First Week with FedEx

I'm finishing my first full week with FedEx and I can't really complain. Even with sitting all last weekend, I got in 1,000 miles this week. I've done very little sitting and spent very little $$$. I was a little worried I might be sitting this weekend, but got a load last evening going from MI to PA for a Saturday a.m. delivery.

I'm hoping to get something again tomorrow to tide me over, but won't hold my breath for it.

The worst thing I've noticed is that I need to get headed west toward home to get rid of things I don't need, and pick up stuff that I do need. So far, I just keep getting farther east.

My boss is great, and I don't think I could have made a better choice.

 

I'm in a 2002 Ford cargo van. I go the same places the big trucks go, I just have to back to the ramps or bays and a forklift unloads me. I pay for my own fuel, but it is figured into the pay for the load. The van is cramped, no room to stand up straight, but I'm getting more used to it. Once I get a system figured out as to how I want it set up, it will be much better.

Most of my load offers come in between noon and 5:00 p.m. My longest load was from Lowell MI to Johnsonburg PA. I loaded at 9 p.m. in MI and delivered at 7:00 a.m. in PA.

They are working out very well for me. I'm enjoying the work a great deal.

I've only talked to 2 other drivers while I've been out. One was with Panther and he was very helpful. The other was with Prestige (I believe) and he was negative about everything.

I met another driver this weekend while at the shop, and he works for the same fleet owner as I do. He was such a HUGE help to me. He is a good friend of the fleet owner and he is going to be a "mentor" of sorts, to me. I got very lucky, IMHO.

The hubby's brother passed away and I was going to deadhead home from IN, but the friend who was there said if any loads came in that would head me closer to home, he would refuse so I could have it. The next morning, we both got a call and he came to tell me it was all my load. I consider myself blessed to have met such a great person and have him as a "mentor".

 

I got lucky on the way home. I was just getting to Davenport IA when dispatch called to see if I could pick up a load there going to Burlington IA. This worked out perfect for me as it was almost the exact route I was taking home.

I really hated having to refuse a 600 plus mile load yesterday, but they called just as we were leaving the funeral. It picked up in Lincoln NE in 3 hours and I wasn't at home or packed and ready to go. I wanted that load so bad. Now I'm sitting at home just waiting for another call so I can get back out.

 

I always stay in my van. I have a bunk in there that I sleep in. On rare occasions I get back to the fleet owners shop and he has rooms set up above his shop for the drivers. When there, I stay in a room.