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Dhl shutting down us operations
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BaldyLochs
Nitro Member
That's too bad. It's no secret that they've struggled to crack the US market since day one. Thier niche is Europe. The 4 or 5 corporate people I've met at the racetracks the last couple years were great. I wish them the best of luck.
Another sponsor gone.....DHL is shutting down ALL US operations.......
The press release says that they are shutting down DOMESTIC ONLY shipments and continues on by saying that " we are here to stay" and will continue to handle international shipments. Also, it doesn't say a thing about pulling it's racing sponsorship.
scsp390
Nitro Member
I live less than 7 minutes from DHL. The flight pattern is right over my house. My hometown of Wilmington, OH is getting ready to lose close to 10,000 jobs. The death of Scott Kalitta was very very TRAGIC!!! As much as I LOVE the sport of drag racing-I had very mixed emotions about Team Kalitta bringing out another DHL Funny Car. Nothing against Jeff Arend. I have met Jeff on numerous occasions. Great man,excellent driver.
I wish Team Kalitta all the best. I don't think that there will be a DHL Funny Car on the tracks in '09.
That is all I have to say.
As much as I LOVE the sport of drag racing-I had very mixed emotions about Team Kalitta bringing out another DHL Funny Car. Nothing against Jeff Arend. I have met Jeff on numerous occasions. Great man,excellent driver. I wish Team Kalitta all the best. I don't think that there will be a DHL Funny Car on the tracks in '09. That is all I have to say.It's hard for them to compete. I get ALOT of shipments every week from people all over the world, and I would say domestically maybe 1% use DHL as a carrier. Now, I do get quite a few International shipments from customers using DHL, so it doesn't really come as a big surprise that they would shut down their US based shipments. It's been that way for a couple of years now.
Just small packaging in the US is leaving. They still will do international small packages and with buying exel a few years ago big shipment freight forwading type of stuff.
Hope it doesn't affect the race sponosrship, rumor was in wasn't a traditional type of sponsorship anyway so they still may be on both cars next season.
Hope it doesn't affect the race sponosrship, rumor was in wasn't a traditional type of sponsorship anyway so they still may be on both cars next season.
paoldtimer
Nitro Member
In our large international company, we just received an email telling us that as of January 30 the US Express business will discontinue its domestic-only air and ground services. We are permitted to continue shipping/mailing until then however, we are seeking bids and hope to have one (or two) preferred supplier(s) by the end of December..(either FedEx, UPS or both....)
Oh what fun....
Just put 4 DHL envelopes on my front porch..
Oh what fun....
Just put 4 DHL envelopes on my front porch..
qtermile14
Nitro Member
From what I have heard in the past, I think Kalitta Air had some sort of business relationship with them. I'm sure if Suzie Oberhofer sees this, she could tell us what the business relationship is between Kalitta Air and DHL.
T.J.
Nitro Member
DHL for a few months now has been "buying" space on UPS' aircraft for there domestic operations and stopped using ABX AIR (the aircraft were not operated by DHL, just contracted) so the writing was on the wall for a few months now as to what was going to happen.
I used to be a ramp operations manager for Airborne Express before they were bought out by DHL and formed many friendships with the people at the "ILN hub (Wilmington, Oh) and am very saddened as to what is happening in that small town right now. The DHL hub is literally all there is and what has drawn people to move to that area over the years with Airborne and to hear about friends and there families now without work, right before the holiday season is just very hard to swallow.
As far as the Kalitta sponsorship goes...if they have more than this year now in the contract then you will probably see them back, but if they dont my question to everyone would be... what sense does it make to spend so much money on advertising (sponsorship) if your company is not even going to be operating in the country that the car is being run?
I used to be a ramp operations manager for Airborne Express before they were bought out by DHL and formed many friendships with the people at the "ILN hub (Wilmington, Oh) and am very saddened as to what is happening in that small town right now. The DHL hub is literally all there is and what has drawn people to move to that area over the years with Airborne and to hear about friends and there families now without work, right before the holiday season is just very hard to swallow.
As far as the Kalitta sponsorship goes...if they have more than this year now in the contract then you will probably see them back, but if they dont my question to everyone would be... what sense does it make to spend so much money on advertising (sponsorship) if your company is not even going to be operating in the country that the car is being run?
BaldyLochs
Nitro Member
Y'all don't worry - this won't effect Mr. Grubnic's and Mr. Arend's driving careers at Kalitta Motorsports. Bank on that.
"Dr. Dirt"
Nitro Member
Any company with worldwide presence would be wise to shut down any US run affiliations given the coming tax structure for large businesses. Their margins are so close as it is that there is no way to continue with the added taxation. Smart move for any multi-national.
scsp390
Nitro Member
Don't be so sure of yourself Mr. Wilt. With the way the USA and the economy are going right now we all need to be prepared for just about anything. I mean if there is NO $$$$ how can one run a racing operation. Like I stated earlier I think that the Kalittas are a wonderful asset to drag racing. But, with that being said I am going to have a really BIG problem if there is a DHL car on the property in the '09 season.
For once in my life I would actually be MAD to see a racing team at an NHRA/IHRA National event. 
Drag racing is a form of entertainment- plain and simple! There is nothing entertaining about 9,500 individuals losing there careers at DHL!
T.J.
Nitro Member
Don't be so sure of yourself Mr. Wilt. With the way the USA and the economy are going right now we all need to be prepared for just about anything. I mean if there is NO $$$$ how can one run a racing operation. Like I stated earlier I think that the Kalittas are a wonderful asset to drag racing. But, with that being said I am going to have a really BIG problem if there is a DHL car on the property in the '09 season.
I agree with you Kevin. I too am very upset to see friends lose jobs at DHL, not only here in Austin, but in Wilmington as well. With the hub being the large employer in your town it now makes a whole town nearly unemployed? A very side time to say the least.
Jim
Nitro Member
A friend works for DHL in my area. He told me last week that they are giving their drivers more packages then they can handle a day, packages that are supposed to have a guarantee delivery. All his supervisors tell them to do their best and what you do not get delivered today will be delivered tomorrow. I have received a few packages from MLB through DHL, they have been delivered by the USPS. Apparently they have/had a contract for end delivery for certain packages.
BaldyLochs
Nitro Member
It's not a matter of me being proud of myself; and I certainly don't hope it sounded that way. How can anybody be "proud" to see good, hard working people losing thier jobs, and reputable companies closing and scaling back? It friggin sucks, man! IF... and right now it's a huge IF, DHL cuts back with it's marketing & motorsports involvement....(because nowhere did it say that Grubnic & Arend or anybody in Europe's racing circuits are being parked).... I trust that the people at Kalitta Racing will find a way to have those both those 2 guys and thier support staff running next year... THAT is what you can bank on!
The Counterfeiter
Nitro Member
John Mullen, CEO of DHL Express admitted today that competition with FedEx and UPS was more of a factor in this "pullback" than the economy. 756 employees in Scottsdale and 461 in Tempe will reportedly be laid off.
DHL is huge in Europe, but totally underestimated going up against these two 800 pound shipping gorillas. The FedEx purchase of Kinko's (for two BILLION dollars) which has been converted to FedEx Office and UPS conversion of Mailboxes Etc franchises to UPS Stores has provided small businesses and residential customers with thousands of locations to help them ship.
I have been told that Kalitta has a long relationship with DHL and that their sponsorship agreement (as PJ said) is indeed "non-traditional". I have no doubt that Kalitta will continue to field cars for David and Jeff, but the issue raised about negative connotations of continued DHL sponsorship is certainly interesting. JMHO - Jim
DHL is huge in Europe, but totally underestimated going up against these two 800 pound shipping gorillas. The FedEx purchase of Kinko's (for two BILLION dollars) which has been converted to FedEx Office and UPS conversion of Mailboxes Etc franchises to UPS Stores has provided small businesses and residential customers with thousands of locations to help them ship.
I have been told that Kalitta has a long relationship with DHL and that their sponsorship agreement (as PJ said) is indeed "non-traditional". I have no doubt that Kalitta will continue to field cars for David and Jeff, but the issue raised about negative connotations of continued DHL sponsorship is certainly interesting. JMHO - Jim
None
Nitro Member
After the German government completes privatizing Deutsche Post (no more tax dollars) and owner of DHL, it has found it's a tough market in the USA to compete with the UPS model. DHL got into the market by purchasing a minor player in the delivery business, Baxter Air Freight. Deutsch Post has also found a hard business climate for postal service in their homeland and has closed hundreds of small post offices and consoldiated a bunch more and is discovering that being a private business is a bunch harder than a government entity with masses of public funding.
scsp390
Nitro Member
Look, I have no problem with the Kalittas or any other racing team out there entertaining me fan/racer. What I have a problem with is DHL on the track!!! If they can't manage there own business here in the USA why in the HELL are they on a race car??? I won't support them at all. I can guarantee that a lot of other fans and racers won't support them either. I am not trying to be disrespectful I am just telling the plain truth!!! Job loss is going through the roof right now in the USA!!! Take away 10,000 jobs and see what kind of support you get!
I won't support them at all. I can guarantee that a lot of other fans and racers won't support them either. I am not trying to be disrespectful I am just telling the plain truth!!! Job loss is going through the roof right now in the USA!!! Take away 10,000 jobs and see what kind of support you get!
