Stevens, Knight, Stevens, Knight

Most of the larger companies didn't get that way without absorbing other companies. Especially with Swift.

CRST (Cedar Rapids Steel Transport) has grown by absorbing others. They have the Malone division from acquiring a flatbed company, Specialized from absorbing a HHG shipper , Pegasus, etc....

You have mergers like YRC (Yellow Roadway Corporation) they also bought out USF.

Super Service is a combination of Super Service and GTS (Gainey Transportation Services).

The list goes on and on. Nearly every big company today got the way thru mergers and acquisitions.

It would be interesting hearing from you Old School. On what Knight has been saying what will the future be after the deal with Knight and Swift goes through. I have heard what Swift has been telling it's drivers but not what Knight is saying.

Please excuse me for the slow response. I'm at home doing a bunch of doctor appointments. I haven't been in the forum much for the past few days.

Brett said it well. I think when doing these types of convergences of big companies the best game plan is to keep it as mum as they can. They have got to say some things because dead silence is as detrimental as saying too much, but as far as anything I'm hearing from the top guys at Knight, it is probably much like you are hearing through the Swift grapevine. The proposed plan is to keep both companies separate and to keep all the terminals in place for both operations.

Now, I think we have to face some of the pertinent facts that brought about this whole thing too. Swift's stock was trading much lower than the Moyes family was happy with, and to be honest, probably lower than it should have. In a business persons mind, this creates opportunity. They had already taken some steps in reworking top management positions and that didn't seem to be working the way they wanted. At the time of the announcement, Knight's stock was trading at twice the market price of Swift. I think we have to take in consideration that there are a lot of family connections tied together in this deal, and they are all trying to look out for the families interests in some form or fashion. My personal take on this is that the Moyes family saw this as an opportunity to put a tried and tested management team into place with as little expense possible. Sort of the most bang for your buck theory. All of these folks have worked together before, and they all know each other. The bottom line for people who own stock in these companies is to increase it's value.

In business, once you get yourself into the fray it is survival of the fittest. Often times plans may change. A fighter may go into a fight with a well established plan, but once the punches start flying you sometimes find a new weak spot in your opponent, and you just have to go with what is working during the exchange of the blows. I look at these mergers like that. The management will follow the path that seems to be getting the results they are looking for.

But... I think the most important thing for drivers to realize is that what they are doing at the top, for the most part, will have very little, if any, effect on you. It really doesn't matter what they do, they still need dependable, consistently productive drivers to make the thing go. A really good productive driver is not something that can be discarded and replaced with ease. There are so many pieces in this business that have little to no way of standing out and being distinct from the competition. A top producing driver is still a much coveted piece in putting together the puzzle for success. A driver's focus should always be on proving him/herself a "big wheel" in the game. It is usually much less costly to keep a great driver than it is to go through fifteen new drivers in the hope of finding one who really "gets it," and can make things happen out here on the road.

One of the things I like about these companies having these production bonus pay packages is that a driver can use those measurements to measure his own performance. I have given this illustration before, but I think it is fitting here in this discussion also. If you are measuring up so that you are getting your company's top bonus pay, then you are measuring up to the things that they have set forth as proving to them that you are a top level driver, or as we often say it, "A Top Tier Driver." Here's a screen shot from my phone showing the way Knight measures us up. The green check marks indicate that I have achieved each of the desired measurements. Any time you can be doing that type of thing consistently you are setting yourself up as a very desirable employee. This is a full quarter's data in this photo. (Our first quarter is actually December through to the end of February)

What you want to be doing is...

- Running the kind of miles that show you know how to get things done out here. Do what it takes to run more than 10,000 miles per month.

- Running those miles in an efficient manner. Make a strong effort at reaching their fuel mileage requirements.

- Running those miles with a good safety record. Do any training they request, and keep your CSA score clean.

That sums it up: Productivity, Efficiency, Safety. Those are the corner stones that you want to build your reputation as a driver on. If you can get those things down it won't matter what all those stock holders are trying to accomplish, you will always be a vital part of their plan for success.

Old School wrote:

But... I think the most important thing for drivers to realize is that what they are doing at the top, for the most part, will have very little, if any, effect on you. It really doesn't matter what they do, they still need dependable, consistently productive drivers to make the thing go. A really good productive driver is not something that can be discarded and replaced with ease. There are so many pieces in this business that have little to no way of standing out and being distinct from the competition. A top producing driver is still a much coveted piece in putting together the puzzle for success. A driver's focus should always be on proving him/herself a "big wheel" in the game. It is usually much less costly to keep a great driver than it is to go through fifteen new drivers in the hope of finding one who really "gets it," and can make things happen out here on the road.

I totally agree with this, and can support it with first hand experience. Case in point; several months before I committed to running Walmart Dedicated for Swift, they won the contract and replaced the incumbent Transportation Partner, Schaefer/Crete. Long story, short they kept the top performing, safe Crete drivers and several of their driver managers. Five years later, the same DMs are still working on the account, two were actually promoted. Many of the top-performing former Crete drivers are still running Walmart as either Swift drivers or as drivers for Walmart's Private fleet. Yes, I have said it before, Walmart had hired numerous Swift drivers to their Private Fleet.

Honestly guys, what is happening at the major shareholder and Board of Director level is of no immediate concern for me. Way above my pay grade and exactly the primary reason why I do this for a living now...to stay out of the fray of this sort of thing. They will work it out...they always do. As far as the quality of the information? Swift is divulging the same exact press releases and updates to their drivers as they are their shareholders. This is a public, highly visible transaction...what ever is being disclosed, must be factual.

In the meantime, my focus as always is on my performance, safety, helping the newbies and serving our customer.

Any thoughts on lease purchase or going owner operator with either company? Pros/cons?

Natedog, I'm sorry I failed to address this part of your question. You probably aren't going to like what I have to say about it, but I am not a proponent of leasing or purchasing a truck of your own, especially as a new driver. I also am a former long time business owner who had a small fleet of six big rigs at one time, and I still don't think there is any advantages to being in your own truck in today's trucking business environment. Rather than elaborate on all of it I am just going to give you a link where we had a recent discussion in here on this very subject. Read it thoughtfully and realize that I am really big on being self-employed, and have spent most of my life in that state. Truck driving as a company driver allows you a lot of freedom and leeway to conduct yourself much like a self-employed person. This career is performance based, much like a person who is self employed, allowing you to exercise your own good sense and time management so that you can end up making a lot more money than your peers and fellow drivers at the same company. Any driver who takes charge of his career in a way that allows them to excel at this stuff will soon discover that you do not have to settle for being average at this. You can make some really good money as a good solid company driver without taking on all the added risks that inevitably rear their ugly heads to hinder the person who owns the truck.

Here's the link to the discussion on Why I Don't Think You Should Lease A Truck

Once again, thank you for your replies, especially Old School and G man. Don't worry about the late reply, I know you're all busy and appreciate any input I do receive. Hope the Dr appts go well.

Coming from the automotive industry, while I didn't drive Big Rigs, I did drive Porsches most recently, they handle just a little differently.

Changes in upper management have lead to major changes down hill which ultimately result in less pay and more hours worked, and often top performers are "rewarded" with paycuts. My biggest month in the car business was quickly followed with a change in the pay program which resulted in the top performers being required to do more for less with little affect on the lower performers. The philosophy from the industries I have come from seems to be why pay someone xxx amount when you can hire 3 people for the same amount and everyone is replaceable.

As to leasing, I will certainly read it and have to make my decision down the road. I see a lot of O/O here in So Cal but that doesn't mean they are making $. My parents owned 5 rigs at one point,lost it all good 20 years ago unfortunately.

My friend seems to be running pretty well with 3 Hotshots so that may be an option down the road as well. Just know being an employee especially In commiefornia makes it tough to get by. Who knows, being on the road may not feel so much like an employee. I do recall my dad complaining a lot about disbatchers at Roadway then YRC before being forced into early medical retirement and that doesn't bring positive thoughts to mind as an employee. He ran hard, provided well for us, showed us what a great work ethic was and I'm grateful.

Thanks again, just finished my physical for Knight, time to study

Thank you Old School. I also apologize for not replying sooner. I also spent a day with the Dr. doing tests, I appreciate your reply and agree as a company driver I doubt there will much if any changes for us. Again for the responce.