The New FFE Driver Academey

Today, my FFE recruiter contacted me telling me I had cleared my background check, and I have been extended an invitation to join the Aug 26 training class, which I am accepting.

The training program appears to be just fine based upon my research. FFE, like all the other big companies that hire inexperienced drivers, will have its good and bad points. I don't expect a cakewalk. I know that drivers in their first year face daunting challenges, frustrations, and other issues. I am positive that the best way to handle them is to be patient and accept the fact that you are learning the ropes of the industry, and that you must prove yourself and that you have what it takes to be safe and dependable. The onus is on the new driver. I may be a newbie to the industry, but I am not naive. I have spoken face to face with a good number of drivers about their experiences, many being long timers. Having a positive attitude is important, but HOW one deals with their dispatch and planners and in developing those relationships when there are complications is no doubt in my mind the key. Those facts are not from me, but from drivers that have found success that I have talked with, and are happy overall with their jobs. There is a lot of negativity on this forum from some drivers from every mega carrier. However, there are literally thousands of drivers for these mega carriers, and no one is going to convince me that all of them are unhappy with their respective companies. I am not going to base my outlook from the negative accounts of some on this forum, but upon my own experiences with FFE, and I am willing to wager they won't be as bad as some make it out to be. I am concerned about some of these new drivers going into the Academy listening to all the negativity because I believe it is setting them up for failure before they even begin.

With that said, I am happy to be joining the FFE community, and hope that I am able to get through the training program and orientation process. As for the time that will be spent on the road with a trainer/mentor, it may not be a walk in the park, but if I can hack 12 weeks in military boot camp, living in the same room with a hundred others 24/7, with half of them constantly complaining about how rough they have it, all the while being hounded by a drill instructor, I will make it just fine.

 

After reading through this entire thread over the past month, I basically came to the same conclusion you did. Its nice to see a positive attitude on here every once in a while. Maybe we will run into each other at the academy. I am leaving lubbock for ffe sunday at 1:40.

 

Thanks, Ibkcam. It looks like we will be overlapping so I hope we are able to meet as well. Just look for the really tall big guy, as I am 6'6". Thats how I got my nick, lol. Good luck to you.

 

Hey thanks. Ill try to keep you updated on how things go next week. Ill be wearing a texas tech hat so ill be easy to spot also lol

 

Just a heads up..someone needs to wear an OU hat or shirt. The head guy of the Academy (Greg Peace) loves OU.

 

Oh, c##p. I'm a Longhorn fan. I'm done for

I better go incognito. You might not be safe either Ibkcam, considering the way TT has whupped OU a time or two the last few years, lol.

 

Ibkcam, I would love to hear how your first week goes before I get there. I understand they give the physical on the first day, and would really like to hear how that is conducted. I just passed my DOT physical and last week and received a two year card, and now I got to do it again with FFE. It was nerve wracking, but I reckon if I passed it the first time, I can do so again.

 

Drink plenty of water the day before and morning of will help a lot.

 

will keep that in mind lately in texas been crazy hot i know in my area down in the valley everyday been at least 106 with heat index

 

OMG I can't stop laughing.