Are you true owner operator? with FCC

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
Sounds like alot of those issues can be addressed by providing the drivers with the customers phone number.







Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
I would rather not talk to the customer directly, If there is something wrong or i say od misunderstand something, it could mean I lose money. I would rather have the burden on FedEx to straighten up the mess.
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
I agree if there is a problem. For general info I would rather talk to the customer. Many times loads can be picked up later or earlier. Also, there are times when things get lost in the transistion or miscommunicated. This eliminates that problem.
I prefer the option if its available.








Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator
 

raceman

Veteran Expediter
rfrogger,
I am doing fine without anyone else talking or doing for me. Always have. I understand your viewpoint and more power to you. I have made this far and will make it to the on my own. I have worked in large companies, small companies, family owned business and my businesses and simply never have found or had a reason to want a union in my life but understand you may.

Be safe out there


Raceman
OTR O/O
 

fastrod

Expert Expediter
A independent owner operator is leased on to a carrier. A independent owner operator with there own authority is a carrier. The difference is just how independent you want to be.
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
Dave, I see your point but I have had one problem where the idea that calling the customer would make it a big mess. It is far easier to let dispatch handle it and blame them for a screw up than to hear the customer telling you to leave and not return.
 

terryandrene

Veteran Expediter
Safety & Compliance
US Coast Guard
Those of us with FedEx Custom Critical always have the customer's number because our only customer is FedEx Custom Critical. We are hired as their agents to pickup and deliver to their customers. We agree to pu/del times when we accept the order and we often pickup early and deliver early but accept the fact that we are also often requested to observe the scheduled times.

We have found it helpful to communicate with their customers on numerous occasions and have always been accomodated with a conference call or been given the contacts phone number. All you gotta do is ask.
 

nightcreacher

Veteran Expediter
when you lease your truck to a company,you are not a company driver,but you become partners with the company.
if you dont like the way you are treated,then you have the right to leave
I've been with fed ex cc since 1984,i was gone in 1995 for contract disagrement,and gone from 2002 til 2005 for safety
I've had trucks at the other major expedited companies,I'm back with fed ex cause i make my most money here,I'm treated with respect,and I'm sure they dont like it when I'm the only one close to a load,and I turn it down,but I have never been overlooked cause I turned that load down,in fact many times a much better load has been offered
If you think the grass is greener,I advise you to feed your horse there,but do me a favor,don't be complaining about that company too.
nightcreacher
ooida263839
fedexcc since 1984
E6613
Steve Gilbert
 

jackdixon_2000

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
Thank you Targuard, A-team, Greg, and Terry, being a very slow typist you saved me a lot of time and effort. You're experiences mirror mine exactly. After over 7 years here I have never blown up or had dispatch blow up at me. Maybe a couple times had some slight irritation when I would not cover a load they said had to be covered.

As far as blacklisting for low acceptance rate. I know drivers that cherry pick and only run about 50% acceptance rate with no repercutions.

Availability, Fedex has no problem taking off 4 months a year. They would like to see 70% availability but its not required.

As Terry said, if you need to talk to the customer you can ask to be conferenced in or ask for the number. It is rare that that is necessary, though. We are not normally penalized for going in early at p/u or delivery to check on status of our shipment. You just have to inform dispatch if you are picking up or delivering significantly early.

Running out of route, the routes given on the QC are suggested only. You can go any way you like as long as you don't fall behind schedule.
If you don't like the running late message just don't plan a stop within the first couple hours of pickup. Usually by then you are 30 min ahead of schedule anyway.

I sometimes get irritated with the posts accusing fedex of micromanaging and babysiiting. If you know the system and work within it you won't be bothered very often. I sometimes go all week and never speak to dispatch. Accept the order on the QC then punch in the departure on the phone keypad and on our way.

As far as not being able to fuel untill loaded and loading you're comdata card. If you are running that close from hand to mouth something is wrong and I agree its time to look elsewhere. You are an independent bussiness and all busineses need to have working capitol and a credit line to succeed. Its just a matter of time till you get walloped with a big repair bill
 

RichM

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
If you do not run the recomended routing and you get delayed by construction or an accident you can be penalized if you arrive late. If problem come up and you are on the computer routing you will not be penalized. W/G dispatchers will ususally always conference call with a customer but express is another story.
 

TeamCaffee

Administrator
Staff member
Owner/Operator
We are going to have to agree with the positive posts on FCC. When we do need help from a customer FedEx has always set up a conference call. We also feel that we work with FedEx we do not want our own authority so we leave all the problems to FedEx. We do not feel micro managed and always feel as though we are treated as professionals. Jack is right we do not talk to dispatch very often we get a load offer decide to accept or refuse and then take the appropriate action. We also do not feel as if we are penalized for refusing any load. Sometimes FedEx will try to get you to accept a load but when you tell them no I cannot run for that amount they leave you alone. We have been with large companies in a big truck and if you want to feel like you are being baby sat and are just a truck number you should give them a try.
 

jackdixon_2000

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
Thats true that if you deviate from the recommended route and you are late you will be charged with a service failure. I have only had 3 in seven years and they were all mechanical. If it looks like you will be cutting it close for pickup or delivery, by all means stay on route.
As far as conferencing with a customer due to being lost I have never had a problem whether White Glove or express
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
I wouldn't read that much into these types of complaints. Basically because of the sheer size of the companies involved. You will always have complaints regardless. These get more (Fedex or Panther) just because they have well over a thousand trucks.
We have driven and worked for both and have leased trucks to several other carriers both medium and small. I would say they are pretty much the same. Of course there are some differences, but I believe they operate more in a simular fashion than places they don't.








Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator
 

Big Redd

Expert Expediter
Well since everyone else is sounding off I figured I may as well give my opinion. In the four years I have been with FXCC I have been treated with nothing but the highest levels of respect, and sometimes I wasn't even sure why. I have never been forced or even strongly pressured to do anything I didn't want to. I have always felt I had complete control over my truck and my operation and when FX does suggest something it is usually well thought out and has their and my best interest in mind.I have been with smaller carriers who"treat you like family" and when the family splits up you are forgotten two minuets after you go out the door, and you are only as important as the load they need to have covered. I did not come here to have my hand held I came here to make money and may be enjoy myself along thge way.Both have been happening for the last four years. Bottom line if you don't like it leave...
 

RANDYnRONDA

Seasoned Expediter
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BY THE "SUGGESTED ROUTING" IF YOU STRAY FROM IT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS INFORM THEM OF THE ROUTE YOU ARE TAKING AND ALL IS WELL. THEY WILL EVEN SEND YOU ROUTING THE WAY YOU WANT TO GO AS LONG AS YOU CAN STILL MAKE YOUR DEL.TIME. HOW DO THEY GO AROUND YOU? BECAUSE YOU HAD MORE DWELL TIME? YOU ARE TOLD THAT DWELL TIME IS ONE FACTOR OF MANY ON WHO GETS OFFERED A LOAD FIRST. THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN GO AROUND YOU IS TO GIVE YOUR FREIGHT SIZE (B-C-D) TO A BIGGER TRUCK BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MOVE THOSE BIGGER TRUCKS. AS FAR AS WHEN YOU LEAVE YOU ARE FORGOTTEN IN MINUTES, HAVE YOU EVER HAD A JOB WHERE AFTER YOU HAVE LEFT THEIR EMPLOYMENT THAT THEY CALL AND ASK HOW THINGS ARE GOING, DOING OKAY? NO YOU ARE GONE AND THEY COULD CARE LESS, THEY HAVE A JOB TO DO. AS FAR AS GETTING THIS BUISNESS INTO A UNION, THAT WOULD BE BABYSITTING. WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOUR BUISNESS DECISIONS MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT FOR MINE, I WOULDN'T WANT SOMEONE MAKING THAT DECISION FOR ME. JUST MY OPINION. FECC HAS BEEN DOING MY FAMILY GOOD FOR GOING ON 10 YEARS.
 

mrgoodtude

Not a Member
I had the pleasure of meeting Jammin Jim last week and over lunch he posed the question "what do you dislike most about Fecc" I couldn't think of a major complaint to share. Seems that my only aggravation has been in the lack of freight but that is an industry issue and not a Fecc issue. I have had a few run in's with a dispatcher but it wasn't personal nor will it be, we just roll with the punches and wait for a better day. I may jump out of expedite after this year (?) but it won't be because of The Fed.
I am not sucking up or pulling a shameless plug but we were able to pull off a $12k week recently, I don't think it can be done just anywhere.
Fecc is as any other company, learn the system, do your deal and earn the bucks.
PS. We aren't owner op's but we "are" treated as such.
Mike and Cyn
 

dhalltoyo

Veteran Expediter
I know this is going to come as a huge shock to most folks, but GOD has no use for unions! Their collective murmuring and complaining is clearly addressed in the Scriptures; therefore, it is not my opinion, it is "What saith the Lord."


Mat 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Mat 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Mat 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
Mat 20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Mat 20.7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
Mat 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20.9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
 

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
A $12,000 week....sweeeeeet!

While such weeks are not common, they are fun to hear about when they happen. Thanks for sharing.
 
Top