dana transport

I assume you are referring to Dana-Suttles-LTC-Diversified , primarily tanker yankers? If so, this group is mostly under the control of Dana, but each still operates somewhat independently of each other. I have multiple trucks leased on with Suttles and I am making plans to leave shortly as are several other contractors I know. This "merger" of companies was supposed to result in better load availability for OTR drivers. The opposite has occurred however. Up until the beginning of '07 we would leave the home terminal with paperwork for the next load in hand, and usually when the first one was delivered a third load was already lined up to bring us back home. Now a normal dispatch is to get your first load of the week off, then drive to the nearest terminal, and wait until sometime the next day for a load that may not load until evening, usually only 300-400 miles. After five days you may only have two loads delivered with under 1000 loaded/revenue miles!

Get the idea that OTR drivers are not terribly happy lately? Of course at any terminal you will find drivers doing well. As with every other company they usually have their original group of senior drivers that have the top dollar,dedicated runs, and can "show" you how much money you can make and how you'll be through the house two or three times a week.

Also, they will be glad to offer you a truck on a lease purchase deal. Actually it used to be a good deal until a year ago when everything changed. Back then I used to think you'd have to be exceptionally stupid or lazy, even for a truck driver, not to make a ton of money there! Now I wonder how the drivers not on the "A-list" can survive.

I would be glad to discuss this in much greater detail privately if you would like! For me and my drivers, I'm just waiting on final paperwork from Landstar. Good luck wherever you decide to lease on.

 

good question, forum rules don't allow us to post names, emails, or other contact info. I think we can put IM info in our profile but I do not know if you use any of them or not. I use yahoo IM when I need to. Don' t know if we are allowed to view that info in member profiles or not. after 25-30 posts I think we are allowed to PM directly but that might be a ways down the road yet!

 

It is 50 posts to be able to PM a member. You can send a PM to any forum moderator and ask the mod.to forward that PM to the other person. They will read the content and as long as it is on the up and up, they'll do it for you.

 

Thanks Eskimo. Is it snowing in your part of TN? I may take a ride over toward Roan Mountain this weekend on the bike to grab some scenic photos now that they will be white.

 

It did for a little while yesterday. It doesn't snow much over here. I live in west TN, about a hard stone's throw from the MS line.

 

Duramax,

I read your post today and was disappointed with the response you received. I am also an owner-operator and lease my truck to Dana Transport for the past 11 years. Not sure how long the Suttles fleet operator has been around, but it's disappointing to hear he is not satisfied. Does it have to do with the past couple months? It's always been a little slower this time of year, and I am sure the economic slowdown in the housing and construction industries is having an impact too. I went through the combination of Dana Transport & Suttles and found the larger network gave me more loaded miles. Sure, you have to know the network. Being an owner-operator, I am out there talking with the dispatchers and terminal managers, located where I am headed. They know me by name and this helps. Hands-on has its benefits. I have referred several other owner-operators to our company and keep in touch with them. They are all doing well and still haul for Dana. Since the LTC company came into the Dana-Suttles companies, it's even better. The company has about 40 terminals now, and this really helps keep my loaded miles way up - how does about 81% loaded sound? And 1000 miles a week? NO. I've been averaging about 2500-2800 miles weekly. You don't hear that when you talk to an owner-operator hauling for one of the other big tank truck companies! My gross income has also grown steadily for the past 10 years, never backwards. I am in my 3rd new truck - a '07 Peterbilt 379. Yup, it's even "Dana" green! And here's something else - Mr. Dana is one helluva good businessman! You'd think someone in his position would be out of touch with his roots. Not Ron Dana! You're likely to bump into him while in NJ. He doesn't walk the other way when he sees you coming. And he takes the time to listen if you have a problem.

Hope this helps!