The New FFE Driver Academey

I'm under the impression that they pay somewhere in the neighborhood of 92cpm, and the fixed cost for a 2009/2010 Columbia was around $660/week. I don't know about the balloon. I wouldn't lease on here myself, but then I make more money than a good chunk of their L/O's. And, I'm extremely mistrustful of getting my freight from the same folks holding my truck note.

 

It's .98 to 1.48 + fsc. on all miles along with a $2500.00 sign on bonus. That is not to bad if they furnish the plates and pay tolls too. Having said that, if they do cut the miles as you as you are insinuating, could I buy the truck at that point and move on to greener pastures? If one of their L/P's would chime in here it would be nice.

 

Those mileage rates are more than I'd heard...the higher ones are perhaps for short haul LTL stuff, which FFE does a lot of. I believe they do handle plates and possibly tolls, but I'm not sure if lumpers are included. One of my coworkers had done a bunch of research into it, talking with our terminal manager and the L/P recruiters in Lancaster, but hasn't pulled the trigger on it yet.

I never did mention they cut the miles, as I have no idea about how their OTR side works..that's just my innate suspicious nature and applies equally to any company offering both a truck lease and the freight to pay that lease. I'm on a dedicated account, and don't have much in common with the rest of the FFE world aside from the letters on the truck and that bleepity-bleep-bleeping 62mph governor in the trucks

 

Company reimburses for lumpers, tolls, permits and tags. They reimburse for reefer fuel only if it's within 50 miles of pickup and if you purchase more than 12 gallons. I think the reefer fuel policy is effing nuts.

 

they have to do the reefer fuel like that or guys would be putting reefer fuel in the trucks think about it and we get 5 cents a loaded mile for reefer fuel --- what rooster is talking about is when you pick up a trailer with less than 3/4 tank and the truck load pay is .93 with the .05 reefer fuel then the fuel surcharge changes weekly last week was .45 so that makes 1.43 a mile

 

ltl runs pay 60 a stop and there is a higher mileage rates on short trips

 

well ffe doesnt hold your note ,what you are doing is taking over ffe 's lease from cromwell---- mine is for 25 months which is what was left on ffe's lease --- if you get a 2013 it would be for 3 yrs or a little more--- the only thing you can lease is a frieghtliner --- i have 147000 miles on my truck and the warranty is for 450,000 miles and 500000 on drive train so i should be covered untill the end of my lease --- unless i average over 3000 miles a week ( which may happen if i end up teaming or training and then my payments go up $175 a week also ) the way i run i think i am going to be just fine and far ahead financially but i average 2800 a week as a company driver if your down around 2200 average your better off in company truck --- well i will keep everyone posted but on the "a place for ffe drivers to keep in touch " post --- this is getting a little off track here as this is more for people interested in the academy

 

I think it is important to note that when the term is up, you do not own the truck. At that time you can purchase it for $50,000.00, and you have to find your own financing.

 

I don't understand this mentality. If you make more as a lease op then as a company driver than who cares? Sure you are making the payments for the company, and it's more to keep track of, but if my checks are higher why does it matter? If I wanted to own a truck I would head to the freightliner dealer, not a trucking company.

 

There are alot of drivers who do want to own their own truck. If you can buy your own, then that is great. I purchased one yesterday, and certainly did not go to a freightliner dealership. My point was, you do not own the truck when you are done. That does not mean the program is good or bad. It is just the program is called Drive to Own.