P&D City Driver - Hours

I'm a city driver for Fedex Freight and we usually work 10 to 12 hours each day. 8 hours regular and anything after that is overtime. We are off on weekends, however we have a sign up sheet for road runs on Sunday. Most major holidays we are closed and we get paid for them.

As a new driver at FxF or at least my hub be prepared to work on the dock a lot.

 

Some of our guys work 9-10, others are always working 13-14. Start times vary. Some are out by 6 am, some 7, some don’t leave the terminal til 9:30.

M-F, some Saturday work is available if you volunteer. Rarely forced unless there are no volunteers and you called off during the week

 

It will depend on the company. I have a few buddies who work at different LTLs. One that works at Southwest rarely works more than 9 hours a day, one at OD works around 55-60 and one at R&L works 50-55. I would also venture to guess that the time of year plays a roll a well in regards to freight volume, with certain times of the year being heavier than others.

 

Every driver at my company that averages more than 60 hrs per week does so by choice... I average 10/day, paid for everything, with time to spend with family and dogs everyday. Local is not (usually) the long slog that some otr promoters try to make it out to be.

 

OTR would be more enjoyable for you and the dog. I've done both, and if your dog is small enough to fit comfortably in the truck with you, it would sure be happier with you every day than sitting home alone most of the time. LTL can take 12-14 hours a day and by the time you get home you don't feel much like socializing with the dog. All you want to do is sleep.

 

If you're looking to be a P&D driver...I would look at companies that pay OT after 8 or 40....like FXF, UPSF, ABF, Dayton, Pitt Ohio, etc. All the rest don't pay til after 45-60...like Saia, ODFL, R+L, Estes, etc. Linehaul is pretty much the same for all of them...a few cents difference here and there...but pretty much the same...execpt for R+L, where they pay by the load.

 

This is an eye opener for me. I need about 55-60 hours to support my family. I thought this was only possibile doing linehaul which I do now (not LTL). Hours suck with a toddler and an infant at the end of the year or a dog for that matter. I suppose it depends on the terminal.

 

UPSF has that...and even more...like 60-70 hours per week...as a Combo Driver. They need City Drivers BAD...and putting in that many hours puts you over $100k, with free healthcare.

Starting pay sucks...but they just had a tentative agreement on they're new contract, so starting pay should be a lot higher. Nothing has been leaked yet...or IF they're even gonna approve on the contract. Negotiations have been extended INDEFINITELY...and it can always be voted down...but it MAY be a LONG contract negotiations.