FedEx Freight | Just a short thank you note to my new brothers at National, soon to be Freight

MH. I don't understand all this animosity between the drivers.We had nothing to do with the decision making process that has brought this whole mess about. I know out here in the west I have tried many times over the years to start a conversation with a national driver on the radio with no response.I run LA to Fresno and there is always a lot of us talking up and down the 99 but even though I have tried many times I have never had a national Key up.
Hope this changes soon.There is no good reason for it.
Good luck to you and your hubby.

A lot of us don't run radios. We are often moved truck to truck on a daily basis, even drivers that have some seniority. Also, there have been more than a few times when a driver came in to do his run and found that his assigned tractor had been re-assigned to another terminal permanently. With all of his stuff in it (radio, mic, antenna, logbook, etc). I think a bunch of guys said heck with it and stopped bringing in their CBs.
 
MH. I don't understand all this animosity between the drivers.We had nothing to do with the decision making process that has brought this whole mess about. I know out here in the west I have tried many times over the years to start a conversation with a national driver on the radio with no response.I run LA to Fresno and there is always a lot of us talking up and down the 99 but even though I have tried many times I have never had a national Key up.
Hope this changes soon.There is no good reason for it.
Good luck to you and your hubby.

If they were in sleeper trucks, most don't run their radios because they don't want to risk waking their partner up. Even us lowly little day cabbers tend to run on off channels or keep the radio down while listening to satellite radio. About the only time I run on 19 is in the winter when the weather is bad. I've just gotten tired of most of the inane chatter over the years.
We all need to learn to work together because this animosity hurts no one but ourselves.
 
Uhhhh... Maybe they were just beating you to the punch.. You know.. Giving you the bird because they have had it flown so many times at them already...

I'm the wife of a National Driver, and am a recently retired driver myself (tanker/truck). Hubby just called me from the truck stop. It seems that alot of the freight guys have completely forgotten their manners, and have been flying the bird, giving brake checks immediately after passing, not "thanking" the drivers for their help at night etc. etc. etc. As a spouse I am pretty much aware of all that has been going on out on the road and on the boards via the internet, grapevine etc.. I don't think ANY of this is right. National drivers are only doing their jobs. None of this has been their fault and to have the freight guys treat them like Sh$t over something that is not in their power to change is just childish and inmature.... Yes my husband has been effected by this. He probably wont be one of the unfortune ones to loose their job, but dont think for a minute that this wont effect our finances because it most definately will. He will go from seniority in the mid 20s to high 60s when he transfers to the next terminal. He will go from a bid run of 600 MPD to maybe 400 if he is lucky. No we are NOT crying, simply stating the facts. We will have to make adjustments the same as everyone else who is effected by this merger. Its not fair to us, its not fair to YOU and this whole thing REAKS! But there is NOTHING anyone can do... Taking your frustrations out on the drivers at National is just MEAN, and does NOT do anything for either side, EXCEPT keep the pot stirred and keep EVERYONE Pissed off!! Including the FAMILIES of the drivers because they SIT AT HOME AND WORRY TOO!!

Please be kind!

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9
 
I needed the morning off, so I swapped runs with a driver that runs an, "E" run, so I could leave out late morning. I haven't been across I-40 through Arkansas in a while, so the change of scenery was nice. I was shocked at how friendly so many of the, (still) National drivers were in this freight lane, it seemed like every time that I looked across the median strip at an approaching Nat'l truck, the driver was already waving at me, I was truly touched by the gesture of friendship that so many made in my direction. I was also surprised how many of you guys have arthritis, I know that on occasion my hands get sore, and sometimes the knuckles on my hands ache, so I can really appreciate the extra effort it took for you guys to wave, even if you could only get the one finger to fully extend on your hand, just know that I am truly moved by the effort. :sadwavey:

That really wasnt cool
 
A lot of us don't run radios. We are often moved truck to truck on a daily basis, even drivers that have some seniority. Also, there have been more than a few times when a driver came in to do his run and found that his assigned tractor had been re-assigned to another terminal permanently. With all of his stuff in it (radio, mic, antenna, logbook, etc). I think a bunch of guys said heck with it and stopped bringing in their CBs.

Gotta agree with slim6596 on this!! :notworthy:

Hubby is very seldom in the same truck every night. He totes a little suitcase now with his radio & antenna inside it so he can hook it up. More often than not he doesn't fool with it as he is pressed for time.

He was also assigned a tractor about a year ago, it disappeared along with his radio, antenna, mike, a few personal belongs etc. TM kept calling central trying to get the truck back but to no avail as the truck was assigned to another terminal.

I've been discussing some of this with my husband tonite. He says, that he DOES wave at ya'll, but you never look across at him in the hammer lane. His truck is turned back and all you freighters have more speed than he's got so he is not in the position to pass you LOL. He has seen a few of you wave in passing, and has talked with a few of you at your terminal when he has been running out of the rail yards. Other than that he has no problem with anyone.

Hubby is an easy going guy, I wish you could meet him. He would shake your hand and ask ya'll over for a BBQ and beer. He doesn't care who you work for freight or national. Your a "DRIVER" and thus in the same boat as everyone else out there.. All umpteen million of you!

Best wishes to all of you, Freight and National!!
 
That really wasnt cool

Thank you. That pretty much sums up my thoughts too. I just used a few more words to describe it. Funny thing is, where I happen to be, every time, "changes" happen, they have had a very negative effect on my center, and myself as well. I've managed to hang on for near 20 years, and this one time that I am not personally being screwed over by another change, (FINALLY!!!) I'm getting flipped off by guys that are being affected. If I actually gave a crap about their immature behavior, I could have written down some tractor numbers, and then they would find out how Fedex deals with that. If I actually had any say in all of this change, rest assured, I would still be driving for Arkansas Freightways, and my friends at Watkins would still be smokin' and jokin' with me as we run up and down the road. I quit smokin', and lately I'm not in the mood for jokin', so it would be nice to try and be civil to one another, before someone gets stupid.
 
I don't have a problem with any of the FXF guys. I never get the chance to visit wih them , but the majority have finally (after 3 years) gotten around to waving. I'd have most any of them over for dinner and enjoy it, we are all just drivers,but I will say this for the A holes, I will give only as good as I receive...
 
What I find amazing is that, WE HAVE ALL WORKED FOR THE SAME GUY FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS NOW and still some of you yahoos still resent Nat. drivers. And the reverse is true. This whole thing is nobody's fault. It's business. It's not like Uncle Fred has nothing better to do than think of ways to hackoff drivers. I'm sure he was sitting in his throne 2 weeks ago having his grapes peeled and served by his serfs thinking " Things have been way to peaceful and quiet here at FedEx. What can I possibly do to create anxt among the little peolple of my kingdom". Get over it. I swear it seems like a box of kleenex and pampers need to come with any vehicle that says FedEx on the side.

Okay, I've read it over and over, and I don't understand what you said. Somehow, you think that I resent National? I'm a, "Yahoo"? I've only worked here for 5 years? The reverse is true? Does that mean that it doesn't wobble? You're confusing the hell out of me.
 
I think well all should form our own company. Even the yahoos. I promise no money, hauling lots of emptys,no trucks, hell everybody just send me 5 dollars and we will have a big beer and bbq bash. Then we can shake fingers and have a good time.
 
Thank you. That pretty much sums up my thoughts too. I just used a few more words to describe it. Funny thing is, where I happen to be, every time, "changes" happen, they have had a very negative effect on my center, and myself as well. I've managed to hang on for near 20 years, and this one time that I am not personally being screwed over by another change, (FINALLY!!!) I'm getting flipped off by guys that are being affected. If I actually gave a crap about their immature behavior, I could have written down some tractor numbers, and then they would find out how Fedex deals with that. If I actually had any say in all of this change, rest assured, I would still be driving for Arkansas Freightways, and my friends at Watkins would still be smokin' and jokin' with me as we run up and down the road. I quit smokin', and lately I'm not in the mood for jokin', so it would be nice to try and be civil to one another, before someone gets stupid.

So you post a very not cool post, then you try to turn youself into a hero? I go back to Not very cool. But its your identity, not mine.
 
I've never ever had any problems with "ANY" National drivers linehaul or city. As a matter of fact, Yesterday I had a lengthy conversation with a good friend who also works city p&d for national. We were talking about the transfers coming in to my barn and I asked him why he wasn't coming too. I would love to have him run out of my barn whether he bumps me down the seniority or not. The thing is MadHatter, not all of us dislike National transferring in. I would rather they transfer in rather than lose their jobs.
 
Think everyone needs to calm down a little. let's wait for Jan 31 to see what really happens before we kill each other over nothing. I could be wrong but I will Never take it out on you whether you're freight or national. we can't work together if we are at each others throats everyday
 
So you post a very not cool post, then you try to turn youself into a hero? I go back to Not very cool. But its your identity, not mine.

So, what exactly is your idea of a "cool post"? One that doesn't state the truth? The whole point, (which apparently was missed by you and others as well) was, and still is, that we, (yeah that's right, we) the drivers don't have anything to do with this merger, and trying to take it out on each other is senseless. I don't have a clue what you are trying to say about me trying to make myself out to be a hero. The truth is the truth, friend, whether you like it or not. You think it's cool for National drivers to flip off a complete stranger, and not cool for that stranger to point out that it's the wrong thing to do? I believe that your logic is seriously flawed.


P.S.
Apparently, I do not always come across as trying to actually help ease troubled minds during this merger, but the truth is that I started using this forum to try and help those that have concerns about this merger/take-over of National LTL. I spend a lot of time each day talking to my friends that are going to be affected by these changes, on both sides of the fence, (National and Freight) not because it's my job, but because I actually give a ::shit:: what happens to my friends. I've been where they are, and I've had to make hard decisions during times like these. I know that tensions run high, but we should not be at each other, we should not be mad at our supervisor, the center manager, or anybody else for that matter. I tried to point it out in other posts, and I'll try again here, it was a corporate decision! It ain't personal! That's what boards of directors do, they make decisions that are in the best interest of their stock holders. At least they are not doing to either Freight or National, what was done to Dugan, think about it. For those users that would like to try and start an argument with me on this internet message board, it's not going to happen. This is not my first rodeo, in other words, I may be new here, but I am not even close to being new using this type of forum. It is my belief that arguing on the internet is very much like running a race in the Special Olympics..., even if you win, you're still retarded.
 
waving

I think it sucks for all of us. Think about it we are all drivers union or not everyone is trying to make a living. Everyone just be kind and in a couple of months we will all be one big happy family till the next big merger!! LOL
 
Don't knock them until you know the full story. Before Fred bought Watkins they had some bad policies in place. The punishment for turning in a log that was wrong was the removal of a digit. It took some guys 3 tries before they got the logging down.

If you walk a mile in someone's shoes you end up a mile away from them.


Well, I guess it's okay then, my bad.

Differences in policies are going to an interesting topic in the future. Just yesterday, I was almost late leaving the yard, because I had to be given a, "coaching session" which is the first step toward a write up, all over a trailer that I dropped Monday night, (you know, the day I got flipped off while driving across Arkansas..., that's still pretty f'd up) because the driver that hooked to it, on his way to the next point of the said trailer's destination, had to go through the shop, which in turn made him late leaving on his cut time, (I hate it when that happens..., no ::shit::, I really do) the reason given for the late departure was, "there were lights missing on trailers". Central E-mailed the C.M., (he's not one of my biggest fans) who then E-mailed the Road Driver Operations Manager, and told him to straighten me out for not doing a proper post trip inspection, who then E-mailed the AM Linehaul Dispatcher to 10-5 the instructions given to him..., long and short of the whole thing, I asked for him to tell me that I was derelict in my duties, and hand the write-up over, so that I could sign it, and get on my way. He informed me that, it was only a, "coaching session", and I could leave. Just for the record, I actually do a pre, and post trip inspection on my equipment, and I didn't find any, "missing lights" on the equipment in question, so I got wondering about what the problem was. I called a friend, told him about it, he said that he had the other driver's phone number, and would call and ask. When he called me back, I wasn't surprised to hear that he had a blown fuse in the tractor, and the shop had to replace it, and had no other problems with the equipment the rest of the night. The moral of the story is, cover your asses, watch your backs, and pay attention during the next few months. Did I mention, tensions are high?
 
I got 9 out of 10 for the past 2 days! I have been driving an old Viking KW for the past 2 days as the Volvo I normaly drive is down, you know twin screw racing stripes and all. But that old KW looks just like one of the big boys trucks and all 9 of 10 guys waved with all there fingers some however nearly broke there necks when they noticed the name on the trailers( I apologize to any of them who were hurt) The one guy who didn't wave has a nice sun screen in the window so maybe I couldn't see him. So in closing I am just happy to finally be fitting in.:1036316054:
 
Right on brother
if I see any crap out of anyone I'll drop a dime in a heart beat, be kind we all are doing what we can to take of families none of us peons sat around scheming to screw one or the other

Right on brother, we can not and will not put up with that kind of crap.........:notworthy:
 
This morning on my way back to Cincy from Vandalia, Il, I passed about 10 Freight drivers going the other way. One driver waved back to me. I waved at all of them (full hand, not just one finger). I just hope after the dust settles, we can try to co-exist peacefully.
Don't feel bad driver I pass several drivers everyday that can't even turn their heads let alone wave, even one finger would be too much efforts for them, and I'd say 9 out of 10 are from my own yard.
 
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