My FFE experience

Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by wpmclam, Feb 12, 2010.

  1. Suncoast

    Suncoast Light Load Member

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    I will be doing orientation in Atlanta; home terminal will be Winter Haven FL. I live in Tampa, any thoughts or advice?
     
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  3. lonewolf4ad

    lonewolf4ad Road Train Member

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    With 24 years of experience, and a good DAC why would you go with a company like FFE? With that kind of experience it seems like you could be working for a good smaller company.
     
  4. Trashtrucker1265

    Trashtrucker1265 Road Train Member

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    You should try Twiss out of Tampa, or Tuff Transport out of Winter Haven, like lonewolf said with your years of experience seems like you could have searched out a better outfit than FFE, either way hope it works out for you, but if you do some research you'll find some good companies out of the Tampa/Brandon area that do west coast turnarounds and offer good pay.
     
  5. BigDanny

    BigDanny Bobtail Member

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    I agree, I'm actually happy at FFE, but I'm also a rookie driver, I just got my CDL in March, and I can understand why more experienced drivers would avoid this place, seems like a place to build experience, nothing more
     
  6. Suncoast

    Suncoast Light Load Member

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    I have tried a few good companies and have been with a few bad ones along the way as well. Some hard to deal with some not. The only one I was not successful with was CRST, made no money there and perhaps that was because I tried the fleece deal and pretty much got rolled! Well at least I walked away with first hand experience in that area. On driver lease always RUN, RUN FAST from that crap. Anyways I have interviewed with a few good ones around Florida, among the smaller ones I had some say (you have a good application, I have 100 more right here that are as good as you, I can't hire everyone but we will call you soon. Anyways working with a company is what you make it that's why even at a bad company you find people that are upset and people that are very happy. I have always been able to do well mostly because I have learned to deal smartly with issues, don't fight the small stuff, work the dispatch in a way that they don't work you and throw in some reverse sociology when needed so they feel they are in charge when in reality if your making money on the deal/trip then you're the one that's in charge. Also realize this is trucking, you will at times get screwed, just part of the game. The trick is to manage a way to get paid for the screwing and just drive the #### truck I have learned to get lemonade from most situations by turning crap into money and biting a bullet every now and then. I have made it work at the worst of places I can make it work at FFE. It's all about attitude, know how and smart thinking. The truth is of the larger companies; FFE is not as bad as many of them! Ultimately your only focus is to get the company to make the wheels turn for you, make them pay you correctly and on time. That's not an easy task but if you can work that most of the time then the rest will work into place some kinda way and if not, as long as the wheels are turning its truckin!
     
  7. Suncoast

    Suncoast Light Load Member

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    Nov 18, 2008
    Tampa, FL
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    I also think what helps me in trucking is no family at home just me, I rent a nice one bed room condo, car is paid for, no bills other than utilities and they will be minimal when I'm not at home. Just get one of my girls to come in once a week and dust the place, flush the toilet and I'm good.
     
  8. mgt1085

    mgt1085 Medium Load Member

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    i thought ffe stopped hiring out of fl
     
  9. Suncoast

    Suncoast Light Load Member

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    Jessica Wood told me that it's on a case-by-case basis. They look at how close the driver lives to the terminal then the drivers experience and driving record and make a decision from that info. In most cases they are not though.
     
  10. mgt1085

    mgt1085 Medium Load Member

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    yeah i was wondering i started with them when they were and i think before i left they had just stopped i figured it was only a matter of time cause half the time it was hard to get me home and the other half it was hard to get me out
     
  11. Suncoast

    Suncoast Light Load Member

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    Tampa, FL
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    Thats what worries me a bit, I will need to try and get home while under a load that way I'm not stuck at the house for a week. Dont get me wrong if I gotta be stuck anywhere, home is the place to be but I need to keep money flowing also.
     
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