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To Our
Valued Customers and Potential Shippers:
I would like
to assure you that at this point Kennon Transport is not for sale or going out of business. Assuming you've read the
blogs however, you know that I was contimplating 'throwing in the towel', for a time being.
My plea is this. First, I'll start by being brutally honest, with you and with myself.... As a
shipper/ manufacturer if I could find drivers to haul my freight cheap, I probably would, too. That
is probably one of the biggest profit margins my company incurs as a manufacturer. However, as a shipper/ manufacturer
I would want to stay concerned about our future and be here in the future. It is no secret that record numbers
of trucking companies are going out of business because of the slowed economy and lack of consumer confidence.
Adding to that are record numbers of people and brokerages that are looking for ways to make money including cashing in
on drivers that have now become desperate just to stay in business.
Here are the issues that will arise and are starting to arise already: Brokers (or someone
that does not own trucks) have to find actual trucking companies or truck drivers to haul their freight. Trucks
have to haul the freight for a certain amount just to keep up with the huge cost of owning a truck and just to keep the
truck in mechanical working order. Brokers and people that are 'farming' out the loads are not carriers and most
do not and have not owned trucking equipment, and, have no idea what those costs are. Nor do they seem to
care (as this trend continues); they still make their commission. The ironic thing is they usually quote about the same as
a trucking company (or less) and then take a profit and then give it to the trucking company/ truck. By then there
is not enough money for the driver to haul it, but, if the drivers do not haul something they are out of business for sure.
So, if a driver is hauling for less than operating costs, they cannot put the money back in the truck, the truck
does not stay safe on the road (runs bald tires, they cannot make necessary repairs, etc) and most cannot afford to make
truck payments. (Not to mention a salary for all the hard work they do and compensate for the fact most are constantly away
from home.) Now you have unsafe trucks, drivers in poor mental states and what will happen to your customers that
you promised to get freight there when all the trucks are out of business?
Please don't take my word for it; google something like 'trucking companies out of business'
and 986,000 hits come up. Again, record numbers continue to go out of business right now. I'll put just a few links
that were the first to pop up below). Then google 'truck accidents' and 1,220,000 will come up.
Again, my plea, and I implore you to do this... call trucking
companies or someone with actual trucks and then compare rates. Brokers should be quoting the same amount (as trucking
companies) and a profit margin for themselves or this will become much worse. In 2003 the same thing happened that's
happening now but drivers were not taking those loads and rates jumped 35% along with fuel surcharges. Like everything
else in America (and the world), prices increase. Rates shippers and manufacturers are being offered now are rates that were
offered back in the 70's and 80's and are phantom rates. When getting quotes, ask if they own or have owned trucks and then compare to other trucking companies or actual
trucks. Like I mentioned, I would probably go with the cheaper rates if I were a shipper as well, but knowing that
it would stifle my company, raise the costs in the near future, put my family and other families at risk, and, as
I had gotten to know all the drivers, trucking companies and people that had been providing excellent service in the past,
but are now going out of business, I would want to be aware. Kennon Transport in not just in business purely for the profit margin. We want to provide proper logistics,
excellent service, integrity and see the economy and people prosper.
In 1988, when I started Kennon Transport I made commission dispatching drivers into customers as
an owner operator myself. I got off the road and dedicated myself full time as an agent/ dispatcher (for select
carriers/ trucking companies, not as a broker). Depending on how things go, I may return to driving or something else at
the present time. (Below is a resume I am submitting for that purpose and to show my background). I still have
enormous respect for my customers, potential customers and have a tremendous amount of respect for this industry. I will
keep Kennon Transport for as long as possible but cannot ask or expect drivers to run for less than minimum wage and
promote this type of hardship at the present time. I will, however, be available to provide great service
when it's asked and or required. Thanks again for
all your efforts, patronage and hard work over the years. I do hope and pray it continues and that we can play
a part in restoring America and our industry. Mike
Kennon Resume
and Background...
Contact Michael Kennon 815-482-2092 Cell
Objective
Dedicated small business owner seeking
new position. Extensive knowledge in the trucking industry as an owner operator, dispatcher, warehousing and sales. Passionate
in providing flatbed and logistical services and a proven ability in management, sales and representation. Drove semi for
nearly 20 years with no accidents and only one speeding ticket. Acquired and maintained relations with over 1772 trucks and
73 active shippers. Work
Experience
-Truck Driver from 1976
to 1996. (16 years verifiable)
-Started Kennon Transport in February 1988. Opened dispatch office in 1994, officially
got off the road in 1996)
-Did almost a million dollars in freight sales my 1st year, have done a million and multi-million
since.
-Have provided service to approximately 1772 trucks and 73 active shippers to all 48 states, Canada and Mexico.
-Responsibilities included but not limited to:
All negotiations, sales, assessments and quotations to acquire
and offer freight to owner operators. Hired office and owner operator personnel.
Designed and ran
Access program for dispatch and tracking drivers.
Created own web site ( www.kennontransport.com ) and others.
Use
of Excel, Word for accounting and keeping track of drivers.
Set up multiple offices.
Set up networking, dispatch
and communication systems.
Provided routing, mapping and logistical information to service carriers, shippers
and drivers; as well as install and ran programs. (PC Miler, DAT Type programs)
Develop, wrote and implemented contracts.
Proficient in quoting freight shipments for flatbed, stepdecks, doubledrops , vans and specialized equipment.
Knowledge
of permitting, routing, rating and legalities of legal and oversized shipments.
Set and exceeded goals with several
carriers.
Received numerous outstanding achievement awards for being one of top ten agents producing in excess of a
million dollars and multi million a year in revenue.
Recognition of outstanding service and dedication awards;
1 for setting record dispatch of $47,533.75 in one day, and $109,079.70 of freight in one week.
-Published
Author of Memoirs of a Runaway: A Story of Hope in March 2008 -Published Author of multiple
articles. -Licensed Vendor as of March 2009 Certification
Certificate
for Sales, Business Math and Communication for over 30 Hours. Lane County College
Eugene,
OR
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