Stay with Dayton or move to Fed Ex Freight?

I started working the dock at Dayton 3 weeks ago. It’s fast paced but all the guys I work with are good guys, managers and supervisors are awesome too. They let us do our job without getting involved too much. I’m enjoying it but my goal is to be a driver. They have a dock to driver program but I have to be part time for 6 months to get into it. They don’t send you to any school or anything. I’d have to get my cdl on my own either thru going to a cdl school ($4000), using a place called Don’s towing in Sedalia, Mo for a 7 hr course ($500, other guys at Dayton have used him. He has a 6 gear manual truck that he allows people to test on) or just doing a lot of driving while in the program and using a company truck to test for the cdl (trucks are automatics). I don’t have a problem paying the money for my CDL either thru going to a school or Don’s towing). I spoke with my manager Fri nite about becoming a spotter and he said that he could def use me to do so. Just have to watch some videos and do some training w some spotters to get certified. I have never driven a truck. It could take me around 9 months to complete dock to driver which is not a huge issue as long as I’m allowed to spot in the meantime and slowly learn some other trucks. I have heard nothing but good things about Dayton so the wait isn’t a big issue.

I applied to Fed Ex Freight for their driver apprentice position when I applied to Dayton. They called me a few weeks ago to come in and interview. I ended up being offered a spot in the program. It’s 7 weeks long and I’ll be working the dock as I go thru it. I heard the program is really solid and they teach us how to driver doubles, tankers, hazmat I believe. I have my CDL permit with all the endorsements. The only problem is I don’t have any driving experience and if you don’t pass what they teach during the week you are booted out of the apprenticeship program and have to work the dock for 6 months before getting another shot. I work with some veteran dockworkers at Dayton who have worked the docks at every LTL company and none of them have had much praise for working the dock at Fed Ex Freight. So I’m a little worried if I get stuck on the dock for 6 months I will be stuck in a not so great environment. Where as the Dock at Dayton is not a bad gig at all. I think they expect 5 bills per hr vs 8 bills per hr at FXF. Our terminal is much smaller than FXF and there isn’t any micromanaging that I have seen so far.

So my situation is sticking with the known (Dayton) which I have never heard a bad thing about. It would take longer to become a driver but I could deal with it. Or, moving to an unknown (FXF) where I have heard some negative things ab their dock and being micromanaged. I don’t know much about what it’s like to be a driver at Fed Ex though. I can deal with a more hectic dock as long as I get to drive. But FXF is huge so there may be a ton of drivers ahead of me and I may not get to drive much. A good thing ab going with them is if I pass the apprentice program I will have my CDL with some great training behind me as opposed to basically getting my CDL on my own at Dayton. The process at FXF would be a little more rapid where as at Dayton I could learn at my own pace.

I’ve talked with @Bob Dobalina about this. Just wondering what you all would do in this situation? Maybe some of you are drivers at FXF now or worked the dock there. Or you have been around the industry for awhile now and know a lot about both companies. I’m located in St. Louis. Dock pay is $18.65 at Dayton. FXF driver apprentice is $20.40. I work 29 hrs at Dayton and I’m assuming FXF would be about the same to start. I know the decision is mine but I’d love to hear some opinions. I’m suppose to take a drug test for FXF next week and get a start day after. So I want to come up w a decison soon.

Thanks!

 

Just trying to get some insight from people who know more ab fed ex freight. Thank you

 

Thanks @Fuelinmyveins!! I was thinking it would prob be pretty hard for me. I appreciate your feedback.

 

I have money saved up for cdl school so it wouldn’t be an issue doing that. Was kind of leaning to staying at Dayton and getting my cdl while not working during the days. My girlfriend shot down the OTR option awhile ago haha