Labor Dispute-Forest River Delivery Drivers?

es335 · 03-25-2010, 08:44 PM

I am hearing that there is a Labor dispute with the Delivery Drivers at Forest River. This is evidently causing delays of new TTs to the Dealers. I ordered mine on Feb 13 2010. Spoke to the Dealer today and was told that the Labor dispute is causing a 2-3 week delay in the delivery .

Is anyone else hearing this?

TulsaSteve · 03-25-2010, 09:27 PM

Go figure... Given that a few million American families need a job, this shouldn't take long to work out.

es335 · 03-25-2010, 09:40 PM

TulsaSteve,
Agree-hopefully it is an unfounded rumor......

Explorer777 · 03-25-2010, 09:47 PM

Wow, I hope this is a rumor as well. Just put an order in last Saturday.

es335 · 03-25-2010, 09:51 PM

Might be Dealer BS. I will add to the thread as I get updates. I am not sure if Forest River, or the "Drivers" are union or not.

Snivek · 03-25-2010, 10:35 PM

Talked to my dealer on Monday and was told the same thing, kinda. I was told that with the slow sales last year there wasn't as many drivers this year and that they were trying to hire there own. My trailer is ready but no one to deliver it. I live in Calgary Alberta otherwise i would offer to pick it up myself, if aloud to, but the 2100 or so miles is a little too far.

NWJeeper · 03-26-2010, 12:13 AM

To my knowledge FR does not employ drivers but the dealers contract to a separate company to do it. The drivers who brought out our Georgetown worked for a contract transportation company. He also said he usually delivers 5ers and trailers and was not at all informed about motorhomes or their systems. I knew much more than he did about how things worked. No big deal for me.

milzat · 03-26-2010, 06:00 AM

This is most likely a rumor.
I was told, by two different drivers, that they are independent and get paid per mile.

EdJunior · 03-26-2010, 07:29 AM

My Dad actually just started delivering RV's recently. He is wholly independent, but I don't know the company that hired him. He has delivered for a couple of manufacturers around Elkhart and Goshen. They may have their own drivers, but there are also independents (or hired out contract drivers).

Hokiehall · 03-26-2010, 07:41 AM

Most of the units delivered to dealers in our area are independent contractors.

VTX Al · 03-26-2010, 09:47 AM

Don't know if they use more than one delivery company or not, but the one who I have seen at my local Forest River dealer is "Star Fleet" out of Goshen, In.

...VTX-AL

Pa-cj5 · 03-26-2010, 10:35 AM

Went to my dealer's open house yesterday. He only had about 50% of his ordered inventory. The delivery man told him that their lots are overfilled and that deliveries had been slow due to the snowy winter in the East.

No Rockwood 2604's to measure for mods. My 2604 will probaly take more than the 6-8 wks normal delivery time, it should be a 2011 model.

**huntr70** · 03-26-2010, 07:12 PM

The delivery lots in Indiana are overflowing because there aren't enough drivers.

There are many drivers that gave it up in the last 2 years because it wasn't paying enough to pay the fuel bills, and now that there is work, there are no drivers that can afford a $50,000 dually truck to haul campers.

We are waiting almost a month for a fifth wheel that has been built in February.

es335 · 03-26-2010, 08:48 PM

Might be time to start sending complaints to the Forest River Sales Reps. There is nothing as irritating as a Sales Rep that is going to loose his/her commision.... we start complaining, they start complaining, company begins to loose business......I know I would be finding a solution pretty quick if Iwas a Mgr @ FR ...

Snivek · 03-29-2010, 10:36 AM

So this Sunday morning I was out on the freeway driving, and saw a new RV being delivered from Indiana. It wasn't a FR product but it was the first trailer I've seen this year getting delivered. So it gave me hope that my RV might be heading up this way.

Explorer777 · 03-29-2010, 12:10 PM

I asked my salesman about this, as I ordered mine a little over a week ago. He said that there are a shortage of drivers, but that trailers that are already sold get priority over dealers that are filling lots. He said the unit will get "red tagged" as already having a buyer and move to the front of the line in the build process as well as delivery.

Snivek · 03-29-2010, 01:40 PM

Well I got a great phone call at lunch my 2010 2501ss has been delivered. Now just waiting for the phone call to set up the pick up. Might have to cancel Easter and go camping...

4WallCamping · 03-29-2010, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snivek

Well I got a great phone call at lunch my 2010 2501ss has been delivered. Now just waiting for the phone call to set up the pick up. Might have to cancel Easter and go camping...

Be sure to post some pics; that's what I just got a 2501ss

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...pging/1/page/1

es335 · 03-29-2010, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Explorer777

I asked my salesman about this, as I ordered mine a little over a week ago. He said that there are a shortage of drivers, but that trailers that are already sold get priority over dealers that are filling lots. He said the unit will get "red tagged" as already having a buyer and move to the front of the line in the build process as well as delivery.

Explorer777,
My Dealer/Salesman called me today as well. Gave me exactly the same story-red tag, priority etc. Evidently mine was picked up on the 24th and shoud be here this week. Fingers crossed for all of us waiting on delivery. I will post pics as well. Hopefully we will have delivery soon

W_A_Watson_II · 03-29-2010, 08:41 PM

From what I hear, when the sales slumped the drivers found other items to haul/do (other Jobs), and now that there is an uptick, there aren't enough drivers to do the job.

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