FedEx - Whats Up?

I believe you missed the point in your bias toward drivers on the west coast. If you have sufficient time to run your load then there should be no need to drive 10mph over the limit, whatever the speed limit may be for the road you are on as a professional driver, period.

I have lived in the NW (not CA) since 1976 but can tell you that since my first 5 years of driving OTR was 48 and Canada with a lot of driving on 95,80,81,76 and 70 I saw no marked difference between how people drive on the east or west coast.

It is my opinion that at FedEx the scheduling drives safety, not the other way around which can put not only the driver at risk, but the people who have to share the roads with them no matter what part of the country they are driving in. Carriers like FedEx seem to want the driver to rush around and make up for any delays by speeding and taking risks. But then want them to do it safely. Safety will tell you they are having to many wrecks and to slow down and don't take risks. Then Op's puts on the dp that on time delivery is critical or the load is being serviced watched etc. So like many OTR carriers safety seems to be disconnected from operations. Lots of talk from safety and loss prevention to the driver, but little action from management when Ops puts drivers at risk.

If a driver wrecks they will certainly not admit that a culture of rushing around and clock watching had anything to do with it at at FedEx.

 

Sir, I do make my living driving doubles. Saw your post regarding my reply and just wanted to clarify that.

 

That would be Miss, and as I do also make my living driving doubles and it is for Fed Ex Ground and I work for a very good contractor who pays me very well. Putting a stigma on all seems to be unfair when you have bad drivers everywhere. To say that Fed Ex Ground makes drivers run no matter what is incorrect. They have also said if the roads are bad, Stop and we do get plenty of time to get where we need to be.

 

i drive fo fed ex ground. and i pull doubles. i have less than 6 months experience and have rountinely been forced to drive thru dangerous situations. i drive with a o/o who routinely puts me in situations that are dangerous.we drive west coast and he requires me to run 5 miles an hour over the speed limit. weather conditions mean nothing. it is like he is in a race to get to the next terminal before anybody else. if there are good o/o with fed ex i guess i missed that. i dont have enough experience to quit and really feel that i wont live long enough to get the experience. i have seen the other driver get mad at 4 wheelers and actually whip the back trailer at them. i cannot sleep while he is driving for he is aggressively changing lanes, slamming the brakes, or riding the jakes. i do this for little pay that i have to fight for every week and is never right, no insurance and i have to pay my own taxes. after it is all said and done my paycheck makes working at walmart not so bad looking. the only good thing is when i get to drive and he goes to the bunk. i actually enjoy pulling doubles. the challenge is fun. i think after i get my 6 months in im going to start looking around

 

Thats is what gives Fed Ex Ground the stigma they have, contractors like that make it look bad for the rest of us. I will tell you there are some lousy contractors but there are some good ones. The only suggestion I can give you is to find out if any other contracotrs at your terminal are hiring, or if the contractor is THAT BAD I would talk to the terminal Mananger. The contractor I work for tells me if the weather is bad stop, I get a pay with taxes taken out and its always right. I make 42 cents a mile, I get drop pay, vacation , paid hoildays, christmas bonus, so there are some good ones to work for.I wouldn't give up on Fed Ex Ground if you enjoy it but I would look for another contractor