I was also told we would never put our customers freight on another carrier.
Rat, Alot of the old timers say the samething.
"When i went to orientation we were told if it is P/U by a con-way truck it will be sent out on a con-way truck."
I'll here that comment about 3-4 times a week.
In actuality, we were told the exact same thing at our EO.
Problem with this come into play when you say
'oldtimers'. The leaders of the company when that statement was made are not the leaders of today. And it is painfully obvious in some repects that this is not the Con-Way of old.
There is a school of thought in this company (and other companies as well) of wanting to return to the "good old days"...The era of Jerry D.and Dick P. Well that isn't going to happen any time soon if at all.
The one fact that never changes is the fact everything changes. Leaders come and go...companies come and go...customers come and go. So change is inevitable and constant. And it needs to be that way. This is not same business environment as it was in the days those statements (promises?) were made.
This economy and the LTL environment has taken some hard hits. There are many companies in financial trouble. Too many LTL companies with sufficient capability and not enough freight. Everyone is doing what they can to survive...provide service and make a profit. Some are struggling to just hold on hoping to ride out the storm until the economy improves.
Substitute service (sub-service) carriers were inevitable. The cost associated with Con-Way drivers carrying the ESL freight is without a doubt higher than using sub-service. Meet and turns require specific timing. Time is involved with drop and hooks...the paperwork..dispatching...etc. We are paid very well for what we do. Unfortunately this came into play when the decision was made to use sub-service carriers.
With sub-service you have 550 or more miles one way without the costs and delays asssociated with CW drivers doing meet and turns. Add a team to the mix and now you have even more uninterrupted miles. No delays equal more miles equal less expense and better customer service. No can equal our next day service area and our ESL times on a consistent basis. We can accomplish by using sub-service.
Like it or not it is here to stay. Just be thankful CW is not farming out P&D and most of our LHs...
Rat :loser:
