A Place for FFE Drivers to Keep in Touch

Basically certain drivers were "hand selected" to go onto an LTL dedicated board. The reason I was sitting is because I can no longer touch TL freight. In the next few days we are supposed to have dedicated LTL routes with consistent miles and home time. Things are really screwy for us right now while they are working out the routes.

Please note when I say hand selected I'm using an exact quote from FFE and KLLM management and I am NOT trying to sound more important than I am.

 

It's nice to know that certain people get the good runs, while others spin the wheel of fortune after each delivery. I realize that some people have been with FFE for years, and they deserve it. I don't see myself with FFE much longer. One of the reasons I will leave this company, eventually, is that getting home is next to impossible. The solution to my problem is to find a company where getting home is a regular, easy run, instead of something special they only give certain people.

 

Where do you live? I have no problem getting home, but I live north of Houston, Texas. I guess by your logic; I am one of those "certain people" that get good runs. My average loaded run is 800 miles. My past few runs have been Friona, Texas to Woodburn, Oregon; Yakima, Washington to Dever, Co and my current run of Greeley, Colorado to Laredo, Texas. I don't wait for them to send me something after I make delivery; if I don't have something on my PeopleNet waiting for me to accept when I get within an hour of delivery; I stop the truck and either shoot them an email or make a phone call and usually before I get to my delivery, I have a Pre-Plan or Load Tender waiting for me to respond to. You can't depend on them to keep you running, you have to take some control yourself.

 

I live in Central Florida. Getting home is next to impossible.

I think we passed each other this morning on I-27 at MM 32. I was headed to Plainview to drop and Walmart, and now I'm deadheading 300+ miles to Dodge City to pick up a load to Omaha. I was not saying that you are one of the "certain people" that get good runs. We get the same type of runs, and probably close to the same miles. There are other drivers getting better loads. It happens with every company, so the way to avoid this causing a problem is to find a company where the regular loads that nobody wants are the ones that I do.

I hope you don't get stuck in Laredo. Two weeks ago I waited two days for a load. I gladly deadheaded to LaPorte to get moving again. You should find out if the strike is still going on so you know what to expect. Let me know what you find out.

I also don't wait to deliver before I ask for the next load. The problem is that the loads I get are usually something I really don't want. We only get so many hours each week. The way to maximize revenue is to drive 65+ for as many of those hours as we can. Driving routes that take us through lots of small towns where we have to slow down costs us money. Deadheading 400 miles for 900 loaded miles is also not maximizing revenue. Yes, I can refuse any load I want. But, drivers who constantly refuse loads end up pissing off the planners, and it eventually costs them good loads.

I seriously doubt the "grass is greener" with any other trucking company and that is the reason I stay. When I leave it will be to go to a company where I am guaranteed a certain region or route. Those companies do exist. The problem is finding the one that sucks the least.

 

Yep. I thought that was you. There were two bobtails at the Wal-mart store and one bobtail that I could see sitting at the DC all waiting for trailers. Hope you didn't have to wait to long. I have made that trip from Plainview to Dodge City a few times. I try to avoid going to Plainview because that Wal-mart DC has gotten bad about not off loading our trailers. Hopefully, that changes on Nov. 4 when TL becomes KLLM.

From what I have been told Florida has always been a problem with FFE. I honestly would wait and see if getting home becomes easier under KLLM. I won't let myself get stuck in Laredo. I will bobtail up to La Porte in a heartbeat rather than sit in Laredo.

I am willing to bet that after Omaha, you will be going to Cargill in Schuyler or Swift in Grand Island for your next load. Either one can yield you a good run as long you don't have to wait to long.

 

I already have a preplan for a load from Schuyler to Dallas. I included that when I accepted the load assignments. I would never take a load that was 330 deadhead miles for 400 loaded miles. I was lucky and I found an empty as soon as I got to Walmart. One of the reasons I took the load to Plainview was because of what you said about having so many empties that last time you were there. All of the empties were gone once I took mine. I got lucky.

I do plan to wait to see what happens after November 4th.

Does anyone still have the email that was sent on Friday by the president of KLLM? He answered a bunch of common questions, but I did not get all of the parts of the message. I got his first part, and then the next part started with question 9. Does anyone remember what 1-8 were?

 

Here are the questions you looking for. Not much to really do with Independents Contractors. I would like to hear more about that. All I know is that at some point we will have the option to convert over the KLLM terms.

1) Will my pay change?
A) All FFE drivers pay rates will be grandfathered in and NO driver will take a cut in pay.

2) Will my benefits change?
A) No immediately. My be able to improve benefits and reduce premiums.

3) Will my truck have KLLM on the door?
A) Yes. All truckload drivers will drive for KLLM.

4) Will the LTL Division remain FFE?
A) Yes. We will operate truckload and LTL separate. Truckload will be KLLM and LTL will be FFE.

5) Will KLLM force me to become a Lease Purchase driver?
A) No.

6) Do I get layover and detention pay?
A) Yes. We pay layover and detention for both company drivers and Independent Contractors.

7) Will I be treated the same at KLLM Facilities as KLLM drivers?
A) Absolutely. I have personally held meetings with every employee at KLLM to insure that you are made to feel very welcome at our facilities. We have even hired several ladies to greet you on the Fuel Islands at Jackson and Atlanta to welcome you and show you around.

8) Will my longevity be honored?
A) Yes. We will use your orginal hire date to measure your length of service.

 

Got off loaded (no trailer drop) here in Laredo. Got my next load already. Picking up in Brownsville, Tx to go to Lebanon, Tn for a total of 1344 miles empty and loaded.

 

Thanks for typing all of that out. I really appreciate it. I'm glad you did not get stuck in Laredo.

 

Even though I deliver tomorrow afternoon in Lebanon, Tn. I got my next load. Taking an LTL load from Olive Branch, MS to Wiinter Haven, FL.