The New FFE Driver Academey

Playmaker,

If you're Happy there, that's all that matters !!!!!!

Enjoy.............

 

USE A CLUTCH??!! WHICH ONE IS THAT??!!

 

I am also a former trucker that let my license go, and as you stated "big mistake" because it's a pain gettin' it back, and it's even harder to get a job with anyone. Although I have almost 10 years of experience I was idle for the last 7. No one will touch me. All of them say it's insurance related. Get your CDL and get some road time, then try again...but, the catch is,"how do you pass a cdl skills test when no one will hire you" not all of us have a semi in the garage, we have to have access to a truck at least.
Anyway, I'm supposed to be at the FFE Academy on May 16th. I'm actually looking forward to it. And I have worked for FFE before, years ago and had no complaints then(except I hated the NJ hub). So if everything pans out and I still know how to shift and back up, I should be good. I will take your advice Playmaker and act like a newbie, then show my "skills" to the trainer Ha! ha! Maybe we'll run into each other. My handle used to be Cooter Brown, do they still use cb's? :smt075

 

yeah still use CBs. But for most, it is not like it was in the "old" days. for most drivers now it is just to say howdy, and a few docks still call you by radio.

 

Well, I guess it is time to update. I have had my class A for years, but very little class A experience. No recent experience. I knew that I was going to have to go to school, as a matter of fact that was the way I would have wanted it. I sent out a handful of apps and got some pretty silly responses. One company wanted me to surrender my CDL, get a regular drivers license, then they would "consider" letting me come to their school where I would pay for a permit, then pay for a CDL in their state, then pay to get a CDL at home. Hmmmmm..............NO!

FFE offered that I could come to their school. School is free as long as I stay a minimum of one year. They do not take any tuition payments out of my checks.

Since I already had my CDL I would get to show up a few days later than my classmates who did not have a license, (this will prove to be a good thing). If you do not have your license before you arrive I would suggest you go ahead and get the state manual, or work on line, and study in advance. Why wait and cram once you arrive?

The application process was so painless that I was actually worried. I kept thinking, "this can't be right something has to go wrong". I kept in touch with my recruiter, (there was only one time that I called and got her voicemail) who would actually answer her phone.

I got to the Greyhound station that night and my reservation was made. The nice man behind the counter overlooked the fact that my checked bag was overweight, (I did not know there was a fifty pound limit). Off we went. When I got off the bus for the first stop in the daylight I was a tad concerned. That bus looked like it had hit more things than it missed. Apparently the garage at Greyhound has given duct tape a part number. Had it not been for that duct tape I don't think we could have made it. ****Note to self there is nothing to do at a bus terminal in Amarillo Texas during a layover in the middle of the night, except listen to the Jehovah's Witness that apparently comes in daily to save the travelers, and wonder if that plastic that is taped up everywhere is really protecting us from the asbestos that the signs say they are removing.***** 16 hours on the dog......not fun....but honestly not a bad as I expected, (Better than a man I met the other day poor fellow got on a bus, rode less than three hours, got off the same bus, three days later they still have not found his bag).

I am met at the bus terminal by a rep from FFE. We wait for two other guys who are arriving on a slightly later bus, and off we go to the school. At FFE's school the students stay in a dorm. The school will make one or two Wally World runs a week. Student's are responsible for their own food. Microwaves and refrigerators are provided. Upon arrival at the school we learned that there was only one space left in the dorm. Two of us would be sent to a hotel a few blocks away. A very nice hotel, with included breakfast, (remember I said it was good to arrive late!!).

The school was well run. The instructors are all experienced drivers. They are very patient. There were times that I wanted to swat a couple fellow students in the head. Luckily the staff was a little more tolerant. They say that they want to help everyone succeed, and really seem to mean it. There were a few students that just couldn't get through, but all were given more than ample opportunity. When I say they were patient I mean with people who were having trouble. They do run things professionally, and don't put up with a bunch of BS. Although there was classroom time, there was also "homework" each night and we sent a significant amount of time on the back range, and later on the road driving. Weekends? What are weekends? You run 7 days a week. I think they have probably requisitioned an 8th day for each week, it just hasn't come in yet.

While we are talking about the range I should mention that the school is in Fort Worth, that is in Texas (which is pronounced H-O-T, until it gets D-A-M-N H-O-T). If you are going to go to Texas, and spend your day on the backing range, take sunscreen, and a hat. You may even come to understand why they wear "cowboy" hats. Oh, and don't forget it is probably going to rain. You will not melt, and backing evolutions will not be called on account of rain or heat.

I am now in orientation. That finishes tomorrow, and I will be assigned to a trainer's truck. I know that there are some haters out there, but so far I have been pleased with FFE, and my decision to be here. I know I will not have much free time once I meet my trainer, but I will try to keep posting. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask on here or shoot me a PM.

 

im from dfw, your right about the hot part! good luck with ffe, they werent for me, thats why there are 1,000s of companies

 

sydsdriver, can you ask what there turn over rate is, i now there a few that been there along time, but the one owner-op runs north to denver red kenworth,if he still there, he's on there web page,and the other runs towards ga. no north east, they've been there 10 to 20 years and living there doe's help, there stock is now 3.78 per share a few months ago it was between 4 and 5 dollars per share, there ether losing money or doing something wrong, i don't now, also i now your probably no where near there terminal but could you also find out how many owner-op's they may have there, not including the lease, owners that came in with there own trucks, i looking to get back in but i would like a company thats owner-operator friendly, and yes another question holley cow, do they have accounts with those lumbers or do you have to get a comcheck or p.o number from night dispatch, (reason) while you wait for the p.o number from dispatch those lumbers are unloading the other trucks which sucks, with accounts as soon as you pull into a dock the lumbers start unloading wright away, try in pick there brains for info, trying to find the wright company to stay with at leased for 10 years, and staying for weeks weeks is to long, got grass to cut and the mail box needs empty

 

there web site doe's not show the rate per mile a driver gets, what is driver pay there, but it looks like there mostly team outfit, i wonder how there solo's are doing if they live in pa. thanks

 

http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/Data/carrier.aspx?enc=Cos3MX7gtwsC1qPWqzWmXmqh2SMuLPQpHk2TQSC5ano=