FedEx Ground Linehaul with JohnBoy

Lonesome · Sep 14, 2024

JohnBoy said: ↑

Had the pleasure of running a Linehaul run from Olive Branch down to New Orleans yesterday. I got back to Humboldt Wednesday about 10pm and called it a night. Got up yesterday, grabbed a shower then called in to find out what I was doing. Was told they needed help in Olive and to bobtail there. Get to Olive in the pouring rain, get my assignment, hook a loaded 53’ and check the weather app. The storm was sitting over central MS and covered from there up to Northern Tn. I ran out of the rain south of Jackson MS. The farther south I drove down 55, the more standing water was on the ground as well as the power being out. I started to cross Lake Pontchartrain and noticed all the exits were closed off. The one truckstop I passed had trucks stranded with water up to their windshields. I got off my exit onto Airline Blvd and tiptoed to the Hub. For whatever reason, there was no flooding there but the power was out. I got to the hub in the pitch dark, dropped the trailer, couldn’t find anyone or a 53’ empty for my return trip and said screw it and went to bed. Woke up this morning, washed up in the truck, made a pot of coffee, gave the yard jockey a cup, then he brought me an empty and I hooked up and left. Coming back out at daylight and I could see first hand all the flooding. Once north of I-10, all the power was back on. Sitting in Olive Branch now. Hooking a set of doubles in the morning going back to Humboldt.

I noticed something today on my pay voucher. Since I started here on January 2nd, I have worked 2 holidays, Memorial Day and Labor Day. I noticed an extra $150 on my check. I called my contractor asking what that was for. He told me he pays holiday pay if you work on a holiday. So I went back and looked and sure enough, I got the bonus for those 2 days. Nice jester on his part and just one of those little things that puts a smile on my face.
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Almost hate to give it up.....

JohnBoy · Sep 14, 2024

Lonesome said: ↑

Almost hate to give it up.....
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Nope. Will gladly give it up.

Jerry Rigs · Sep 19, 2024

Wow, have I been away from this forum for a while! Do you remember me, John? Your other thread brought me to Abilene to start my driving career.

We left Abilene 3 or 4 years ago, went to a Fed Ex contractor, found a really good one actually. Lost our dedicated run due to lack of freight a couple of years back, that gig was sweet while it lasted. Had a nice volvo 860.

We were still getting guaranteed pay, but freight was real slow. Jumped ship about 1.5 years ago, now we work for a 40 truck company who leases his trucks to Forward Air. Freight is still slow, but we get a lot of CA runs. We are actually hauling Fed Ex ground freight to CA right now. Plus we don't pull any doubles.

Thing is, we get a lot of freedom here. We got to spec a new freightliner, got a nice drivers seat, air bag suspension up front too, driver lounge, no crash mitigation system, and governed at 81. We take a full week off every month, no forced dispatch. And we take time off in different parts of the country to do things and visit people. Forward Air is mostly husband/wife teams.

I am jealous, need to take my woman to Venice!

JohnBoy · Sep 19, 2024

Jerry Rigs said: ↑

Wow, have I been away from this forum for a while! Do you remember me, John? Your other thread brought me to Abilene to start my driving career.

We left Abilene 3 or 4 years ago, went to a Fed Ex contractor, found a really good one actually. Lost our dedicated run due to lack of freight a couple of years back, that gig was sweet while it lasted. Had a nice volvo 860.

We were still getting guaranteed pay, but freight was real slow. Jumped ship about 1.5 years ago, now we work for a 40 truck company who leases his trucks to Forward Air. Freight is still slow, but we get a lot of CA runs. We are actually hauling Fed Ex ground freight to CA right now. Plus we don't pull any doubles.

Thing is, we get a lot of freedom here. We got to spec a new freightliner, got a nice drivers seat, air bag suspension up front too, driver lounge, no crash mitigation system, and governed at 81. We take a full week off every month, no forced dispatch. And we take time off in different parts of the country to do things and visit people. Forward Air is mostly husband/wife teams.

I am jealous, need to take my woman to Venice!
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Of course I remember you Jerry. In fact, Chris and I were just talking about you last week. I left Abilene December 30th and have been with my contractor since January 2nd. It’s a great gig I have here, my contractor is top shelf. My wife and I are finally retiring in February. We are moving to Fairhope Alabama. We were up there last week house hunting. Abilene went to the dogs the last year I was there. The final straw that pushed me out the front door was when they withheld almost $1000 of bonus money from me in October and November. I knew about this job over last summer from 2 of Abilenes top teams that came here. My wife and I were leaving for Greece and Italy when I got the phone call to come onboard. I just wish this job showed up in my life a little earlier. No more chasing miles, I average 41 hours per week on a guaranteed salary. I’m glad you are hooked up with a good gig as well. Keep in touch my friend, say hi to the better half.

JohnBoy · Sep 19, 2024

Got a company wide text message today letting us know why our checks had an extra $80 in them. It was our driver appreciation gift. Last year I got squat from Abilene, probably because I was in the Greek Islands with my wife. The year before I was in Oregon so I missed that gift. The year before that I got an Abilene flashlight. Anything past that I don’t remember. The Olive Branch Hub had a driver cookout yesterday. That was a nice way to end my day before going back to Humboldt.

RebelChick · Sep 20, 2024

JohnBoy said: ↑

Got a company wide text message today letting us know why our checks had an extra $80 in them. It was our driver appreciation gift. Last year I got squat from Abilene, probably because I was in the Greek Islands with my wife. The year before I was in Oregon so I missed that gift. The year before that I got an Abilene flashlight. Anything past that I don’t remember. The Olive Branch Hub had a driver cookout yesterday. That was a nice way to end my day before going back to Humboldt.
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It’s nice to work for someone who actually cares about the drivers. I can’t speak for other terminals at my company, but my terminal has had something for us every day this week. Wednesday it was a cookout with a ton of food, most of it homemade. Burgers, dogs, chicken, pasta salads of all kinds, banana pudding, cupcakes, snacks, drinks. Kind of refreshing to actually be able to get to partake in a driver appreciation where the drivers actually get to enjoy.

BeHereNow97 · Sep 21, 2024

JohnBoy said: ↑

Got a company wide text message today letting us know why our checks had an extra $80 in them. It was our driver appreciation gift. Last year I got squat from Abilene, probably because I was in the Greek Islands with my wife. The year before I was in Oregon so I missed that gift. The year before that I got an Abilene flashlight. Anything past that I don’t remember. The Olive Branch Hub had a driver cookout yesterday. That was a nice way to end my day before going back to Humboldt.
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Nothing says "I appreciate you" like a $10 flashlight. Every employees dream come true. Can't believe you still left them after such a gracious token of their appreciation.

thetourman · Sep 21, 2024

BeHereNow97 said: ↑

Nothing says "I appreciate you" like a $10 flashlight. Every employees dream come true. Can't believe you still left them after such a gracious token of their appreciation.
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When I retired with 33 years as a first responder I got lotto tickets. No winning numbers.

JohnBoy · Sep 21, 2024

Ran the middle shift all week. Started at 3pm and was done and parked at the Humboldt hub at 10pm. Working an extra shift tonight. 6pm and done at midnight. Tomorrow is the killer. Start at 9pm, done at 5am, hop in my rental car to drive to Memphis, get on the plane at 11am land at 5pm and go home for 8 days.

Jerry Rigs · Sep 21, 2024

JohnBoy said: ↑

Ran the middle shift all week. Started at 3pm and was done and parked at the Humboldt hub at 10pm. Working an extra shift tonight. 6pm and done at midnight. Tomorrow is the killer. Start at 9pm, done at 5am, hop in my rental car to drive to Memphis, get on the plane at 11am land at 5pm and go home for 8 days.
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Is flying and renting cars a normal part of your job?

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