FFE Your thoughts!!!

I work for FFE, I have also worked for CR England and I was an O/O with North American Van Lines. FFE, as far as I can see is like most of the other, large, school driven companies. They do get you trained and help you in obtaining a CDL at no obvious financial cost to you assuming you stay one year. It, like any other CDL producing company, has a decent program and you do not have to go too long with no income, only about 18 days. Unfortunately, many large companies (FFE included) have terminals all over the country and they hire local drivers to haul it after another local driver puts the freight on a train. This of course eliminates the miles for the truck load or OTR driver.
You also will be assigned a truck and that truck number becomes your identity.
In my opinion, FFE is too large for their own good. They do not have sufficient support for the number of drivers. Too often IO have found my request or questions go unanswered because my DM hasn't time. It is a good way to get started for sure. But, after a year you are worth more than they will pay.
I had to go through the entire CDL process again since I have not driven since 2004 and gave up my CDL a few years ago. FFE would not consider or credit me for my past experience. I am starting next week with a company that is much smaller (58 trucks), closer to home, and will give me credit for my experience starting me $.07/mile higher.

 

well i am headed that way on saturday. so i will try to let you know what is up. i have been reading other's posts on here and it is a mixed bag. hope i made the right choice!

 

I am sure it will work out fine for you, being new to driving a truck. I have a number of friends who went through the academy and currently are doing just fine.

 

I am currently one week into FFE's cdl academy. It is fast paced and you will arrive on sunday at the hotel and the front desk will hand you some papers and a cdl book. Then they will tell you that you have some homework to do. This homework will take you several hours to do and is due first thing in the morning. The biggest thing here is to follow instructions.

 

lol that is what everyone keeps saying.... i already have my tests done, i downloaded it from my recruiter and printed it out. so my homework is done. thank god she sent that to me...and i am at the hotel now. so tomorrow for me is free day, then it will be monday and my time will start, everyone says it is fastpaced and to just follow directions. so that is what i am gonna concentrate on. thanks and good luck to you!

 

theres also a thread started by playmaker on the ffe academy.

 

getting ready to take my permit tests tomorrow. so far so good. really been enjoying it here. everyone is helpful and friendly here. got my medical card today and can't wait to get that permit! lol watch out world here i come!