1bdun...


I'll give you my opinion for what its worth. For the 10 years I have been at DHL/turned Asstar... DHL just cant seem to figure out how to model itself after a successful express operation (Fedex or UPS). One would think, "Hey, those guys seem to have this figured out pretty well... why dont we do it the same way they do". For some reason DHL has always tried the "other" approach. I can remember hearing on a repetitive basis "we (DHL) arent interested in your package to grandma's house for Christmas, take it to Fedex or UPS". Pretty foolish to turn that or any business away if the airplane and vans are going there anyway.

The next huge mistake DHL blundered was paying something like $240 million for a new sort facility in Cincinnati that was utilized for about a year or less... that sits empty and unused right now but DHL still pays the lease payment.

That poor business decision was followed by the purchase of the Wilmington Airpark... ABX knew how to run it but DHL has it pretty screwed up. Its in the middle of nowhere so its hard to get or keep good employees. A DC-8 was able to depart Cincinnati at gross weight in any temperature for an overseas flight, it cant be done out of Wilmington unless its colder than about 41F. You might have heard when DHL acquired Airborne Express they fired over 3,000 DHL delivery drivers and kept the Airborne independent contractors, DHL doesnt treat labor well at all. Just a couple of weeks ago DHL fired 23 employees in Wilmington that were hired from ABX. The deal was they were hired into DHL and had one year to return to ABX should they so desire... Coincidentally, at one year and one day they were fired from DHL and lost their return rights to ABX. Not exactly honest and fair treatment of employees.

We always asked why DHL chose to fly the oldest junk in operation (DHL had THE oldest B727-100 in operation in the world until just a few years ago, the 727 in the Smithsonian is newer.) DHL has always claimed they only cared what something cost them today and never looked into the future, they also claimed they would never purchase new airplanes, they just ordered 6 new airplanes this week. It sort of leaves you believing one of two things... either 1) they really have no clue or 2) they are so untruthful about everything you can believe anything. Either option isnt good for business or the employee group.

I probably ranted on for longer than you would have liked but, those are the rough details of why DHL just hasnt got a grip.