FedEx Freight | From PT dock 2 FT road driver tips, please!

Cali4nia

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Hello TB! It's my first post here, and I've already managed to ask a doozie, lol......so here goes.

I Just got hired as a PT dockworker. Today, I asked my ops supervisor what it took to be a road driver.
He informed me to apply as a driver apprentice, and when the position becomes available, he would put me as a hostler.
Problem is, he told me that there were a few people ahead of me.

So, I'm imagining around 6 months PT dock, then an opening for a driver apprentice (bleh!)

My question is, once a driver apprentice, can I apply for a road driver then, or will I have to stick with city driver before I go for road driver?

Any type of feedback is much appreciated, thanks!
 
Cali, upon completion of the D.D.C. program, you will be placed on the city board by seniority. I'm not sure how long but there is a minimum amount of time you need (accident free) on city board before you can post for a road position. Good luck!
 
Cali, upon completion of the D.D.C. program, you will be placed on the city board by seniority. I'm not sure how long but there is a minimum amount of time you need (accident free) on city board before you can post for a road position. Good luck!
Unless things have changes, thats incorrect.

If/when he completes the driver training course, and there are road positions available at that time, and no one ahead of him in the city, or a transfer driver bid on them, he could go straight to the road.
 
Thanks moedog62....so all I have to do is complete the ddc? Is there any way I can do that while as a dockworker, or do they need something more concrete from me than tentative to allow me to take the course?
(Something tells me that they will need to NEED me before they train me)
 
Thanks moedog62....so all I have to do is complete the ddc? Is there any way I can do that while as a dockworker, or do they need something more concrete from me than tentative to allow me to take the course?
(Something tells me that they will need to NEED me before they train me)
Way I understand it there has to be an opening for driver apprentice and you apply for it just like any other transfer. Not sure how it is where you are but you could always ask the ddc instructors in your area.
 
Thanks for the replies here everyone.

So, I spoke with my OPS Supervisor and mentors, and most everyone agrees that I should get my cdl permit WHILE I apply. The internal job board is where I need to look, so that I can considered for the job I'm applying for right away.

My co-workers tell me that I can be a hostler, then train up to be a driver apprentice, then after a year of that, apply for a road driver position......lots of applying ahead for me. Wish me luck!
 
Is a driver apprentice the same as going through the ddc program? If you are in the ddc program there is a driver position waiting for you once you complete the training. It could be either city or road. Our ddc people know ahead of time whether they will be road or city once they complete their training.
 
Driver apprentice is the job position(hourly)and ddc is the driver development course. ( Sorry for not clearing that up). City driver is another job position(hourly) and so is Road driver(salary). :19:
 
Driver apprentice is the job position(hourly)and ddc is the driver development course. ( Sorry for not clearing that up). City driver is another job position(hourly) and so is Road driver(salary). :19:
Driver apprentice(da) and ddc are same, da goes thru ddc, road is both mileage and hourly, any delay, dock work, etc is hourly.
 
SwampRatt, Yes you're right about Ca. But I believe that IF your runs goes OUTSIDE the state,Then you would be on mileage,and Task pay,But within,AND staying INSIDE the state ,ALL hourly...
 
SwampRatt, Yes you're right about Ca. But I believe that IF your runs goes OUTSIDE the state,Then you would be on mileage,and Task pay,But within,AND staying INSIDE the state ,ALL hourly...
I thought if you were domiciled in CA then it was hourly despite were you meet or turn, but domiciled outside of CA then you stayed on mileage and task pay.
 
SwampRatt, Yes you're right about Ca. But I believe that IF your runs goes OUTSIDE the state,Then you would be on mileage,and Task pay,But within,AND staying INSIDE the state ,ALL hourly...
I "think" pops nailed it. Not absolutely certain, but pretty sure. Throughout the system it always comes down to "domicile" rate. Can't imagine the record keeping nightmare of rates/methods changing at the state line.

Even when sent to help out in times of crisis, domicile rates prevail. Having said that (and slightly off topic) it might be interesting to see how that (crisis assistance) situation will be handled if entire shifts (and multiple days) were completed within CA. I would expect the Legal dept. to determine how that particular scenario will be handled. Wonder if there is a plan in place, or will that be figured out when the time comes? :scratchhead:
 
I "think" pops nailed it. Not absolutely certain, but pretty sure. Throughout the system it always comes down to "domicile" rate. Can't imagine the record keeping nightmare of rates/methods changing at the state line.

Even when sent to help out in times of crisis, domicile rates prevail. Having said that (and slightly off topic) it might be interesting to see how that (crisis assistance) situation will be handled if entire shifts (and multiple days) were completed within CA. I would expect the Legal dept. to determine how that particular scenario will be handled. Wonder if there is a plan in place, or will that be figured out when the time comes? :scratchhead:
Probably when the time comes, I do know however, that when a driver from a GPD scale comes here to work they don't get their pay cut, so I would guess it would be the same out there, but we are talking about the democratic socialist of CA.
 
Congrats on getting hired!

Few things to keep in mind on your journey. Make sure you show up everyday. Scheduled time off is ok, but calling out makes you look unreliable. Get familiar with how the dock works, secure your freight and try to minimize your damages. Misloads are a no-no and will get you written up. Get your bills/hr up to and over goal. This will take some time depending on your experience. Remember that the one bill one skid orders are your money makers, run those quickly to get your bills/hr up to compensate for a truckload or a bunch of loose freight. SECURE YOUR FREIGHT. Nothing worse than being called back to secure a load you loaded twenty minutes ago. Take your time with drums/pails. If any liquid is spilled on the dock/in the trailer the sups have to generate a spill report. Not good for you.

Have a good attitude. It gets ****ed up on the dock sometimes. City will be in late and you have gate times to meet. Whining/crying will not move the freight and your co-workers are just under as much pressure as you. Keep any negative comments to yourself, just move the freight. :-)

Once you're comfortable on the dock talk to your ops manager about hosting. Get hostler certified and comfortable moving trailers. It can be a little overwhelming at first (It was for me).

Cliffs:
Show up everyday
Secure your freight
Have a good attitude

Good luck and have fun.
 
Congrats on getting hired!

Few things to keep in mind on your journey. Make sure you show up everyday. Scheduled time off is ok, but calling out makes you look unreliable. Get familiar with how the dock works, secure your freight and try to minimize your damages. Misloads are a no-no and will get you written up. Get your bills/hr up to and over goal. This will take some time depending on your experience. Remember that the one bill one skid orders are your money makers, run those quickly to get your bills/hr up to compensate for a truckload or a bunch of loose freight. SECURE YOUR FREIGHT. Nothing worse than being called back to secure a load you loaded twenty minutes ago. Take your time with drums/pails. If any liquid is spilled on the dock/in the trailer the sups have to generate a spill report. Not good for you.

Have a good attitude. It gets ****ed up on the dock sometimes. City will be in late and you have gate times to meet. Whining/crying will not move the freight and your co-workers are just under as much pressure as you. Keep any negative comments to yourself, just move the freight. :-)

Once you're comfortable on the dock talk to your ops manager about hosting. Get hostler certified and comfortable moving trailers. It can be a little overwhelming at first (It was for me).

Cliffs:
Show up everyday
Secure your freight
Have a good attitude

Good luck and have fun.
Pretty good overall guide. The only thing I would add, Don't let anyone rush you to the point of being unsafe, Period. There is the ever present risk of injury, if not paying attention. No one wants to get hurt, or worse than that, hurting someone else.

Cliffs:
Show up everyday
BE SAFE
Secure your freight
Have a good attitude

Good luck, BE SAFE, and have fun!
 
Cool SwampRatt, and thanks! Thing is, there are driver apprentice jobs popping up here and there in California, and BOY, do I have questions!!!

I put in for my cdl a with doubles, triples, hazmat, and tanks to the dmv today.....and now I have to take the tests for them asap. I will have to do my TSA and med screening around next week. With all this effort, though, if I ever get a driver apprentice job, will it be enough for a decent standard of living? What happens after you are done training as a da? Do you have to go to part time city before road??? Also, are there even full time city driver positions for da's right after? That is my real concern if I relocate....no hours.
 
Cool SwampRatt, and thanks! Thing is, there are driver apprentice jobs popping up here and there in California, and BOY, do I have questions!!!

I put in for my cdl a with doubles, triples, hazmat, and tanks to the dmv today.....and now I have to take the tests for them asap. I will have to do my TSA and med screening around next week. With all this effort, though, if I ever get a driver apprentice job, will it be enough for a decent standard of living? What happens after you are done training as a da? Do you have to go to part time city before road??? Also, are there even full time city driver positions for da's right after? That is my real concern if I relocate....no hours.
Once you get thru the program you go to full time, now you may not work 40 hrs a week but you will be full time.
 
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