Union LTL's

[ATCO]

Too bad we didn't have this discussion in the union forum. Joe, I think you will see more regional carriers like Oak Harbor Freight Lines, the USF's like Reddaway and Holland, and others become the majority one day in the union carrier bracket.
Everyone always assumes at contract time that the big carriers will be out on the street but I dont really see that happening. The senate today passed the pension reform bill that will make these companies fully fund their pensions, and they cannot use excuses like the airlines have gotten away with to get out of these obligations they have to their employees.

At UPS, we are hauling freight in those 28 foot flatfloor trailers you see us pulling. Yes, we now have O'nite and Motorcargo but they are pretty much doing there own thing. I am sure there is some work that is being directed to them but our trailers are full and we are putting on drivers; and not just for Christmas!!

Here's your discussion Saddletramp ;)

I'll start with 2 questions:

1: I know in the LTL sector we still have Yellow, Roadway and ABF as Union LTL carriers... Who else is a Union LTL carrier?

2: Why do you think a Union company would want to purchase/merge with a non-union carrier? Seems like mixing oil and water to me...

[saddletramp]

Hey Joe,
1.As for as here in the Northwest the contracted carriers are Oak Harbor Freightlines, Pennisula Truck Lines, USF Reddaway. There are alot of 'contracted" regional carriers around the country but these are the ones who run the western regional area.
Of course in the national arena under the Master Freight Agreement we have ABF, Yellow, Roadway serving us here.
UPS, has alot of freight that is now being moved by their drivers here in the west.

2. AS far as union companies wanting to buy up non union carriers, I can tell you that UPS has tried to buy a freight carrier for years. It started in the 80's with PIE, which went south because of the debt that PIE was carrying at the time. Same with CF; they were in negotiations at one time but the pending bankruptcy kept that deal from taking place.
I believe UPS ended up buying O'nite beacuse the Union Pacific let them go, so UPS didn't have to deal with the railroad. The other reason is to keep up with the competition! Fedex is getting into every element of the transportation industry and just watch what the German government has instore for DHL, now that our governmant has let it be known that government entities from other countries can come here and compete with private enterprise with out our government intervention! :angry:
Ups needed the physical plant in place to offer frieght options to its customers since we have no freight handling facilities of our own. The company has also made us aware that if the employees of Overnite want to organize they will not stand in the way. But, I am not sure if that means having regional agreements versus a master freight contract.

Time will tell on this one for sure! ;)

Also, Joe, you asked me about the UPS line equipment, and the Argosy cabover. WE have a few here in Spokane and they are not that bad of tractor to run down the road, and they are a good snow tractor as they are well balanced for pulling 28 foot pups.
WE also have CH600 Macks, 9600 series IH's, some new Sterlings with the Mercedes engine coming in, and our ol veteren 95 model Ford L9000s with the 3406E Cats. The ol Ford just keep running and running with many over 1 million miles on them. They were purchased in 94 and 95 by UPS leasing, to be ran 5 years then turned in. When UPS leasing was shut down the parent company had to "buy" the tractors up and thus have a ton of money in them; so the decision to "run them into the dirt", and the darn things just wont die!! :wacko: