway's BC terminal, shared with then-partner Manitoulin Transport, unionized, so YRC merged "Reddaway Canada" with Reimer). But Reimer doesn't have the presence Speedy does in Ontario and Quebec.

YRC also has the option of purchasing Speedy, absolving them of obligation to other carriers, merging them with Reimer and unionizing them under Reimer's contract with Ontario IBT.
 
Our wonderful provincial government changed the laws regarding user controlled lift axles a few years ago, ostensibly in the name of preserving infrastructure. The process began in 2005. The regulations are called SPIF, "Safe, Productive & Infrastructure Friendly". They must now be load sensing and self steering. And the tag axle issue stems from what the government perceives as a risk of overloading the drive axle. "Dumb" non adjustable tags are legal, but "smart" ones aren't.

And I don't necessarily perceive it as "all good", I just tell it like it is. Holland's TNT era partner still does business today as TST Overland Express. USF would have had an opportunity to buy them between 1998-2000 before TransForce came along and snapped them up. For whatever reason, Holland and Red Star stuck with Speedy and Reddaway stuck with Rosenau. I don't know if Dugan had a partner.

The deal benefits Speedy as a small regional carrier by giving them access to a large region of the United States. It benefits Holland by giving them access to the important Canadian markets of Toronto and Montreal without the cost of developing the infrastructure themselves. Holland would have to buy into Canada due to protectionist laws, so it's really the Canadian government favoring their own little guy over the big American corporation.
OK, good explanation. I was wondering if Holland was getting away with not being caught those years I was running between Port Huron and Buffalo.
I guess YRC could still make runs across Canada between Port Huron and Buffalo if they just bought (or leased) non- remote adjusting tag axle tractors or used single axle tractors that could scale out with lighter loaded trailers. (the last option is not a real option since Holland never did know how to correctly load a trailer even with tandem tractors). Right or wrong? Even if they are broke, they seem to have no trouble leasing equipment. Did the permit requirements also change?
 
OK, good explanation. I was wondering if Holland was getting away with not being caught those years I was running between Port Huron and Buffalo.
I guess YRC could still make runs across Canada between Port Huron and Buffalo if they just bought (or leased) non- remote adjusting tag axle tractors or used single axle tractors that could scale out with lighter loaded trailers. (the last option is not a real option since Holland never did know how to correctly load a trailer even with tandem tractors). Right or wrong? Even if they are broke, they seem to have no trouble leasing equipment. Did the permit requirements also change?
Permit requirements are the same. If they wanted to use straight twin screws they could do it no problem. The issue is that bonding loads isn't as easy as it used to be. I know Ficel bonds their steel loads for that route, but bonding a full trailer of LTL isn't feasible with the current customs processes.

And unfortunately, Holland's Buffalo terminal is pretty lonely in the network nowadays.
 
Permit requirements are the same. If they wanted to use straight twin screws they could do it no problem. The issue is that bonding loads isn't as easy as it used to be. I know Ficel bonds their steel loads for that route, but bonding a full trailer of LTL isn't feasible with the current customs processes.

And unfortunately, Holland's Buffalo terminal is pretty lonely in the network nowadays.

I talk to ficel drivers daily. They still take the back route to dodge the scales ?
 
The MTO has pretty much locked the back routes down. They've got cameras along the highway now so they know if you get off somewhere and they'll send a car looking for you.


Yeah, one guy there told me they don run hot n heavy much across Ontario anymore, that the guys wanting to do that still get it going between Detroit and Gary, but that's coming to an end because of e logs.
 
Yeah, one guy there told me they don run hot n heavy much across Ontario anymore, that the guys wanting to do that still get it going between Detroit and Gary, but that's coming to an end because of e logs.
Too many strikes and you can't cross the border anymore. They don't mess around these days, and if you're a troublemaker they will turn you away at the booth.

I remember when you used to be able to use a video feed to cross in some places. All the remote crossings have been closed down since 9/11 and although things have relaxed a lot (back just after it happened crossing was a nightmare, most trucks were getting inspected) they still take security seriously.

Used to be a Canadian or US citizen could cross without anything more than their driver's license or other government ID. Now we treat each other like everyone else. Passport or FAST card required.
 
Any truth to rumor that SPEEDY is looking to BUY Holland ??? maybe this is step one ??:stirthepot:
 
Any truth to rumor that SPEEDY is looking to BUY Holland ??? maybe this is step one ??:stirthepot:
:1sm057crazy::hilarious:
Speedy's gonna give you all the opportunity to lease your assigned tractor at a reasonable price! But you'd have to give up the union. On the plus side, you'd get your 15% back and more to make up for it! AND Speedy would grow Holland back into NY and PA!

:smilies 19296::lmao:
 
:1sm057crazy::hilarious:
Speedy's gonna give you all the opportunity to lease your assigned tractor at a reasonable price! But you'd have to give up the union. On the plus side, you'd get your 15% back and more to make up for it! AND Speedy would grow Holland back into NY and PA!

:smilies 19296::lmao:

That's a lot to chew on, but the chance on even part of any of that happening is, SLIM and NONE.........................
and "SLIM" just left town on the last stagecoach.
 
:1sm057crazy::hilarious:
Speedy's gonna give you all the opportunity to lease your assigned tractor at a reasonable price! But you'd have to give up the union. On the plus side, you'd get your 15% back and more to make up for it! AND Speedy would grow Holland back into NY and PA!

:smilies 19296::lmao:
Well as the saying goes IF you don't here a good rumor by noon ,you start one :19::19: and think SPEEDY will do well buying Holland and free up some cash flow for YRCW :greedy dollars::greedy dollars::greedy dollars: and sometimes the rumor is not to far from the truth ?? think about it for the day of the benefits of SPEEDY buying Holland !! Winner Winner Chicken Dinner !!
 
Top