Running for FedEx Expedite

Well, barring not being qualified by FedEx, which I don't expect to happen, I should be driving team for a small fleet owner contracted on with FedEx. If all goes well, I should be on the road Thurs., the 18th.

The fleet owner actually has his trucks managed by a fleet management business, so after spending a bit of time on the phone with the owner, I talked quite a bit with the manager. They both were pretty straight up, especially the manager, painting both the good and bad. No rosy BS about pay, home time, etc..., because as the manager put it, it can be difficult to find a good team driver, and if one comes in with false expectations, they won't stay very long. Then, the truck runs solo again and the driver, the manager and the owner aren't making much in revenue. He said it's worth taking the time to cover as much as possible and be as honest as possible about the job, as there aren't huge applicants to choose from, like the large OTR companies. The manager stated that his goal is have the only unknown be whether to 2 people can get along as a team. That's something he can't control.

After he was satisfied with our conversation, he arranged for my future co-driver to call me. He called yesterday, and we spent about a hour on the phone. At the end, we were both satisfied that we had a really good shot at making it work, so, now just waiting on FedEx.

The deal is 10% of the gross goes to the owner and manager. The drivers each get 20% or the remaining 90%, so basicaly we each get 18% of the gross. All truck/load expenses are paid by the mgmt. company, so drivers only need cover their own living expenses. Average gross weekly driver pay ffrom last mid-Sept. till end of Jan. '10 (19 weeks) was $685. Could have been higher but truck was run solo for a total of 6 of those weeks. Stay out a min. of 3 weeks, then a whole week off.

Next to flatbedding, expediting was the driving I enjoyed best, when I did it. And it will be easier on this tired, old body.

 

Yes. He told me he started out driving for someone else, then bought a truck, then a few more. Got to the point he couldn't manage his trucks from on the road, so started working from home. Then he took on a sew other small fleet owners. I don't think he has any trucks of his own, any longer, by the way he talked.

 

I'll post about this, when I can. I don't have a air card for my laptop, so it will only be when I can find wifi access.

Also, I'm not sure if this is their Custom Critucal or not, forgot to ask.

 

Update, small set back. The Thursday thing was how the other driver understood it, but it's actually a week from Thursday. FedEx has run my MVR, and I think my DAC, and today I got a driver package that they overnighted to me. Have to get a DOT physical, drug test, fill out a bunch of paperwork, copy documents, then send it to the fleet manager, who has to fill out and sign some docs, then he sends it on to FedEx.

 

Yeah, CT, know about the down time. I did expediting back in '97, had my own truck. The waiting was the hardest part to get used to, after driving OTR.

Got my books, my computer, will get a air card for it in the near future, then can watch movies via Netflix. Team mate also said he'd like to learn how to play Cribbage.