Fedex National Ltl Sucks

My uncle worked for both Watkins/ FedEx National. He retired from there a happy man. If i wasnt with a good outfit like i am, i woul work there in a heartbeat.

 

I have no problems here as an line haul driver,just like ant other company there are problems.But they do pay OT after 8hrs for P@D ,54.50 an mile $11.05 for drop and hooks,all delays paid at $22.05 an hr,they really dont push you hard here,if the roads are bad,call them you are delay,if my loads are not ready they pay you delay,if I have any safety problems with any trucks,dolloys,trls it gets fix,and if I have to wait,delay pay,My buddy hit an deer last Friday,he had to sit for 5hrs waiting for the tow guy,he got 5hrs and also was paid for his run.Talk to an FedEx driver before you say this company $ucks ,and by no way Iam an company man,I carry a teamster union card from my last company,but to me there fair here.

 

Why is this such a bad thing?

At top-rate in the city, you're grossing $882/wk.
That's a $46,000/yr job and you're home every night by 1700-1800.
Giving you 8 hours to enjoy a life outside of and away from the big truck...more if you sleep less than 8 hours.
All weekends off and all holidays paid 8 hours.
Pension, 401k, 3 weeks paid vacation, accrued personal time.
I'm paying $8.00\wk for health insurance with Cigna.

My last job at Roehl Transport...I grossed $47,000.
And that was living out on the road seeing home maybe 3 days every 3 weeks or so.
Working 14 hour days.

The worst LTL carrier is 10,000 X better than the best OTR outfit...

 

You are so right man. The worst LTL is better than the best OTR. I have been with an LTL company for over 6 years now and would not want to go back for anything. I think some people just don't understand until you work both and compare the two...In other words...there is NO comparison...

 

It's the best job I've ever had.

I make great money, stellar benefits, and work with a great bunch of people.

I don't stay on the road for weeks, I don't live in a box in a truckstop...I actually have a LIFE now.

I never run illegal, never run unsafe equipment, and the DOT waves me right through the scales.

I have no idea how anyone who's done OTR for any length of time can say this company sucks. Guess some folks would complain if they were hung with a new rope.

 

I work for an LTL carrier as well and could not imagine ever going back to the hell that was (is) long haul trucking. I make an exceptional living, I'm treated like a human being and I don't donate my time the way the average long haul driver does.
I'm always shocked at the number of people that are still willing to put up with it. You certainly can't count me among them in that I'd leave the industry all together rather than go back to that.

 

I also work for a ltl carrier as a city p/d driver,.........In my opinion this is the only way to be a driver for a living,.....

 

Hey their Everyone,

I worked for Watkins for 6 years, and they were by far the best Company I ever drove for by miles! When Fed Ex took over, the overall vibe went down a bit I think mostly due to Fed Ex being a much larger company overall which felt like you became more of a number rather than a Driver, as where Watkins was extremely Driver oriented, and went way above and beyond to make their Drivers feel important, and as comfortable as possible! That, and the first year after acquisition everything was being jostled around to the point where things were a bit in disarray which made it difficult to get back out after home time which lead to less miles initially, but overall, Fed Ex National is not that bad as LTL Companies go, and way, way better than Driving for an OTR Company without a doubt!

I personally had to transfer to another LTL Company due to not being able to weather the lower miles due to the acquisition, but to give you a little better idea of how much different it is from an OTR prospective:

At my Home Terminal which I worked out of for my 6 years with the Company which was also known as a Hub Terminal which is one of the larger Terminals withing the Company, we:

1. Did all drop and hook at huge, nicely laid out Terminals.

2. Almost never hooked a set of trailers together,but rather simply picked up our paperwork from one dispatcher in the office.

3. They would give us the route along with our bills so their was pretty much no planning involved.

4. Their was no qualcom, and pretty much no need for communication with anyone unless needed which was rare, and times were given at 48 MPH estimates so very little need to push.

5. They fueled the Truck and did a full safety inspection at every Hub Terminal we went to, and since the equipment was always inspected by the Company, I pretty much got waved through all Scales all the time.

6. All of the Hub Terminals also had their own scales on site, though most loads were approx 25,000 to 34,000 and under.

7. If we got to a Terminal and their was no freight, we went to a decent motel, and received $17.00 per hour while waiting. If the weather was poor, we stopped and went to a motel.

8. We used to slip seat the trucks which basically means when you get home, you move out of the truck, and when you return, you move into another one so they can utilize the equipment better which really was not as big of an issue as most would think. Most Terminals had their own automated drive through wash systems and the equipment was washed all the time, and then they had a cleaning service come out and clean the interior of every truck once a week, and all equipment was extreamly well maintained both in and out, and every driver who was coming into any Terminal had to do a written write up on anything that was broken, or not right on all trucks so it could be fixed asap. If it was not written up, and fixed, they would go after the last Driver for not addressing any issues! At the point I left, they were just making the transition over to fazing out slip seating, and going to assigned trucks, but either way was never a problem. In fact, having driven trucks for a long time, the trucks Fed Ex National LTL uses are all Volvo 660's,are all run by Teams so they rack some miles, and I have driven trucks which had as much as 1,400,000 miles plus, and still drove like it had closer to 300,000 with most any other company I have pulled for, and if on an off chance you found a truck with a problem, you simply were routed to a Terminal, and if it was not an immediate quick fix at any of their 24 hour Shops, you just moved out of that truck, and into another one ready to go.

9. You were out 7 days, and then two days off. Usual runs for me were to leave home out here on the west coast, make a run back east to Harrisberg PA, or Hartford CT, etc, may sit for a day or so in a motel to rest, get cleaned up, make one or two short runs, and head back home.

10. You have all passes including Pre-Pass, Pike Pass, and so on except the Oregon Pass. If you do have to use a scale, or have any tolls, you simply hand the receipts in at the nest Terminal and are reimbursed cash.

So, all in all, they do your route for you, fuel the truck, and make sure it is always safe, and clean for you, the miles were always steady, and at the time I left, they were setting up all dedicated runs where you would be running strictly to one or two terminals and home, and that was it which made life even more simple. They took all of the thinking out for you, treated you with respect as a Driver, would bend over backwards for you if you ever needed anything, and paid you a premium to do your job.

The only downside is that you do have to have a decent DAC Report, and it is all Teams, so you will share the truck with an assigned Team Member, (though they did extensive phyc evaluations to pair you up with a compatible Driver, and everyone I ever drove with was very friendly, clean, professional, and had been with the Company for a long time) though if you ever did have an issue, they would switch you upon request without question.


Anyways, sorry for the long post, but if anyone ever wanted to consider trying LTL verses running OTR, weather it be Fed Ex National LTL, or many other LTL Companies out their, the difference really is night and day.

Go easy, keep the clean side up, and the dirty side down, and I'll catch yall later on down the road.

Candyman

 

As driver I have to say pay is good at fedex and benefits. What is hard is thirty minutes only to get out gate with doubles. Everyone who pulls double knows that some days this is plenty of time but others it can be hard to get together. FedEx is a timed company miss gate by a minute they are writing you up. They like writing you up over everything even if not you job. Seat belts on while backing new law. It is silly but it is the rules. Also office is always right underlying rule. It's a challenge to get a boss who really wants to listen in fedex most talk and you forced to follow their rules. Also it's ok for terminal to have load later to you but not ok for you to be late by even a minute. Smaller terminals are better then larger ones but smaller harder to get a day off unless middle of week. So fedex doesn't suck talk about why it sucks to each driver because it is the eyes of the person. I like fedex as whole but not office politics. Like doing my job but as entry level you must work dock and I hate dock work. But have to to clear $600.

 

You are very correct.
I agree 100%... But lets dig deeper here.

Why has NOTHING been done to EVEN out the playing field?

Why are Irregular route carrier drivers Treated like Dogs? Work For Free(Fueling the truck,waiting to load/unload etc)

Why in the Lords Name hasn't every single truck driver on the street be recognized with representation by now?

It doesnt have to be a 'union'..But some form of representation so they can make a living without harassment and daily problems.....

Im an owner-operator(With my own authority)...Its Very Hard work and super long hours....yes,I make 6 figures net per year....But its a lot of work.

I Truly believe that all drivers ..No Matter what Facet of driving you do,,,Be Compensated Correctly, including Benefits and welfare...........

It would cut down on accidents......drivers in general would be more poisitive......Happy and in better spirits.. Its the Right thing to do in my eyes