Driver Apprentice Position

Publix gets all their drivers in a similar manner.....

 

I went into this program in September since I had less than a year of drive time while I was at TMC. I applied in June and started in September, and that's with a squeaky clean background and MVR. I already had my T/X endorsements so that part was easy.

As a driver, going to FedEx Freight was the best decision I've made. The DDC was simple and structured, and it was great that I was one on one with the instructor the entire time.

It's structured as a minimum 4 week course, maximum 8 week course. If you breeze through each week, you'll be in it for 4 weeks. But even if it takes you 8 weeks to pass everything, once you do you'll spend time with a city coach for at least a week to learn P&D processes and the handheld, then cut to the city board unless the position fills a road driver position. It was explained to me that your seniority started the day you began with the Instructor.

For someone with no experience, you will still go through the growing pains of shifting and learning how the truck responds to your input at the controls. My instructor never sent me to the dock when I was in the course, I didn't see the dock until I was cut to the city board.

Overall, good program. It won't make you a whiz at driving, but it will give you a solid foundation for a safe career.

 

What's the pay like during the 4-8 week apprenticeship? Afterwards, once a City Driver, what are the hours and pay like? Is there a such thing as extra board for City or just Road?

 

During the training portion, you'll work 40 hour weeks. Hours as a city driver vary wildly from barn to barn.

XB exists on road, not city board. City drivers bid on start times, not "routes".

 

Thanks, McUzi. I appreciate the info. Is the payscale similar to UPSF?

 

Very similar, if not slightly better depending on what area you are in.

 

Sounds like a good gig overall. If the opening is still there when I graduate, I might apply.

 

It probably won’t be, apply now. It can take a month or more to go through the application process anyways.

 

I'm gonna go ahead and apply today.

What are the chances of working a lot of hours after training? Is it usually just 40 hrs per week? I'd like more like 55-60 hrs per week.