What's new

FedEx Freight | City Bids?

F

feded

TB Lurker
Credits
0
Can you tell me how the city bidding process works at your center?

At my center we bid start times not routes every 6 months or earlier if needed due to freight levels.

Just wondering how much your bid start time can fluctuate up or down and if it can change more then 2 hour.

If it can be changed more then 2 hours that's just not right. We all do have lives outside of this place and having your start time changed day to day is very hard on my family life.

If anyone can point me to the policy on this that would be greatly appreciated. Though i have a feeling this one lies under the great old "Management Discretion " clause here at FXF
 
We always bid start times, though, they did bid routes about the time I left. Not sure what policy says, but Id be its "based on operational need" .


As in, whatever they want.
 
feded said:
Can you tell me how the city bidding process works at your center?

At my center we bid start times not routes every 6 months or earlier if needed due to freight levels.

Just wondering how much your bid start time can fluctuate up or down and if it can change more then 2 hour.

If it can be changed more then 2 hours that's just not right. We all do have lives outside of this place and having your start time changed day to day is very hard on my family life.

If anyone can point me to the policy on this that would be greatly appreciated. Though i have a feeling this one lies under the great old "Management Discretion " clause here at FXF
Click to expand...
I believe they can bid as often, or a little as local management wants to. The road has this new policy of bidding EVERY 6 months. That should apply to city as well, but don't count on it, as nothing has been said about any enhanced policy for city.

They can bid start times, routes, or any combination thereof, including flex (unassigned). Unassigned would be the one with the variable start times.

Policy says they can move start times up to 2 hours, in either direction, without the need to rebid. Also, if the bid is altered it must apply to the entire block of start times, if start time is the criteria for the bid. For example, if they change the 8:00 guys to 9:00, all 8:00 drivers move to 9. They cannot selectively chose one party to apply this change to. This has been shared by more than one H/R field person, as well as division H/R Manager. I may even have a copy somewhere. If they are changing it daily, it is no longer a start time bid, but a flex (unassigned) bid. That should trigger a rebid. Rebid is no big deal, I've seen them do that less than a month into a bid, repeatedly. I have seen bids moved up to an hour, but never more than that, even though they can, per policy.

I would contact H/R, since there is an obligation to show you the policy, as well as enforce it if applicable. You can also review the policy yourself, on the intranet. You must be afforded an opportunity (and are encouraged) to be familiar with the policy. That policy lives on the intranet, and falls under education. They'll prefer/require you to not be on overtime while exercising that right...

Post up what you find, or don't find...
 
Last edited:
feded said:
Can you tell me how the city bidding process works at your center?

At my center we bid start times not routes every 6 months or earlier if needed due to freight levels.

Just wondering how much your bid start time can fluctuate up or down and if it can change more then 2 hour.

If it can be changed more then 2 hours that's just not right. We all do have lives outside of this place and having your start time changed day to day is very hard on my family life.

If anyone can point me to the policy on this that would be greatly appreciated. Though i have a feeling this one lies under the great old "Management Discretion " clause here at FXF
Click to expand...
Don't know how long you have been doing this, but you will suffer many missed family events if you stay in the trucking LTL industry. The only constant is inconsistency. Times change daily, and in reality you are given a starting time but have no idea when you will ever be getting off. Did it for 38 years and it never changed. Doesn't matter the color of the trucks they are all the same when it comes to shifts.
 
SwampRatt said:
I believe they can bid as often, or a little as local management wants to. The road has this new policy of bidding EVERY 6 months. That should apply to city as well, but don't count on it, as nothing has been said about any enhanced policy for city.

They can bid start times, routes, or any combination thereof, including flex (unassigned). Unassigned would be the one with the variable start times.

Policy says they can move start times up to 2 hours, in either direction, without the need to rebid. Also, if the bid is altered it must apply to the entire block of start times, if start time is the criteria for the bid. For example, if they change the 8:00 guys to 9:00, all 8:00 drivers move to 9. They cannot selectively chose one party to apply this change to. This has been shared by more than one H/R field person, as well as division H/R Manager. I may even have a copy somewhere. If they are changing it daily, it is no longer a start time bid, but a flex (unassigned) bid. That should trigger a rebid. Rebid is no big deal, I've seen them do that less than a month into a bid, repeatedly. I have seen bids moved up to an hour, but never more than that, even though they can, per policy.

I would contact H/R, since there is an obligation to show you the policy, as well as enforce it if applicable. You can also review the policy yourself, on the intranet. You must be afforded an opportunity (and are encouraged) to be familiar with the policy. That policy lives on the intranet, and falls under education. They'll prefer/require you to not be on overtime while exercising that right...

Post up what you find, or don't find...
Click to expand...
SwampRatt said:
I believe they can bid as often, or a little as local management wants to. The road has this new policy of bidding EVERY 6 months. That should apply to city as well, but don't count on it, as nothing has been said about any enhanced policy for city.

They can bid start times, routes, or any combination thereof, including flex (unassigned). Unassigned would be the one with the variable start times.

Policy says they can move start times up to 2 hours, in either direction, without the need to rebid. Also, if the bid is altered it must apply to the entire block of start times, if start time is the criteria for the bid. For example, if they change the 8:00 guys to 9:00, all 8:00 drivers move to 9. They cannot selectively chose one party to apply this change to. This has been shared by more than one H/R field person, as well as division H/R Manager. I may even have a copy somewhere. If they are changing it daily, it is no longer a start time bid, but a flex (unassigned) bid. That should trigger a rebid. Rebid is no big deal, I've seen them do that less than a month into a bid, repeatedly. I have seen bids moved up to an hour, but never more than that, even though they can, per policy.

I would contact H/R, since there is an obligation to show you the policy, as well as enforce it if applicable. You can also review the policy yourself, on the intranet. You must be afforded an opportunity (and are encouraged) to be familiar with the policy. That policy lives on the intranet, and falls under education. They'll prefer/require you to not be on overtime while exercising that right...

Post up what you find, or don't find...
Click to expand...
The road has had a 6 month bid policy in place since I started 18 years ago so it's nothing new. However I don't think in those 18 years we've ever had a bid last that long.
 
feded said:
Can you tell me how the city bidding process works at your center?

At my center we bid start times not routes every 6 months or earlier if needed due to freight levels.

Just wondering how much your bid start time can fluctuate up or down and if it can change more then 2 hour.

If it can be changed more then 2 hours that's just not right. We all do have lives outside of this place and having your start time changed day to day is very hard on my family life.

If anyone can point me to the policy on this that would be greatly appreciated. Though i have a feeling this one lies under the great old "Management Discretion " clause here at FXF
Click to expand...
Bid times change, bid routes change, bids are added, bids are dropped, people retire, people quit, people get fired, people go out on medical leave, people come back from medical leave, we gain customers, we lose customers, the list goes on and on for the reason schedules constantly change. We don't work at a bank . There is one guarantee in the trucking industry. .."not a lot stays the same for very long" If a trucking company wants to stay competitive and service their customers , change is inevitable.
 
SwampRatt said:
Common sense says that a bid that requires a 2 hour change, or daily changes, is a seriously flawed bid.
Click to expand...
Common sense can't predict when a road driver carrying proper freight is delayed leaving the hub, delayed in traffic, or both causing a two hour delay in his return, thus pushing back the start of certain city start times....if a two hour delay is an everyday occurrence, then I'll agree that common sense says the start time needs adjusting which constitutes a rebid, otherwise it is what it is regardless of whether or not one has a contract.
 
jokersonfire 69 said:
Bid times change, bid routes change, bids are added, bids are dropped, people retire, people quit, people get fired, people go out on medical leave, people come back from medical leave, we gain customers, we lose customers, the list goes on and on for the reason schedules constantly change. We don't work at a bank . There is one guarantee in the trucking industry. .."not a lot stays the same for very long" If a trucking company wants to stay competitive and service their customers , change is inevitable.
Click to expand...
Redracer3136 said:
Common sense can't predict when a road driver carrying proper freight is delayed leaving the hub, delayed in traffic, or both causing a two hour delay in his return, thus pushing back the start of certain city start times....if a two hour delay is an everyday occurrence, then I'll agree that common sense says the start time needs adjusting which constitutes a rebid, otherwise it is what it is regardless of whether or not one has a contract.
Click to expand...
You guys are so with it. You guys truly get it.
 
Last edited:
jokersonfire 69 said:
The road has had a 6 month bid policy in place since I started 18 years ago so it's nothing new. However I don't think in those 18 years we've ever had a bid last that long.
Click to expand...
That is probably true, but they did taut that minimum of every 6 months, in the monthly Corporate communication videos. The enhancement was to include annual tractor bids, if I recall correctly.
 
Redracer3136 said:
Common sense can't predict when a road driver carrying proper freight is delayed leaving the hub, delayed in traffic, or both causing a two hour delay in his return, thus pushing back the start of certain city start times....if a two hour delay is an everyday occurrence, then I'll agree that common sense says the start time needs adjusting which constitutes a rebid, otherwise it is what it is regardless of whether or not one has a contract.
Click to expand...

All fine and dandy, BUT when the bid is based on start times, the fact that a particular route will be delayed, should not effect that individual's start time. May simply have to run a different route than usual. THAT happens and is not unusual.

Note: Red, this is not really about having a contract or not. It is about what is policy and what is a reasonable expectation. Seniority can also play a part in this, if the number of individuals effected is limited. If there is an option, it should start from the top, if mandatory, it should start from the bottom, just like the "no work today" call.
 
Last edited:
SwampRatt said:
Yeah, Train... In their game of chess, there is little doubt who the pawn represents. :kickedoutsmile:
Click to expand...
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/chess-analogies I would be curious. What piece would you say you represent? And do you have a particular analogy in the game being played today? As you probably know I play chess. Far from the greatest. But I can hold my own. And could probably beat you if I had to guess. Although I have no way of knowing for sure. Do you play chess online .... ie. Pogo? In the link. Click on .... metaphors-in-chess-the-pieces ...... And tell me what you think? True? The Pawn? If you work hard you get a promotion. Priceless. And the King? Despotism can be troublesome. What do you think?
 
Last edited:
SwampRatt said:
All fine and dandy, BUT when the bid is based on start times, the fact that a particular route will be delayed, should not effect that individual's start time. May simply have to run a different route than usual. THAT happens and is not unusual.

Note: Red, this is not really about having a contract or not. It is about what is policy and what is a reasonable expectation. Seniority can also play a part in this, if the number of individuals effected is limited. If there is an option, it should start from the top, if mandatory, it should start from the bottom, just like the "no work today" call.
Click to expand...
I agree 100%, since city bids are based on start times, the driver should be placed on whatever route is available.
I'm guessing at the center in question to the original post, those delays encountered must've effected all the routes that were set up for the said start time which resulted in nothing being ready, forcing dispatch to "back up" their start...which would follow policy for backing up their start times, correct?

NOTE: My reference to whether or not a contract would make a difference was in response to Dick's comment....and I'll agree with you again, it has nothing to do with having a contract.
 
If anyone can point me to the policy on this that would be greatly appreciated. Though i have a feeling this one lies under the great old "Management Discretion " clause here at FXF[/QUOTE said:
Sorry but nobody here can point you to the policy.
Click to expand...
 
Redracer3136 said:
I agree 100%, since city bids are based on start times, the driver should be placed on whatever route is available.
I'm guessing at the center in question to the original post, those delays encountered must've effected all the routes that were set up for the said start time which resulted in nothing being ready, forcing dispatch to "back up" their start...which would follow policy for backing up their start times, correct?

NOTE: My reference to whether or not a contract would make a difference was in response to Dick's comment....and I'll agree with you again, it has nothing to do with having a contract.
Click to expand...

Agreed. We do hope that's the case. Based on the limited info shared, that is the only fair assumption. Although he/she did seem concerned about that 2 hour limit on the degree of fluctuation. At lease we could help in that regard.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top