In The News

FedEx Custom Critical Owner Operators Padriaca and Cindy Chau Prude

As the end of his active duty career as a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps was drawing closer, Padriaca Prude began to search for what to do in the next chapter of his life. The one thing he knew for sure: he and his wife, Cindy Chau, who he met while both were undergraduates at the University of Alabama, wanted to partner and start their own business. With their two teenage daughters in high school and self-sufficient, the time was perfect to begin a new venture.

The Prudes ultimately chose an opportunity that combined Cindy’s love of travel and adventure with Padriaca’s knowledge and experience as a military logistics officer: becoming owner operators for FedEx Custom Critical, North America's largest time-specific, critical-shipment carrier that specializes in same-day and overnight delivery of expedited freight. 

Before his active duty service ended, Padriaca obtained his commercial driver’s license (CDL) by completing a four-month course through the learning center at Camp Lejeune. Then, he transferred a portion of his GI bill education assistance benefits to Cindy so that she could complete a similar course and earn her CDL.

To raise the capital they needed to get their business off the ground, the Prudes started their path to becoming owner operators as drivers for another FedEx Custom Critical contractor. Their very first assignment was a 5,000-mile journey transporting a helicopter blade from Michigan to Newfoundland and then Louisiana. The experience they gained reinforced that they had selected the right business opportunity. After less than six months as contractor’s drivers, the couple had earned enough money to purchase their own truck: a 2008 Kenworth T660 straight truck equipped with pads, straps and a power liftgate, along with a temperature-controlled unit with traceable recording devices to capture cargo-hold temperatures.  

Now, as part of the FedEx Custom Critical White Glove Services fleet, they crisscross the country hauling shipments that require extra care in handling or temperature-control transportation – from works of art and food ingredients to pharmaceuticals and munitions. The couple has traveled to nearly every state and logged more than 80,000 on their new truck in just a five-month span. No two runs are ever the same in the White Glove Services segment.

Along the way, Padriaca and Cindy have developed an outstanding working relationship with the FedEx Custom Critical Contractor Sourcing, Contractor Relations and Safety teams, whose members answer their questions and ensure they have all the information they need to make decisions on how to run their business successfully.

“There’s a sincerity of the mission,” said Padriaca of the team members that he and Cindy have encountered at FedEx Custom Critical. “They want to you to succeed.”

While they’re on the road, Padriaca and Cindy manage to stay in close contact with their daughters thanks to smartphone technology. They also work with the Dispatch team at FedEx Custom Critical to make sure they’re back home in Durham, N.C., to attend the girls’ important school activities.

Now that they’ve launched their own business, they plan to expand their fleet down the road and give other entrepreneurs – especially ex-military members – the chance to drive for them and ultimately earn the capital to purchase the vehicle for their own through an incentive program.

For Padriaca, whose mom worked two jobs to make ends meet while he was growing up, the opportunity to be his own boss as an owner operator is the ultimate American dream.

“When you have kids, you want to do whatever you can to help them succeed,” said Padriaca. “We have the opportunity to put our daughters through college debt free and leave them in a better position than we were.”

The FedEx Custom Critical fleet is made up entirely of owner operators. If you’re thinking of become an owner operator or are already a contractor or small fleet owner with your own vehicles and want to find out more about the opportunities and advantages we offer, contact a FedEx Custom Critical Contractor Sourcing Specialist at 1.866.352.5101 or customcritical.fedex.com/owneroperator.