With the price of diesel surging and carriers offering cheap rates in order to maintain business, it’s no wonder why
many trucking companies are closing their doors for good. As was the case Tuesday for one trucking company.
Brandt Truck Line, who has been in business for over 80 years servicing the Kentucky, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Indiana areas with LTL service, broadcasted on their website yesterday that they were closing their doors stating:
“We regret to announce that Brandt Truck Line ceased operation effective 3/22/11. We made no pickups Tuesday and will do our best to deliver any freight that is still in our system. Thank you for your past business.”
The company began in 1923 transporting kerosene by mule and later specialized in LTL (less-than-truckload) service in the 1980s, but their freight was “not enough to fill a truck on their own” (http://www.pantagraph.com/business/local/article_fe0b3bb6-54cd-11e0-80c6-001cc4c002e0.html).
Several drivers and office employees in the Bloomington location were shocked when they found out that the company they worked for was closing immediately. Nicolet Souza, a customer service rep, was one of them, whose boss approached her and told her that they “were done,” which Souza took as “a shock,” The Pantagraph notes.
But the company’s closing wasn’t a shock for all employees.
According to one person, who posted a comment on truckingboards.com under the codename “wizzard-100,” it was no surprise that Brandt Truck Line decided to cease operations.
Working at the company until yesterday, when he/she and other employees found out that they no longer had a job through an article they found online, “wizzard-100” states that “Brandt’s big problem was they didn’t spend any money on maintenance. It didn’t get fixed until it broke. Then it was fixed using pulled parts from other units that were down. Bubble gum and bailing wire repairs will only go so far…They also hauled real cheap freight for too long and it finally bit them in the a**. Guess I’ll just file for unemployment and take my time finding another job” (http://www.truckingboards.com/forum/trucking-industry-news/11034-brandt-truck-line-closes-down.html).
Unfortunately, this is the case for many trucking companies who offer bottom-feeder rates in order to get business. The problem is, as “wizzard-100” notes, you get what you pay for. If you want low rates, you are also getting trucks that are not maintained and easily prone to breaking down or causing an accident.
With Road Scholar Transport, you will receive competitive rates for a quality service. We can assure you that our trucks undergo daily maintenance, ensuring only the safest equipment on the road when shipping your LTL and TL freight.
Here’s a fact, Road Scholar has never been cited for a piece of faulty equipment in an accident, which demonstrates the full attention we give to our trucks and equipment.
If you want to ship with a company you can trust to give you a fair price for the quality of service they provide, then go to www.roadscholar.com today to chat with an online transportation expert or get a quote.
How would you feel if the company you shipped with suddenly shut down and left you stranded with a dock full of freight?
