Third Party Freight

[MrFedEx]

One of the "advantages" promised by the new and improved GroundEx is the huge savings that will be realized by shelving FedEx aircraft and using Third Party airlines to move freight. Besides the obvious issue of pissing-off the FedEx pilots (always a smart thing to do), there are certain logistical issues to be considered. Actually, quite a few. Here are a just a couple.
First and foremost, when you contract with another airline to move your freight, you join the line at the terminal just like every other forwarder and shipping company who wants their freight. As a long-time RTD and knowing a bit about airline ops, when you pick up a can moved by UAL, Delta, or some other PAX carrier, you wait for your spot on the dock and then wait in line at the ramp warehouse....just like everyone else. Most PAX airlines don't have ballmats, so your can will come to your truck via forklift...when they get around to it. Oh yeah, and if it's a belly can, it will almost certainly be an LD3, because that is almost the universal standard for freight in the lowers. Yes, there are some custom cans and cut-down cookie sheets (aluminum pallets w/tie-down ropes), but it's most likely going to be an LD3. For those that don't know, this is a pretty small can.
Oh, and when you wait, it can be a very long time. They don't carve-out special docks for one customer....everybody waits their turn. And most of these warehouses run like molasses on a sub-freezing day. They REALLY don't give a sheet about anyone's freight, and I can't tell you how many times I was told "it hasn't been downloaded", "our loader is broken", "we're on lunch or smoke break", or "that container is still in "Narita, Frankfurt, or Amsterdam". "The plane was full", "customs delay" and on and on and on. The worst are the facilities that handle multiple airlines, which is increasingly the norm. We used to refer to one of the local operations as the "The Cage" or "The Jail", because drivers from all the carriers basically waited in a small locked-off area surrounded on all 4 sides by cyclone fence walls and a cypher-locked door. When your can finally showed-up, somebody from the airline escorts you back to your freight, regardless of your SIDA badge. If you don't work for them, you're just like the rest of the can haulers waiting in the cage.Driver scum.
If they move it on a cargo carrier, it's pretty much the same story, and that would really make the FedEx pilots happy so see Kalitta Air moving FedEx cans while they sit on ther virginal, uncalloused hands.
Again, this all sounds wonderful to investors, FedEx upper management types, and our vaunted "engineers", who foresee a seamless, rapid, and much cheaper method of line hauling freight. So many expensive aircraft mothballed, facilities consolidated, and jobs cut. Gee, why hasn't someone thought of this before?? One of the prime reasons the original Federal Express succeeded so well was precisely due to the fact that they had a unique and separate "airline" that didn't depend on scheduled airlines to move their product. That way, they were able to control the process from beginning to end and basically guarantee a superior result. I'm not going to discuss the arline vs. non-airline deal here, and I'm sure Supershill will be trying to derail this thread ASAP.
Raj and his minions are basically dismembering the original business model and going for Third World level operations in pursuit of "easy" profit. I foresee a huge fail, an end to the RLA exemption, and numerous lawsuits from customers over being flim-flammed over what they're actually getting versus what they were promised (and paid for).
Mordecai Jones, meet your replacement. His name is Raj, and the puppeteer pulling those sleazy, greasy strings is The Prime Weasel himself.

 

[ManInBrown]

Dano in 3..2..1

 

[Cactus]

Dano in 3..2..1

For sure Dano will be here to defend this Prime Weasel’s Shenanigans as the greatest thing since sliced bread.

 

[Spam]

One of the "advantages" promised by the new and improved GroundEx is the huge savings that will be realized by shelving FedEx aircraft and using Third Party airlines to move freight. Besides the obvious issue of pissing-off the FedEx pilots (always a smart thing to do), there are certain logistical issues to be considered. Actually, quite a few. Here are a just a couple.
First and foremost, when you contract with another airline to move your freight, you join the line at the terminal just like every other forwarder and shipping company who wants their freight. As a long-time RTD and knowing a bit about airline ops, when you pick up a can moved by UAL, Delta, or some other PAX carrier, you wait for your spot on the dock and then wait in line at the ramp warehouse....just like everyone else. Most PAX airlines don't have ballmats, so your can will come to your truck via forklift...when they get around to it. Oh yeah, and if it's a belly can, it will almost certainly be an LD3, because that is almost the universal standard for freight in the lowers. Yes, there are some custom cans and cut-down cookie sheets (aluminum pallets w/tie-down ropes), but it's most likely going to be an LD3. For those that don't know, this is a pretty small can.
Oh, and when you wait, it can be a very long time. They don't carve-out special docks for one customer....everybody waits their turn. And most of these warehouses run like molasses on a sub-freezing day. They REALLY don't give a sheet about anyone's freight, and I can't tell you how many times I was told "it hasn't been downloaded", "our loader is broken", "we're on lunch or smoke break", or "that container is still in "Narita, Frankfurt, or Amsterdam". "The plane was full", "customs delay" and on and on and on. The worst are the facilities that handle multiple airlines, which is increasingly the norm. We used to refer to one of the local operations as the "The Cage" or "The Jail", because drivers from all the carriers basically waited in a small locked-off area surrounded on all 4 sides by cyclone fence walls and a cypher-locked door. When your can finally showed-up, somebody from the airline escorts you back to your freight, regardless of your SIDA badge. If you don't work for them, you're just like the rest of the can haulers waiting in the cage.Driver scum.
If they move it on a cargo carrier, it's pretty much the same story, and that would really make the FedEx pilots happy so see Kalitta Air moving FedEx cans while they sit on ther virginal, uncalloused hands.
Again, this all sounds wonderful to investors, FedEx upper management types, and our vaunted "engineers", who foresee a seamless, rapid, and much cheaper method of line hauling freight. So many expensive aircraft mothballed, facilities consolidated, and jobs cut. Gee, why hasn't someone thought of this before?? One of the prime reasons the original Federal Express succeeded so well was precisely due to the fact that they had a unique and separate "airline" that didn't depend on scheduled airlines to move their product. That way, they were able to control the process from beginning to end and basically guarantee a superior result. I'm not going to discuss the arline vs. non-airline deal here, and I'm sure Supershill will be trying to derail this thread ASAP.
Raj and his minions are basically dismembering the original business model and going for Third World level operations in pursuit of "easy" profit. I foresee a huge fail, an end to the RLA exemption, and numerous lawsuits from customers over being flim-flammed over what they're actually getting versus what they were promised (and paid for).
Mordecai Jones, meet your replacement. His name is Raj, and the puppeteer pulling those sleazy, greasy strings is The Prime Weasel himself.

You have way too much time on your hands

 

[Fred's Myth]

You have way too much time on your hands

Fueled and sustained by animus.

 

[bacha29]

One of the "advantages" promised by the new and improved GroundEx is the huge savings that will be realized by shelving FedEx aircraft and using Third Party airlines to move freight. Besides the obvious issue of pissing-off the FedEx pilots (always a smart thing to do), there are certain logistical issues to be considered. Actually, quite a few. Here are a just a couple.
First and foremost, when you contract with another airline to move your freight, you join the line at the terminal just like every other forwarder and shipping company who wants their freight. As a long-time RTD and knowing a bit about airline ops, when you pick up a can moved by UAL, Delta, or some other PAX carrier, you wait for your spot on the dock and then wait in line at the ramp warehouse....just like everyone else. Most PAX airlines don't have ballmats, so your can will come to your truck via forklift...when they get around to it. Oh yeah, and if it's a belly can, it will almost certainly be an LD3, because that is almost the universal standard for freight in the lowers. Yes, there are some custom cans and cut-down cookie sheets (aluminum pallets w/tie-down ropes), but it's most likely going to be an LD3. For those that don't know, this is a pretty small can.
Oh, and when you wait, it can be a very long time. They don't carve-out special docks for one customer....everybody waits their turn. And most of these warehouses run like molasses on a sub-freezing day. They REALLY don't give a sheet about anyone's freight, and I can't tell you how many times I was told "it hasn't been downloaded", "our loader is broken", "we're on lunch or smoke break", or "that container is still in "Narita, Frankfurt, or Amsterdam". "The plane was full", "customs delay" and on and on and on. The worst are the facilities that handle multiple airlines, which is increasingly the norm. We used to refer to one of the local operations as the "The Cage" or "The Jail", because drivers from all the carriers basically waited in a small locked-off area surrounded on all 4 sides by cyclone fence walls and a cypher-locked door. When your can finally showed-up, somebody from the airline escorts you back to your freight, regardless of your SIDA badge. If you don't work for them, you're just like the rest of the can haulers waiting in the cage.Driver scum.
If they move it on a cargo carrier, it's pretty much the same story, and that would really make the FedEx pilots happy so see Kalitta Air moving FedEx cans while they sit on ther virginal, uncalloused hands.
Again, this all sounds wonderful to investors, FedEx upper management types, and our vaunted "engineers", who foresee a seamless, rapid, and much cheaper method of line hauling freight. So many expensive aircraft mothballed, facilities consolidated, and jobs cut. Gee, why hasn't someone thought of this before?? One of the prime reasons the original Federal Express succeeded so well was precisely due to the fact that they had a unique and separate "airline" that didn't depend on scheduled airlines to move their product. That way, they were able to control the process from beginning to end and basically guarantee a superior result. I'm not going to discuss the arline vs. non-airline deal here, and I'm sure Supershill will be trying to derail this thread ASAP.
Raj and his minions are basically dismembering the original business model and going for Third World level operations in pursuit of "easy" profit. I foresee a huge fail, an end to the RLA exemption, and numerous lawsuits from customers over being flim-flammed over what they're actually getting versus what they were promised (and paid for).
Mordecai Jones, meet your replacement. His name is Raj, and the puppeteer pulling those sleazy, greasy strings is The Prime Weasel himself.

On point. You can only devalue your labor and economize your operations to a certain level and not feel the impact of it.

Yesterday, Saturday around 3:30 PM Ground pulls into my next door neighbor and in an unusual manner he pulls up to within about 3 feet of the front door. The driver slowly climbs out of the cab and I could plainly see was struggling to move an average size box. So I went over to help him
As it turned out the guy was in his early fifties. He explained to me that he spent more than 20 years on the gas rigs and his hips and lower body were totally shot. He told me that he took this job believing that it would be similar to Express work with letters jewelry boxes etc. only to discover it was the complete opposite. That morning he had to load transport pull off and stack 4 new skid steer tires mounted on weighted rims. They are ungodly heavy because they're designed to create the required low center of gravity and bottom heavy design needed to balance the load. This is the guy's daily work experience. He told me that his contractor requires at least 120 stops per day due to the high mileage accelerated wear out bad rural roads have on his trucks. No surprise there, they're smelter bait in 3 years and this contractor has his own truck shop.

Later this summer he's having both hip joints replaced. With no health insurance benefits I don't know how he's going to pay his bill

The issue is two fold. First the guy clearly belongs on disability. He's in no condition to be out there doing this. The job is a joint killer and with his already shot he's suffering inhumanely. Secondly, it's a clear testament to how it is becoming increasingly impossible to get anybody to take the job for the ball busting work and low pay .

He also went on to say that managers and contractors at the terminal have absolutely no idea as to how they are going to load air box onto Ground routes and still get them out the door by 8AM . And to no one's surprise they are being offered zero guidance or directives on how they're supposed accomplish that little feat. It's an impossible situation and many contractors will have to decide accordingly .

 

[Spam]

On point. You can only devalue your labor and economize your operations to a certain level and not feel the impact of it.

Yesterday, Saturday around 3:30 PM Ground pulls into my next door neighbor and in an unusual manner he pulls up to within about 3 feet of the front door. The driver slowly climbs out of the cab and I could plainly see was struggling to move an average size box. So I went over to help him
As it turned out the guy was in his early fifties. He explained to me that he spent more than 20 years on the gas rigs and his hips and lower body were totally shot. He told me that he took this job believing that it would be similar to Express work with letters jewelry boxes etc. only to discover it was the complete opposite. That morning he had to load transport pull off and stack 4 new skid steer tires mounted on weighted rims. They are ungodly heavy because they're designed to create the required low center of gravity and bottom heavy design needed to balance the load. This is the guy's daily work experience. He told me that his contractor requires at least 120 stops per day due to the high mileage accelerated wear out bad rural roads have on his trucks. No surprise there, they're smelter bait in 3 years and this contractor has his own truck shop.

Later this summer he's having both hip joints replaced. With no health insurance benefits I don't know how he's going to pay his bill

The issue is two fold. First the guy clearly belongs on disability. He's in no condition to be out there doing this. The job is a joint killer and with his already shot he's suffering inhumanely. Secondly, it's a clear testament to how it is becoming increasingly impossible to get anybody to take the job for the ball busting work and low pay .

He also went on to say that managers and contractors at the terminal have absolutely no idea as to how they are going to load air box onto Ground routes and still get them out the door by 8AM . And to no one's surprise they are being offered zero guidance or directives on how they're supposed accomplish that little feat. It's an impossible situation and many contractors will have to decide accordingly .

Cool story Bro

 

[Meat]

Not sure what to tell you here.

The golden era of capitalism ended 40 - 50 years ago at this point, and unless you work for Google, employees are viewed as a cost and not an asset.

The markets are all mature and it’s easier to engage in stock buybacks or cut staffing to the bone than to innovate (recent failures at X clearly depict this) or make long term commitments to workers.

It sucks when it happens to you, but recent developments at X shouldn’t surprise anybody.

Most on this site have been predicting it for years.

 

[!Retired!]

One of the "advantages" promised by the new and improved GroundEx is the huge savings that will be realized by shelving FedEx aircraft and using Third Party airlines to move freight. Besides the obvious issue of pissing-off the FedEx pilots (always a smart thing to do), there are certain logistical issues to be considered. Actually, quite a few. Here are a just a couple.
First and foremost, when you contract with another airline to move your freight, you join the line at the terminal just like every other forwarder and shipping company who wants their freight. As a long-time RTD and knowing a bit about airline ops, when you pick up a can moved by UAL, Delta, or some other PAX carrier, you wait for your spot on the dock and then wait in line at the ramp warehouse....just like everyone else. Most PAX airlines don't have ballmats, so your can will come to your truck via forklift...when they get around to it. Oh yeah, and if it's a belly can, it will almost certainly be an LD3, because that is almost the universal standard for freight in the lowers. Yes, there are some custom cans and cut-down cookie sheets (aluminum pallets w/tie-down ropes), but it's most likely going to be an LD3. For those that don't know, this is a pretty small can.
Oh, and when you wait, it can be a very long time. They don't carve-out special docks for one customer....everybody waits their turn. And most of these warehouses run like molasses on a sub-freezing day. They REALLY don't give a sheet about anyone's freight, and I can't tell you how many times I was told "it hasn't been downloaded", "our loader is broken", "we're on lunch or smoke break", or "that container is still in "Narita, Frankfurt, or Amsterdam". "The plane was full", "customs delay" and on and on and on. The worst are the facilities that handle multiple airlines, which is increasingly the norm. We used to refer to one of the local operations as the "The Cage" or "The Jail", because drivers from all the carriers basically waited in a small locked-off area surrounded on all 4 sides by cyclone fence walls and a cypher-locked door. When your can finally showed-up, somebody from the airline escorts you back to your freight, regardless of your SIDA badge. If you don't work for them, you're just like the rest of the can haulers waiting in the cage.Driver scum.
If they move it on a cargo carrier, it's pretty much the same story, and that would really make the FedEx pilots happy so see Kalitta Air moving FedEx cans while they sit on ther virginal, uncalloused hands.
Again, this all sounds wonderful to investors, FedEx upper management types, and our vaunted "engineers", who foresee a seamless, rapid, and much cheaper method of line hauling freight. So many expensive aircraft mothballed, facilities consolidated, and jobs cut. Gee, why hasn't someone thought of this before?? One of the prime reasons the original Federal Express succeeded so well was precisely due to the fact that they had a unique and separate "airline" that didn't depend on scheduled airlines to move their product. That way, they were able to control the process from beginning to end and basically guarantee a superior result. I'm not going to discuss the arline vs. non-airline deal here, and I'm sure Supershill will be trying to derail this thread ASAP.
Raj and his minions are basically dismembering the original business model and going for Third World level operations in pursuit of "easy" profit. I foresee a huge fail, an end to the RLA exemption, and numerous lawsuits from customers over being flim-flammed over what they're actually getting versus what they were promised (and paid for).
Mordecai Jones, meet your replacement. His name is Raj, and the puppeteer pulling those sleazy, greasy strings is The Prime Weasel himself.

OK....and?

 

[Cactus]

OK....and?

Just figure the rest out. It’s not that hard, I promise.

 

[MrFedEx]

Fueled and sustained by animus.

Yep, I absolutely hate FedEx, but have proudly never been a victim of Stockholm Syndrome. My thoughts and ideas are my own, and if I can "repay" FedEx even one cent for all the harm they've done, it pleases me.
It's pretty ironic for someone who supports a man who personifies animus and has basically created a completely divided America on the verge of civil war to accuse me of misplaced "rage". "I am your vengeance". Sound like animus? Pot, meet kettle.
I only post here in my very spare time, as when sitting an open house in between clients, waiting for clients who are invariably late, or maybe just sitting on the toilet making a Fred or a Raj.

 

[MrFedEx]

Cool story Bro

Your username is revealing.

 

[MrFedEx]

On point. You can only devalue your labor and economize your operations to a certain level and not feel the impact of it.

Yesterday, Saturday around 3:30 PM Ground pulls into my next door neighbor and in an unusual manner he pulls up to within about 3 feet of the front door. The driver slowly climbs out of the cab and I could plainly see was struggling to move an average size box. So I went over to help him
As it turned out the guy was in his early fifties. He explained to me that he spent more than 20 years on the gas rigs and his hips and lower body were totally shot. He told me that he took this job believing that it would be similar to Express work with letters jewelry boxes etc. only to discover it was the complete opposite. That morning he had to load transport pull off and stack 4 new skid steer tires mounted on weighted rims. They are ungodly heavy because they're designed to create the required low center of gravity and bottom heavy design needed to balance the load. This is the guy's daily work experience. He told me that his contractor requires at least 120 stops per day due to the high mileage accelerated wear out bad rural roads have on his trucks. No surprise there, they're smelter bait in 3 years and this contractor has his own truck shop.

Later this summer he's having both hip joints replaced. With no health insurance benefits I don't know how he's going to pay his bill

The issue is two fold. First the guy clearly belongs on disability. He's in no condition to be out there doing this. The job is a joint killer and with his already shot he's suffering inhumanely. Secondly, it's a clear testament to how it is becoming increasingly impossible to get anybody to take the job for the ball busting work and low pay .

He also went on to say that managers and contractors at the terminal have absolutely no idea as to how they are going to load air box onto Ground routes and still get them out the door by 8AM . And to no one's surprise they are being offered zero guidance or directives on how they're supposed accomplish that little feat. It's an impossible situation and many contractors will have to decide accordingly .

Sad story. He must be on a steady diet of anti-inflammatories and pain killers, which wreak their own havoc on your body. Welcome to the WalMart of Delivery, where the taxpayer will eventually pay his medical bills.

 

[!Retired!]

Just figure the rest out. It’s not that hard, I promise.

I try not to decipher gibberish. Even if everything he wrote backfires and sends the company into a big tailspin into bankruptcy, what's the end point for the post?

Oh, I know......he can come back on here and say 'See, I told you'.

 

[zeev]

My point is get your CDL and leave, those who don’t will be wondering what happened never saw that coming.

 

[It will be fine]

I try not to decipher gibberish. Even if everything he wrote backfires and sends the company into a big tailspin into bankruptcy, what's the end point for the post?

Oh, I know......he can come back on here and say 'See, I told you'.

There’s not really a reasonable scenario that ends in bankruptcy. All issues anyone brings up can be solved with money. If instead of saving $4 billion they only save $3 billion, the corporation will be fine.

 

[MAKAVELI]

There’s not really a reasonable scenario that ends in bankruptcy. All issues anyone brings up can be solved with money. If instead of saving $4 billion they only save $3 billion, the corporation will be fine.

Except when that $3 billion is only temporary and the massive flop of a merge turns into -$6 billion.

 

[bacha29]

Sad story. He must be on a steady diet of anti-inflammatories and pain killers, which wreak their own havoc on your body. Welcome to the WalMart of Delivery, where the taxpayer will eventually pay his medical bills.

In addition to which he already has 3 steel pins in his lower spine and pelvis. You have to commend him for still being out there trying to make a difference. Unfortunately for him however because of the inserted pins the new minimally invasive hip joint surgery cannot be used. How he managed to pass the physical? I have no idea.

It was another case of Mr. I'm Still trying meet Mr. I'm Desperate For Cheap Help. And the man in the high castle better known as Prime Weasel and his janitor Raj The Jackal? Well, we'll see how well this little caper of theirs plays out in about 3 years and if Jim Cramer stills worships the ground Prime Weasel walks on.

 

[FalconAss]

Can you imagine working next to this cry baby???

 

[Fred's Myth]

Yep, I absolutely hate FedEx, but have proudly never been a victim of Stockholm Syndrome. My thoughts and ideas are my own, and if I can "repay" FedEx even one cent for all the harm they've done, it pleases me.
It's pretty ironic for someone who supports a man who personifies animus and has basically created a completely divided America on the verge of civil war to accuse me of misplaced "rage". "I am your vengeance". Sound like animus? Pot, meet kettle.
I only post here in my very spare time, as when sitting an open house in between clients, waiting for clients who are invariably late, or maybe just sitting on the toilet making a Fred or a Raj.

What's actually telling is that you, and your sycophant @bacha29, have absolutely NO knowledge of those who you ascribe qualities you detest, based on your (drug-induced?) fantasies.

The real shame is that your overactive imaginations aren't used constructively. How very liberal of you. Both.