Changes at FedEx Custom Critical

[paullud]

If Fedex took my average rate for ALL miles, and only dinged me for turn-downs at or above that rate, all would be good.
I know what I need to run for. I shouldn't be penalized because I can't run at surface rates.

A full explanation of the selection system should be offered.

It's like playing a game without knowing the rules.

Except when you go out on the limb for whatever level truck you can afford, it isn't a game.

Just to make it a little simpler they should at a minimum not be able to penalize you for declining a load below their advertised recruiting rate. If you FedEx guys all get the load offer at the same time could you just not respond for awhile until the load was gone then just respond yes to avoid the turn down?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using EO Forums mobile app

 

[bubblehead]

Just to make it a little simpler they should at a minimum not be able to penalize you for declining a load below their advertised recruiting rate. If you FedEx guys all get the load offer at the same time could you just not respond for awhile until the load was gone then just respond yes to avoid the turn down?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using EO Forums mobile app

If you miss the time limit or simply don't respond it counts as a refusal.

 

[davekc]

Didn't they just cut your DH as well? I seen this but couldn't say if it is accurate?

http://www.expeditersonline.com/forum/fedex-custom-critical/59177-new-exctr-rules-f-s-c.html

 

[zorry]

If you miss the time limit or simply don't respond it counts as a refusal.

Which was your desired result, anyway.

 

[zorry]

Wait,if at 8 minutes,someone in front of you takes it, they withdraw the offer.
At that point I do not think it is a refusal.

 

[zorry]

Yeah Dave, they are making it tougher.
It's those Fleet Owners that want to run cheap.
Wish you where here. We need fleet owners with higher standards.

 

[Deville]

Didn't they just cut your DH as well? I seen this but couldn't say if it is accurate?

http://www.expeditersonline.com/forum/fedex-custom-critical/59177-new-exctr-rules-f-s-c.html

Yes they did.

 

[bubblehead]

Wait,if at 8 minutes,someone in front of you takes it, they withdraw the offer.
At that point I do not think it is a refusal.

Don't think so, I remember a some time back the term "all inclusive" was used in calculating %. Meaning if you recv'd the offer and you didn't respond, it is a refusal. Simply, if you don't say yes during the time limit, you are dinged.

 

[psm127_dad]

Yeah Dave, they are making it tougher.
It's those Fleet Owners that want to run cheap.
Wish you where here. We need fleet owners with higher standards.

Speaking as a (rather small) fleet owner, why would I ever want cheaper freight when I have to split the load pay, give up the fuel surcharge & toll money, then maintain the truck, make payments for the truck, pay qualcomm, pay datalogger, pay insurance, have $$ set aside for repairs, have $$ set aside for future replacement... then hopefully, still have enough to pay my salary?

I support EVERY one of our drivers because they understand how the $$ is split & demand enough so we & they can run profitable... at least we hope to run profitable.

 

[davekc]

Yeah Dave, they are making it tougher.
It's those Fleet Owners that want to run cheap.
Wish you where here. We need fleet owners with higher standards.

I was there many years ago.
But that aside, some fleet owners have standards and some don't. I am amazed at some of the junk I see in truck stops or going down the road.
If someone is in this for the long haul, it just isn't profitable to operate at subpar rates with subpar equipment. Some carriers get it, but sadly, many just don't care.

 

[ATeam]

We do not plan on changing anything about the way we determine if we accept a load due to this change. It is either a profitable run or it is not. We hope our 100% on time pick up and delivery, 0 CSA score, driver and truck qualifications and our professionalism will be enough to keep our truck rolling with good paying freight.

When two or more trucks are eligible for a load, is there anything in the FCC truck selection criteria that gives points for 0 CSA score, driver and truck qualifications and your professionalism?

Example: You and one other truck are parked at the same truck stop and a good load offer comes in that both trucks can handle. The other truck is driven by a team that has 30 CSA points between them, you have zero. The other truck looks like a piece of crap but is in good enough condition to pass its recent DOT inspection. Your truck shines. You secure your freight well. The other team will use one strap and not even that if they think they can get away with it. In the last year, the other truck had more service failures than you. Personal appearance and hygine also differ. You look professional. The other team has ragged hair, smells bad and one of them sports a food-stained shirt.

When Diane and I ran with FCC, there was nothing at all in the computer-driven truck selection criteria that would pick your truck over the other one in this example. The system does not factor in things like CSA score, driver and truck qualifications (if both trucks can haul the load) and professionalism. Has that changed?

If not, if that other truck took low-paying or unprofitable loads that you don't, and therefore had a better load-acceptance percentage, that truck would get the load under the new system, would it not?

 

[jimby82]

From what we have inferred from the Email, yes the other truck would have more "points" and would therefor get the load over us.

In looking at Phil's scenario, probably the most frustrating thing for us, we don't know what actually factors into the truck selection criteria. No one that we have talked to at FedEx seems to know for certain, or is willing to share.

In fact, we have no idea how the load acceptance percentage is calculated, or what constitutes (for purposes of the calculation) a refusal.

How much will the changes affect us? Uncertain. Will we be changing how we look at and accept loads? Not really. We will continue on with what we have been doing. Time will tell.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Sounds as if the reason they won't tell you the criteria, is to keep you all guessing and trying to comply with the even non-existent rules, so all of you end up as good little angel truckers. The less you know how they work, the less you feel you can get away with, as far as working the system.

 

[jjoerger]

In Phil's scenario he said, "In the last year, the other truck had more service failures than you." I believe that "service failure" is a factor in determining what truck gets the load, but I don't know if it is more important than acceptance rate.
But Phil is correct. Professionalism and safe driving and vehicles don't mean much to a computer.

 

[NorthernBill]

When a load is offered, does the system show if it was accepted? If not then what happen's next. Do they reoffer at different rate?

 

[ATeam]

I believe that "service failure" is a factor in determining what truck gets the load, but I don't know if it is more important than acceptance rate.

We're working from memory and may be wrong. But as we think back to the Contractor Helper book that FCC gave us years ago, and to the section that explained the criteria the computer used to select trucks, Diane and I do not recall seeing anything about service failures being figured into the program one way or another.

Certainly the company has some publication somewhere that explains how the system works today, right? They did at one time, at least. That's half the battle for someone who wants to understand the rules. The other half is having the confidence that there is but one set of rules and they are followed the same for each truck in the fleet.

We had that confidence most of the time we were with the company but it faded as we saw exceptions being increasingly made and then outright policy changes being made but not announced about one set of rules applying to some trucks and another set applying to others (preferential dispatch). That was what motivated us to leave FCC in 2010.

It is a good thing that this policy was announced. That's a step forward compared to how it used to be. Hopefully, the company will be as forthcoming in answering the questions the announcement is raising as it was in making the announcement in the first place.

Simple fairness and the desire to "do the right thing" (a popular phrase in corporate culture these days) would compel the people in charge to explain clearly and exactly how the system works for the different kinds and groups of trucks in the fleet.

 

[EASYTRADER]

I wasn't thrilled with the new contract either. Seemed rather 1 sided to me. As for load acceptance affecting load offer assignments, I don't really care. If I turn down a bunch of stuff, and then they don't send me more loads I'll just quit. Its not like they're the only carrier in town. With the recent changes to the pay plan, they are only slightly higher paying than the others.

I think 8 years ago the Fed really had a recruitment advantage over other carriers. I see that advantage as only slight now. Matbe that's the plan, to keep the grass just a tinge greener.

 

[NTHEWIND]

Interesting topic and replies. After 17 years with Roberts and now FXCC I finally had 'enough' and wrote a letter to the president , Virginia. No surprise that I have not gotten a reply.

 

[zorry]

Linda,or any other Driver's Board member :
How often do you guys meet ?
Is there an avenue to discuss/ present ideas with any of you ?
Are there any projects in the works we should be aware of ?
Why don't we hear of your successes/failures ?

 

[NTHEWIND]

Linda,or any other Driver's Board member :
How often do you guys meet ?
Is there an avenue to discuss/ present ideas with any of you ?
Are there any projects in the works we should be aware of ?
Why don't we hear of your successes/failures ?

From what I've been told there is no longer a Driver's board.