Bad driving record? No longer in White Glove? I see DaveKC and RichM have not changed a bit in the short time I was away from the Open Forum. Heaven forbid that they would ask for factual information first. Far more fun to put negative spin out there instead. But if I did the same to them.....oooooo eeeeee would the fireworks start!
Here are the facts.
1. Diane and I have been active (as FedEx defines it) White Glove drivers since the first day we began with FedEx Custom Critical (August, 2003), without interruption. Despite our lack of prior truck driving experience, our driver and White Glove status were awarded under rules then in effect. I believe the same rules remain in effect today. While it is commonly said six months experience is required, other doors to White Glove do exist. Interested newbies would be wise to look into them if they are set on White Glove.
2. We have never had a freight damage claim. Formal claim or not, no freight we have ever handled has been damaged while in our care. Not a scratch. Not a nick. Not a dent. Not once. Not ever.
3. We are both winners of safe driving awards from FedEx and have good (but not perfect) driving records.
4. When we started as fleet drivers in 2003, FedEx prohibited us from attending orientation because we were not owner operators; though we asked to attend.
5. With hundreds of loads and nearly three years of White Glove experience under our belts, and about to become contractors ourselves, we asked to be excused from FedEx orientation since we had already proven ourselves. No dice! We were required to attend.
It's funny, and we chuckle about it. When we wanted to go to orientation, we were prohibited from doing so. But when we didn't want to go, we were required to do so.
Anyway, it did not hurt us to attend. You can always learn something in an orientation and we picked up a worthwhile titbit or two. We maximized the two days by arranging lunches or visits with people at HQ that we like to meet. It was also nice to meet our new contractor coordinator and her assistant face to face.
We also spent some time getting to know some of the truck service vendors in the Akron/Canton area. Since we'll be returning there from time to time for things like HAZMAT training, T-Val certification, and perhaps a meeting or two, we'll try to make double use of that time by puttin the truck in the shop for maintenance or repairs (if needed) while we do our in-house business.
Yes, we now have our own truck. Even without orientation, a trip to Canton would have been required to get the Qualcomm unit and FedEx graphics put on the truck, and to have the truck inspected for both Surface Expedite and White Glove service.
Truck info will follow at a later date. I've promised someone else the chance to be the first to write about it. Once that is done, I'll be able to speak freely about it.
I can verify that the new information in my signature is accurate. We are owner/operators running a CR-unit. Though, we have not carried any freight yet. We're home now putting some finishing touches on the truck and on our lives as we make the transition from fleet drivers to owner/operators.
For newbies, I believe that if you are a fleet driver today, FedEx orientation is available to you. It may even be required. I don't know for sure. There were a couple of fleet drivers and their truck owner in our class, but I don't know if they were required to attend or were there because they asked to be. If you are wondering about it, call a FedEx recruiter or your fleet owner or your owner's contractor coordinator.
