FedEx Custom Critical ???? Are they what they say they are??

[greg334]

I don't think skills has a lot to do with it but rather how the company treats some individuals. Maybe some have gotten to see the good side of it while others haven't but nevertheless, some prosper and others fail may have a lot to do with nothing more than what they say in public and only that.

 

[cheri1122]

Throwing Santa under the bus is a bit harsh, just sayin'.

Throwing Mom & Dad under is even worse, lol.

 

[scottm4211]

Throwing Mom & Dad under is even worse, lol.

Yeah but I don't know them

 

[pookie8me]

Nightcreacher........."If the second skid takes up sleeping space,then you are not legal to be running team." well that is my point.......we said yes to one......so I guess we do agree....
the total run would of been almost 24 hours........have anyone of you ever heard of micro sleep, speed adaptation, sleep debt, driver stress, and how to manage all this? Well FEDEX won't tell you in class...LOL I thought they were all about safety..........and wanted us to run as team with no room to sleep? I never said I could not hold 2000 pounds.....or have the space for 8 feet...I do.....but we can't run 24 hours without a place to nap.....Fedex was in the wrong...

92 runs and about 85000 miles in 6 months.....what have you guys done? just wondering...everyone is scared to say...but I think few have done more but most have done less......

 

[pookie8me]

ha ha ha ha I bet AJ is at the casino.....LOL or one Big Mac away from heart attack......sorry hope your health is better

 

[nightcreacher]

for you to be dispatched on runs over 700 miles,they have to have you listred as a team truck,which means you have to have sleeping area with the 2 pallets.you have to tell safety you only have sleepiong area with 1 pallet then you wont have this problem

 

[pookie8me]

nightcreacher.....well it's too late now......LOL....but they knew we were a team and Fedex had our measurements......and we told them it was unsafe.....Fedex is the one that threatened to put us out of service.......we simply said we could not do that load, that was changed....Fedex is way out of line.......and this thread asked how they are and this is what you get......Listen...I'm a eagle scout, licensed foster dad, and a hard worker....but I will not put up with BS. Fedex is basically a broker....no more no less......

 

[jansiemoo]

Nightcreacher........."If the second skid takes up sleeping space,then you are not legal to be running team." well that is my point.......we said yes to one......so I guess we do agree....
the total run would of been almost 24 hours........have anyone of you ever heard of micro sleep, speed adaptation, sleep debt, driver stress, and how to manage all this? Well FEDEX won't tell you in class...LOL I thought they were all about safety..........and wanted us to run as team with no room to sleep? I never said I could not hold 2000 pounds.....or have the space for 8 feet...I do.....but we can't run 24 hours without a place to nap.....Fedex was in the wrong...

This has already been said, but actually FedEx really doesn't have as much control over this as you think. Neither do you. If you are listed as able to carry 2 skids, the unit is supposed to be able to carry two skids. Even though the load said one, your size vehicle was requested, was it not? Like others, I too often get loads that say 0pc, 0lb. Many times the counts are wrong, and rarely- it won't fit on my truck. But if I am classified as a D unit, I can't say "I picked up this cool couch, I've only got 16' to use for a load today." If I have less than 20', my truck is no longer the same class. End of story. I know I'm gonna hear some slack about vans being 'different', but the customer orders a vehicle, they can put just a box or fill it to the max weight/volume. Of course, there are some things that may change regarding pay, but my understanding is a customer often says "it's 2 skids" OR "yeah, it'll fit in ___size vehicle". If the customer in your situation said "1 box, 50#", and they sent an A unit, the driver would not be at fault when the load turned out to be 2 skids. Basically, if my vehicle is supposed to carry __max weight, ___max volume, that's what I'm supposed to show up with. Anything less is a failure on my part.

 

[jansiemoo]

Am I misunderstanding the team van setup? Is this a common thing- that you have absolutely no space to sleep with a B load on? If this is the case for everyone, is there some special notice to the customer?

 

[pookie8me]

jansio........you do not sound too smart...sorry but you don't drive a b unit so what can you say....I don't drive a d unit and I won't comment about a d load........if my car can go 200 mph does that mean I drive it 200 mph all the time? of course not.....just because a b unit can hold 2500 pounds, does not mean I have to take a 2500 pound load everytime. of course not. the load offer lets me know where when and what....I choose my offers on many factors.....such as weight......a heavy load for us takes more time to slow down.....have to go easier on curves....maybe even bad weather may play a factor.....or need room to sleep......these factors may cause more driver stress and more concentration on our part.....also if driver is sleeping next to heavy load plays a part.......I could go on for hours about different reasons.....a normal 3/4 ton cargo van has 8 feet.......but I never said anything about heavy load........not once in any post......the size was not what we accepted......the one piece 48x48x48 turned into a 48x48x70.....too high so they wanted to break into 2......no good....not safe....Fedex needs to get the right info from customer. in order to get the right truck.......but of course I'm sure Fedex order takers have no clue because on at least 3 occasions the customer said they were new and no one ever explained how a truck gets dispatched.......but anyway.....independent contractor means that I choose what I want to take and not take for my reasons and my reasons alone.......oh but most of you are really employee's pretending to be business people.....LOL

 

[x06col]

$3k per week solo in a surface straight truck is attainable, but depends where you run.

You beat me to my comment, Dreamer, although you were much more polite than I.

92 runs in 6 months? That's all? Looking for a pat on the back? Call Mom.


Lastly, although we were a tad overdue for the monthly "bash the Fed" post, it never ceases to amaze me how several of the folks throwing stones have never contracted with the Fed, or haven't been with the for quite a long while, acting like they're still 'in the know'. Wonder if the reason they're no longer with FedEx has anything to do with their perpetually positive, sparkling personality?

Thanks for the laugh.

I understand your concern about the stone throwers whom have never been associated with them, however, I have never observed a Leopard change it's spots........much. And please enlighten us on all the wonderfull changes that have occurred between the 1995-2000 period and present day policy.

 

[fastrod]

You were PROMISED that you could make $3,000 a week? Who made such a promise and when, and what written document do you have on file that proves it?

Get real, ljubisa. My parents used to promise me that Santa Clause would come to the house every Christmas Eve...my own parents told me this and even they turned out to be liars.

So you are saying Fedex recruiters are liars? After reading what was told to ljubisa and reading the original post by timberland about trying to verify some things he was told by a Fedex recruiter I would have to agree with you. Seems to be a pattern here with Fedex recruiters putting out misinformation just to sign on O/O.

 

[bcordell70]

Well I usually dont like to post on a heated debate so ill just post what happened to us and leave it at that.

My wife and I have been with Fedex for lil over 9 months now and we drive a D unit. I will say first we have never been forced to take a load and also we were on another load that the snow got pretty bad, so we called in and all dispatch said to us was find a place to park and let us know that you made it.

Now, there was another load that we felt we were lied to and some of you that have delivered up in to VA in the past 6 months may know of the plant that was on strike. well anyway we were offered a load, looked good to us, so we took it.

AFTER we accepted the load the dispatcher calls us and says I wanted to let you know this load is going through a strike zone, to make it short, we took the load. Since we already accepted it, then the dispatcher says I have another load going to a different strike zone, he explained the load, I asked twice if this was the same strike zone which we were told no

Turns out the load was going through the same strike zone. We did both loads safely and with no issues but it did bother us that the dispatcher basically lied to us or for what ever reason didnt want to tell us it was the same place. We even called our CC and amazingly she already knew the whole story and basically told us how the dispatcher didnt lie and to not take it personally.


This is probably the only issue we have really had with FedEx CC, to date we are still happy here, and god willing be here for a long time.

As far as the loads go, yes the planning team has confused us from time to time as to why they want us to DH 700 miles to an express center to only get a load going back to the same location or area we just left for PU. But hey computers only do what they are told =)

Hope everyone stays safe out there.

 

[greg334]

This is absolutely frikn' hilarious. Some of the comments seem to be just amazing and unreal.

This has already been said, but actually FedEx really doesn't have as much control over this as you think. Neither do you.

Actually Jansimoo, they, FedEx, have all the control of everything that they accept and goes on every truck that they present to the contractor. The contractor even when the thing is loaded, can refuse to take the load - read the contract.

have anyone of you ever heard of micro sleep, speed adaptation, sleep debt, driver stress, and how to manage all this? Well FEDEX won't tell you in class

AND they shouldn't, it isn't their job to tell you how to handle your sleep - it is yours. This is one of the problems about what I see is a lack of professionalism, you are the contractor NOT the employee and it is up to you to decide how to deal with sleep and on-board accommodations, not FedEx. BUT I got your point.

Fedex needs to get the right info from customer. in order to get the right truck

Well this is one of the biggest issues they have, their intake people are trying to figure out what resources that the customer needs and some of them cover a wide variety of customers the person is sometimes clueless.

but the customer orders a vehicle, they can put just a box or fill it to the max weight/volume.

BUT the customer doesn't order anything unless they know exactly what they have. Many contractors are made to believe that the customer is doing the ordering but in most cases no dispatcher talks to the customer and neither does anyone in "load planning" because they can't plan loads - the term is rather stupid because if they could plan loads, they would control the entire market, they don't have that crystal ball.

.......but of course I'm sure Fedex order takers have no clue because on at least 3 occasions the customer said they were new and no one ever explained how a truck gets dispatched.......but anyway.....independent contractor means that I choose what I want to take and not take for my reasons and my reasons alone.......oh but most of you are really employee's pretending to be business people.

OK here is something I have experienced first hand, the FedEx people do not understand how to ask the right questions with some customers and many of the intake people I found out are there for volume. The longer they spend on the phone with a customer, they are wasting time not getting another one taken care of. IT is about quantity, not quality.

With that said, the contractor has the right to refuse the load - it is clear that they are contractors and not employees. If any dispatcher threatens to put someone out of service because of the circumstances like this, they and their supervisor should be fired. IT IS the same exact issue I had with one dispatcher and one CC on a serious safety and contract issue. This is one thing that is very bad about the new dispatching system that broadcasts the load offers to several trucks, the contractor has to act on the load quickly or lose it which is another employee thing.

 

[ATeam]

So you are saying Fedex recruiters are liars? After reading what was told to ljubisa and reading the original post by timberland about trying to verify some things he was told by a Fedex recruiter I would have to agree with you. Seems to be a pattern here with Fedex recruiters putting out misinformation just to sign on O/O.

No, I am not saying FedEx recruiters are liars. I am saying that I do not belive the orignial poster was told what he says he was told. That is not calling him a liar either. I believe that this is yet another case where someone got sidetracked by one's own wishful thinking and came to believe something that had little basis in fact.

I have heard it dozens of times from drivers that "They told me I could make ____." But when I specifically ask, who exactly told you this and when, answers do not come. Someone may absolutely believe it is true that he or she was told something, but that does not make it true.

FedEx Custom Critical recruiter phone calls are recorded at the office. I know of cases where upset drivers or prospective drivers complained about being lied to but the calls were reviewed and no lies were told. So, is it the drivers who are now liars about what they were told, or are their poor listening skills combined with wishful thinking more to blame? I believe the latter is the case.

More than once I have stood within earshot of recruiters at truck shows as they answer questions put to them by prospects. One might say you can make a certain amount of money, but every time I have heard such a statement a series of ifs follow: If you stay out a certain amount. If you maintain an acceptance percentage above a certain level. If you remain in service for a certain period of time. If you learn the system and run smart.

It seems to me that the drivers who complain the loudest about being lied to are also the ones who listen to the dollar amounts but quickly forget about the ifs.

They fail to do meaningful research into their career moves. They have poor listening skills. They do not document what the recuriter tells them, who the recruiter was and when it was said. They do not check out what they were told by interviewing others in the industry. They seem to instead approach recruiters with a boat load of wishful thinking and high hopes that are transported in a bubble of their own making and that they have no desire to pop.

 

[greg334]

FedEx Custom Critical recruiter phone calls are recorded at the office. I know of cases where upset drivers or prospective drivers complained about being lied to but the calls were reviewed and no lies were told.

Lies and reviews are subjective.

Just because they record their calls, they may use a standard on what can be said and what latitude the person has to say so the company can say they didn't lie.

I think Phil's point is legitimate to a point, the point of what is good research is great but it matters more what does the recruiter know. If the recruiter doesn't know the business, talks the company line and uses the company cut sheets to prove number while no of it is realistic about the work or the revenue, then they are worthless to anyone. Maybe this is another place where recruiters should come from the driver pool, not the employee pool.

 

[pookie8me]

greg334 I agree with you and you are right....I may not be the best at explaining or writing for that matter....LOL....Well Kevin from second shift was the one who wanted to put us out of service.....so if someone wants to let me know if he is still at Fedex we could keep this post going.....Also Fedex pulled our lease yesterday.....Hmmmmmm...pulled lease for not taking safe load....hmmmmm sounds fishy???????????? Does a new driver really want to drive for a company like that? And yes I was told I could be dispatched to CA to see my baby.......but at Green was told it's all random.......I was so ****ed but I had wasted a month of time signing up I just tried to stick it out......And for you ole timers been there awhile........I hear the same from all....".they all say keep your mouth shut....don't call and complain.....there is nothing you can do....at least they pay"......Well if it works for you then that's great but new drivers should have a choice. a solo new driver will get the the leftover loads even if your 1st in dwell time........

 

[layoutshooter]

No, solo drivers are not just given 'left over' loads. There may be MANY reasons why you are offered a load and not get it, even if you are first will dwell time. Anything from the other truck had a less than 75 or the other truck was 2 miles closer to the pick up. sorry if FDCC is not working for you. No one carrier is a fit for every person or team. If the 'warts' at FDCC are too much, move to a company where you can handle the 'warts'. All companies have them. You just need to find the company that fits your business and life models the best.

I can tell you one thing, this MIGHT not be the best business to be in with a new baby. You have to be gone FAR too long to be a parent. Just a thought.

 

[Dreamer]

Pookie

Hate to tell ya... but you cant use "safety" as an excuse for that load.

Fedex requires 8 ft of load space available. Period. Its up to us van drivers to sleep around that. I have a fold down bed also, as I am usually not dispatched on loads requiring sleeping while loaded. If I do get one, I lay my mattress on the floor in front of the load. I'm thinking.about switching my.arrangement for convenience... but if I were running team, I'd definately switch the bed sideways. Teams have to be able to sleep loaded. When you sign a lease, you agree 'X amount of room for freight" . A van or truck cant say. Oh sorry.. I now have 4 less feet because I need more personal space!

Thats not fulfilling your lease agreement!


Oh and side note.... if the order is placed online, no agent talks to the customer.. many times I get 0 pieces, 0 weight.. because the customer knows it is a van load, so they order "a van". Many of my loads, they get as much done as possible before I get there. So they ordered a van, estimate load... but I may get 1000... may get 1500 if the line was moving good. I provide the van they ordered... and like Priority Mail, if it fits, it ships! (up to 8 ft by 4ft) thats what I agreed to. I just advise what new weight is.and leave. Unless its Air Expedite, the charge doesnt change. They bought 8x4 space.... not 4x4.

Not Fedex's fault you could not provide what you said you could in your lease.


Dale


Edit by me.... oops. Shoulda read faster or something. Jansiemoo already said most of this lol.



Posted with my Droid EO Forum App

 

[davekc]

I would agree with Dale in that you essentially breached your agreement. Pretty much gives them the right to cancel your contract. Even easier if you are driving a van where there is one on every corner. I agree also that you might want to consider a local gig with a new baby to contend with.

As for the other fluff or stone throwing, I think it applies only on certain issues. Much of the other items are all common knowledge.
In otherwords, you don't have to stand directly in a fire to understand it is hot. Same difference.