FedEx Express

Get a year of experience, then come over to FedEx Freight if you’d like full time and yearly raises.

 

Congratulations @Jgatson! My husband and I are both RTD drivers: He’s been driving since July and I am waiting to attend the 2 week driving course (2 weeks for CDL Holder, 3 weeks for non holder). Things that stand-out for us:

1. Ramp Sort: As new/junior drivers, we work the ramp sort more than we’d like to. My husband’s regular run is about 5 hours round trip but he is only scheduled to run this 3 days a week - the remaining two days are spent on the sort and/or running heavy deliveries or backing up other runs. He averages 30 hours per week and has weekends off.

2. Route Planning: We’re not sure how the engineers plan the routes but the timelines may or may not be accurate. Aircraft departures and arrivals drive most of the RTD schedules, though downline station staffing schedules, weather, etc. also play a part. Bottom line, RTD’s get pressure to get the load/empty trailer to a destination though the route doesn’t always show enough time to do so. Depending on the station mgr., they will work w/ you but some, unfortunately, just push the pressure downstream.

3. Training Delays: Slow process work flows, peak season and COVID have my training slot pushed until after the new year. Unfortunately this means I work the sort every day. You may find yourself in the same situation - or maybe you have a school date? I’ve found it’s actually a good way to learn about the larger network, local market and management practices. It’s way too physical a job but it’s temporary and I’m learning a ton.

4. Opportunities: If you do have a school slot, ask for as much ramp driving time as you can before you go to school. Even driving on the ramp will give you a leg up. Also, be sure to ask for route familiarization time - ride along with other drivers to learn the routes and arrival / docking protocols.

Good luck to you and keep us posted on your progress.

 

@jmz I’m curious how much time a city driver spends working the dock versus how much time a new RTD spends on the sort? If FXF has more driving time, I’m interested in making the move (after I have a year of experience). What does the dock work entail?

 

Depends on the location, how busy/slow things are, and seniority. It could be no dock work at all, or all dock work and no driving.

Generally, city P&D drivers do exactly that. Come in, run their route, go home. Maybe help load their route in the morning if necessary.

Dock is easy, it’s unloading and loading trailers, 99% of it with a forklift.

 

I did the job for 10 years. You'll drive Freightliner single screw day cabs in most places with 53' trailers. All newer trucks are automatics.

Here's the weird thing about Fedex. Most people thing every truck that says Fedex is the same. The Fedex Ground drivers pulling pups on the interstate are among the worst drivers out there with the worst reputations. Fedex Express RTD's are among the BEST trained and best driver's out there. You'll be in training for a month before you are on your own. One week at your ramp, usually, with a trainer, then 2 weeks of training with other trainees somewhere they send you, all expenses paid, then a final week back with your local trainer.

It may be different some places but that's the way I've seen it done everywhere I know of for many years. You'll be pretty confident in the truck after that month if your trainers are good.

Every ramp is different but you'll either work early mornings or late evenings and work the sort for an hour or two. You'll sit a lot and goof off online or on your phone. It's a boring job a lot of the time. So boring I left it after 25 years to go really drive a truck and make a lot more money.