A Place for FFE Drivers to Keep in Touch

Once your training is completed is it possible for you go straight into leasing?

 

Normally, you wait 6 months. But well worth it)

 

Wats the pay for the lease operators?

 

Its very good). It does vary on several things, but I average 55-60 a mile.

 

its a good idea to wait the 6 months anyways ---- learn the ropes so to speak was on home time for christmas in columbus ohio or snowhio today lol --- headed to tacoma 2300 miles so will only have 1 trip on this pay period add the 225 deadhead and i still had a decent week considering the home time --- looks like the weather will be decent once i hit the prarie this time of year that might turn into a bad trip but i jokingly asked for a trip to miami so tacoma is par for the course ---- the trips are averaging a lot longer since i got a lease truck and more drop and hooks fuel milelage is at 6.8 --- good but my goal is to be 7.0 ---- hope to go south from there and then go east lol but probley get a load of apples going to bismark lol

 

I am not new to the trucking scene, but I am new to OTR trucking. I have been working locally INTRA-STATE for 7 months now hauling cow hides from Amarillo area to Dallas rail yards in Intermodal containers. Unfortunately this doesnt pay squat, and it is becoming an O/OP scene. I turn 21 January 1st and am looking intently at FFE as one of my possible choices. Running with some of FFE's employees up and down 287 has been disheartening, as they are all VERY negative about the company, miles, pay, etc. Now that I have heard the negative (ALOT) I was hoping to hear the honest side of it. I dont mind running, a 4k mile week is typical for me (and yes I am in a 64 mph Pro Star), home time isnt really an issue either, the wifes got us covered on benefits, so really i am just looking for a good place to get some much needed OTR experience, as lots of local BETTER jobs wont accept my INTRA-STATE driving experience as "REAL DRIVING EXPERIENCE". So pretty much what I am asking is, 1. is FFE as bad as their road reputation, 2. can you get more than 3k/wk being a company driver, 3. Do you really not see home until you have been out 6-8 weeks??, 4. should I really expect to sit 4-5 days at a warehouse EVERY time I get dispatched? That's all I got now, if you could be of any assistance in answering this please do, as my current company is cutting out company trucks on the 3rd of January.

 

In 4 days last week they ran me 1700 miles before I left for home time. They want you to stay out for 3 weeks, not 6-8. My longest wait at a shipper has been 5 hours.

Keep in mind last week was my first week solo with FFE. My experience is limited with them, but that's how it has been for me so far.

 

Get yourself two bungie cords what you do is hook one end to your trailer door and then stretch.it out and away from the trailer door till its tight and then hook it to a cross member underneath your trailer this will prevent your doors from opening while backing .

 

i dont sit much at all nck---- overnight at a meat plant maybe but my longest wait at one was 29 hours and i got $150 for that ( company drivers get $75 after 24 hours ) you might get 4 or 5 layovers per year --- i have heard of guys sitting a couple of days but thats rare --- if i have to much time getting to a delivery where i can get it 25 hrs early i will and get a layover on that end too but they havent given me a load like that in months and if they do they have me drop it at a terminal --- they keep me running pretty good i average 2800 miles a week -- even this week with the home time i am still over 2500 --- 1 long trip lol --- when guys arent getting the miles they are useually at fault --- i useually go home once a month but if i get some drivebys i skip hometime ---i dont know who told you 3 weeks rooster but if your getting miles stick to it --- hometime depends a lot on where you live and amarillo is a good place to get home for meat haulers if you live in upstate ny ,pacific nw florida ect, you will be lucky to get home every 8 weeks --- i am happy here and i dont know of a better company to start out with than this

 

3 weeks is in the handbook, and they preached it to us in orientation. You don't have to take it if you don't want, but I miss my family too much to skip it.