FFE bought by KLLM

not always cw

the dot doesn't work that fast, and most states don't post new violations right away either !

 

Doesn't surprise me, I notified the proper departments with emails including pictures. I was asked to pick up a load of meat on a drop yard, the bills said approx 29 but the reefer was off and when I turned it on it said 70 degress, FFE told me to wait til the proper temp was reached and deliver the load. I did the right thing and told the receiver about what happened, another claim that could have been avoided but FFE refused to hold anyone responsible.

I think they were afraid to fire me, I have too many emails with pictures that could of sent them to bankruptcy before KLLM bought them up

 

More likely they just plain didn't care.
I did plenty of things at FFE that I was told would earn me an immediate termination in orientation and training.
The longer you stay, the more time you have to realize that truly, no one gave half a rats ### in the ending times.

You know who I really feel for? The few guys left from the 60`s when FFE was still good, and not quite wanting to retire. Those guys are the real victims here, rather than the huge majority of FFE's tl fleet, whom weren't quite seat warmers, but pretty freagin close.

 

totally agree, I'm moving on and writing this off as life experience, When I hired on they actually had a sign on bonus, I never complained about the pay just their internal operations that affected food safety. Click on the link below and watch the FFE food safety video and compare that to the reefers being turned off at the drop yards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li2s98u2XMU

 

I've been with FFE for two years and I must say it's been a very pleasant and enjoyable experience, furthermore I've never witnessed any reefer being turned off at anytime anywhere.

I think it's a decent place with decent people doing their jobs trying to feed their families, ain't that what were all trying to do...they happen to be a very large company and didn't get that way by screwing customers, I'm not privy to why KLLM bought them...FFE is larger by revenue, but the guys who operate KLLM are smart guys and now they have a company that is the 20th largest by revenue, that is by any measurement an achievement.

 

Hey Omar, I'm glad you've had a good experience with FFE.
Likely my bad experience was caused by my somewhat cynical and pessimist attitude.

Do I get annoyed with little things? Yeah. In my mind, when lots of little things become a problem, it becomes a large problem. Am I likely to complain about them? Yeah. Why? Because I'd have nothing else to say, lol!

Aside from that, the truth is; I had some real grievances with FFE. I'm not going to get into detail with all that now, because we'd be here till Wednesday swaping stories.
One thing I will say, is that FFE had some really bad business practices.
Last winter, again, I knew firsthand that FFE was shutting its reefers down in Bridgeview, IL because the temps were low enough to hold the food in the safe range. I know this, again, because I actually pulled BOL's on loaded trailers. When I reported it, my DM whom I liked very much let me know that was pretty standard for the Chicago yard and its operations.
While that sort of behavior could be considered an isolated incident, bear in mind that I found the same thing going on in the Burlington yard, SLC AND Denver. It was just most common with Bridgeview.

At the end of the day, the operational managers with the individual terminals are to blame; but the fish stinks from the head up.

 

Cabwrecker, Do you really think that FFE is the only refrigerated carrier out there doing these kind of things, business is very competitive...

 

A few of the megacarriers? It's a possibility, the medium sized guys can't afford the risk associated with a trashed load running around with a temp recorder. The small guys are at an even bigger risk when it comes to loosing that load.
But hey, do whatever you want- I'm out of reefer yanking these days. And good riddance if you ask me, reefer ain't nothing but a pain in the neck, extra work, extra tight docks and PITA delivery expectations. I'll stick to sanitation and skate boarding! lol.

 

Any company or individual trying to cut costs by jeopardizing the safety of our food should be put out of business.
the reefer units have start/stop and continuous operations, by turning it off the reefer can't do its job.

If we have to have electronic logs controlling our every movement I'm in in favor or every temperature load to have a temperature recorder in the trailer.

 

I used to be a driver trainer for FFE, back in 08-10, have to say they were good to me, but I was on a dedicated. Never had to deal with most of the office or dispatch. Was teh best paying position Ive had in my trucking career. But I was done with being a trainer and left.