US mail contractors

Hey guys. I work for Eagle Express in Chicago at the moment, running mail locally from APOs to distribution centers in the area. I will be moving to Lubbock, Tx within the next 6-8 months, and wondered if anyone knows anything about the mail carrier situation out there. I know there's a processing center in Lubbock, google mapped it and saw some day cab trucks so there's seems to be something local going on there.

Any info would be appreciated!

 

I have been hauling mail since 2005, no better company job to have. Easy money, paid by the hour based on 50 miles on odometer equals 1 hour pay. I run Indianapolis to Pittsburgh round trip. only 2336 miles a week with 3 days at home. rough pay is 53.25 per hub mile. Drawbacks are bout the same as any other company, seniority gets the meat and potatoes, new guys get the trimmings. Best time to apply, Right before Thanksgiving holidays when mail season goes into full swing. You need to be an anytime/any direction/ any weather driver. Companys I am familiar with are MC of A , Eagle express lines, Veltri, B&B, Foreman. Just heard yesterday Trojan Horse went under but will see

 

Trojan Horse is going under? wow. Some of these mail contract companies are great and others are bad like the one I worked for. MT Transportation in NY. They had a law suit brought on them because they skimming money from us and keeping it for them selves and didn't think guys would figure it out.

 

Skimming money? No! Say it isn't so. Not in the trucking business. LOL

 

Thinking about hiring on with Eagle Express running Toledo to Chicago. Can anyone tell me about this company good and bad. How are the benefits etc.?

 

I've known a few people who work/ed for Eagle and they've all had good things to say. The USPS sets the pay rate and health & welfare benefits amounts but contractors set up how they get used.

 

The USPS sets the rate because otherwise their drivers would be lucky to get $12-14/hr. The problem with mail contractors is that the majority of them do not pay any overtime, and don't offer any kind of bennies or retirement. Yet they have no problems working you 12-16 hrs a day 7 days a week.

If you can pass the backround checks, you're better off driving for the USPS itself if you want to haul mail. If you can't pass the BR checks, try UPS or FedEx Express instead.

 

I've been in the mail business for 18 years. The PO sets the Health & Welfare pay rate (health ins and retirement) and the per hour pay rate for each geographical area the runs originate. None of this is a state secret either, it's well known what the rates are in your area. In this area the combined pay rate is over $24/hr. If a contractor is not paying them correctly a person can go to the Wage and Labor Board and get the problem resolved. I've seen it happen. Why would they pay overtime, they're under the same exemption as most other trucking operations. You make it sound as if it's slave labor, we have drivers who make $60k+ per year with generous home time. There's many reasons we have no problems filling any vacancies that might crop up, usually word of mouth from current drivers.

Please, go back to arguing about flagging your fuel stops, it seems more productive.

 

You're not even in the same book with me. I know drivers from every mail contractor in my area. Yes, the payscale is the same with all but none of them pay you for OT, or bennies.

USPS pays OT, and so does UPS and FedEx Express.

 

It's nice to hear all the positive replies from drivers hauling mail. Most trucking companies at the time of the interview give you false promises and it never turns out like they tell you. Hopefully I can get picked up by Eagle, we'll just have to wait and see.

Thanks for the feedback.