Businesses still searching for shipping solutions

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This article was published 11/12/2018 (1994 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Greyhound left Western Canada at the end of October, it left not just passengers, but also local businesses in the lurch.

It has caused headaches for Jeff Brown, general manager at European Auto, who needs to order car parts and have them shipped to Brandon quick from Winnipeg. He said his suppliers used to ship using Greyhound buses, but now they use Purolator.

“My freight shipments have changed drastically because for the most part I get them over the noon hour now, as opposed to when I used to get them for the beginning day for eight o’clock,” Brown said.

He said it has had a huge impact on the car repair business because sometimes there just isn’t enough time in the day to get a job done.

“Greyhound was pretty reliable in the sense that as long as there was no mishaps in the transfer location in Winnipeg, I knew I would have may parts in the morning or even on weekends,” Brown said. “Now Purolator doesn’t run weekends, so if you order a (part) on Friday, the soonest you’re going to see it is on Monday.”

He said it has been an issue for rural customers, which make up a large part of the business. They might not be able to take their car home the same day simply because it takes too long for the auto part to get to Brandon.

“It holds up the customers as well as us as a business,” Brown said.

In response to Greyhound leaving most of Western Canada, Brown said he started doing some shipping with E & C Courier, a Brandon-based company run by former Brandon Greyhound depot manager Eugene Johnson.

Johnson said he was able to come in after Greyhound left and take over some of the freight shipping they used to do. He said the business has been steadily growing and is now in its second month. Johnson said he has tried to keep the shipping experience as close to that of the bus company as possible and he has picked up many of their former customers.

“They’ve been good to their word and I’m cheaper than most of the other courier companies because I don’t have the high overhead and all that, so it’s been pretty good,” Johnson said.

He said he mostly ships small truck parts and heating and plumbing supplies between Brandon and Winnipeg. On average, he said his company delivers between 20 and 25 parcel between the two cities every day, which is only a part of the business Greyhound was doing on freight.

“The market was there for freight for Greyhound, I don’t know why they decided to just drop everything and leave.”

E & C Courier has two vans for now, Johnson said, so the company can’t do the larger parts that Greyhound buses could accommodate. After picking up packages in Winnipeg, Johnson said he meets another driver halfway to Brandon, where they exchange vans and drive back the way they came. Afterwards, each driver delivers parcels in their respective cities.

“I promise next-day service for one thing and weather permitting, it has been pretty good.”

However, Greyhound’s departure has not been all good for its competitors. Maisie Hicks, general manager at Maple Bus Lines, said they do some freight shipping, but could always use more.

“I don’t think people realize the service that Greyhound was giving, so with them leaving, there’s a big huge void and nobody really realizes it because these smaller companies have stepped up for the time being, but it’s going be a struggle if people don’t start using the bus or supporting the bus service. It truly is going to be tough.”

One of the new smaller bus lines is Brandon Bus Lines, which has partnered with Maple Bus Lines to move people and packages between Brandon and Winnipeg. Natalie Hrechka, co-owner of Brandon Bus Lines, said on average they are only taking one package per trip and the company wants to focus on moving passengers.

Hicks said shipping packages helps Maple Bus Lines afford to run the smaller routes when there aren’t many people in the seats. Part of the problem, Hicks said, is that many people don’t know mailing on a bus line is even an option, so it’s mostly businesses who use the service.

“It’s not about making millions … because trust me there is not a million to be made or Greyhound would be here, but it is just about to sustain service and keep it somewhat profitable,” she said.

Hicks said that shipping freight on bus lines is about keeping money local and it ensures they can continue running buses up and down the highway. She said much of Greyhound’s former business has gone to large shipping companies, away from companies that operate locally.

“We’re not freight people, but we understand the importance of having a bus service that can get the freight there.”

In the future, Maple Bus Lines is going to to aim for more freight shipping so they can maintain profitability and keep the buses running, Hicks said.

“Our target is going to be the local businesses that are shipping with us, that’s clearly what needs the service. They need that daily service where you’re getting you car part tomorrow morning, not three days from now on a big skid.”

» dmay@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @DrewMay_