65 mph here we come....

Hey, fellow FedX drivers/contractor's.

So, I just started this week and been running with a guy the last two days "Training" as you will. I think pulling doubles is pretty fun. Nothing to it for me. Comes like second nature. My co-driver said I am an extremely good driver etc. He has fallen asleep on the way down to our location each day. I am use to hooking etc now. Doing the paper work stuff. Not much else to it other than knowing how doubles ride down the road etc.

First day out, we sat at the dock waiting for them to close doors which took about 2hours during a day shift. The guy I been riding with has been there for 2 years, driven for 18. Anyway, I was up from 0530, met the guy at 0700. Then proceeded to the yard and waited until about 9am. We didn't get back until 9:30 that afternoon. Rinse and repeat for the next day, but luckily it was a relay there after. We left the yard about 8:32am and got back last night about 7:30pm.

Anyway, he said the 65mph crap cut in an hour or so on his time to do the run. I believe it. I got stuck behind a truck I could simply not pass, had to let off then give it everything shes got the past two days. Was behind the same truck for 160 miles!!!!!!!! It's been like that both days of me driving. This is so tiring and irritating! It's also DANGEROUS! I'm not sure I can do it. My last company I could run 72mph up and down the east coast and as far west as decatur, IL. Rarely went Further West of Columbus, OH. Not a single ticket/accident and I would usually hammer down. I could get around people quickly or stay away from the herds. Now I get caught in large herds dealing with MORONS! Some who want to run each other off the road "Intentionally."

Yep, I use to never see this or never would be caught in any of that mess running 72mph. Just the occasional brake checker, speed up or down idiot who passed you and a dummy who doesn't know how to merge when they have a football field in front between you and the next vehicle.

I will be a night guy starting Monday. 65mph might not be so bad during the nights, but only time will tell next week. 65mph means longer run, less rest/personal time at home each day. I know for a fact the day driver I have been riding with doing a butt-head we do can sometimes route us thru another hub. With that said, such said hub is in a large city and we wouldn't get there until almost rush hour in the afternoon. It's only an extra 2miles, but you and I both know if you knew the city, their is always an accident there or a lot of traffic. Now you must consider breaking down and connecting a set of doubles again. Anyway, fact is......... That run is not doable legally now when you cannot even run the speed limit legally. So, if it comes down to pulling empties on the way back from the butthead, they call an say hey! We need you there before you go back to home hub. Sorry, not enough time on the clock my man. I'll never make it.

Just getting back from the butthead to home base leaves 30-40 minutes on the clock alone. That is on a smooth day with no breakdown, blown tires, inclement weather and such. Some folks around the yard who are also complaining are hoping this is only temporary, the 65mph crap. Some said its there to last. Most people doing similar runs are also having the same issue when it comes to running outta time. Depending what the next few weeks bring and how things turn out. I might find my self back at my last company.

0.0

 

My boss said if it comes down to running thru another hub on the way back, we are doing just that. lol! Right on...

 

Amen

 

Yeah we are now gigantic speed bumps!

 

Once fedex ground realises we can can no longer beat ups or usps when it comes to being under on delivery times, something they brag about. They will lift the restriction. Even a 70mph limit is acceptable, it's what my truck is set at and still is. Because my boss keeps "forgetting ".

If I can't keep my 500 mile nights even with the 3 1/2 hour waits I have to deal with, there probably wont be much reason for me to stick around.

If fedex thinks all these contractors are having a hard enough time getting drivers now. Wait until they try telling people that they are going to be limited to 65. One of the perks of the job was that we could run at a decent speed.

The people I feel bad for are the cross country teams. Like the ones that run manchester to realto and back in 5 days. Good luck with that stuck at 65 the whole time.

 

I wonder about this myself. The real reason to go with FXG over most anybody else IMO was twofold.

1. less BS. Yes, you still have the FX BS, but really you work for a small company. none of this big company go our scam doctor to get a DOT even though you have one, want a day off, don't have to wait 15 years to get a decent run (although this only works if said contractor has some decent runs) and honestly you can move from contractor to contractor.

2. You could still operate a truck as it was designed to be operated. Go a decent speed when conditions warrant and get the job done in a reasonable amount of time in decent weather (crappy weather is just about survival, not making any money)

So now they have messed this all up. The nannycams (which I flip off every time they go off, I"m about to make a sign just to start the day and hold up the sign and press the button so they have to review it even though I"m not moving, then words on the sign won't make this site )).

and now 65.

Well hell, if I only get to operate at about the same speeds as all the rest of the LTL's, then I expect to be paid like a regular LTL driver. The lowest I can find around here is 53cpm PLUS they get paid to hook/unhook/build a set/chain/etc PLUS they have real insurance (you know like big companies have) PLUS 401k, etc etc etc. The best is in the 70cpm range (plus all that crap).

Oh, and they are all hiring.

 

You pretty much hit that head on.

Hire into a dedicated route, no BS, do your job and go home used to be the golden ticket with Ground and we all gave up some pay compared to the major LTLs to get it.

Rumors are that FxG is requiring medicals from their doctors now, who have already made 2 drivers I know of go through the sleep apnea scam.

All trucks are going to be required to have that stupid lane departure warning, forward collision monitoring, and of course cameras now. Add in the 65 mph ########.
Really the only reason for sticking around now is for easy routes/consistency.

Sad if all the drivers get too fed up and quit, it doesn't hurt Fedex any, just puts a big burden on the contractor. Which isn't fair to the contractor at all but nothing they can do.

 

Did the 65 mph mandate take affect yet? I see some owner ops running 65 mph and others running 72 or better. One passed me this morning at 72 at least.

 

It was never a mandate.

But - if you get a ticket over 65 - you’re screwed.


I turned all of my equipment down to 65 a few years ago. Fuel savings alone in just 2 years bought me a new motorcycle.

Also. No one has had a speeding ticket since then.

 

FXG still running hot in my area. I know it's fun running 75+