I’ve been working the dock part time at FedEx Freight for about 6 months. So far I’ve been enjoying the job, and have been considering the driver apprenticeship. Would anybody be able to fill me in and give me some information on what all it entails? What kind of money would I look to be making at the start? I would want to do road driving. I am at the Hagerstown hub if that helps.
FedEx Freight | Driver Apprentice
- Thread starter Venger404
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Streaker69
The Influencer
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- 803
I went through the program a couple of months ago. I was paid 20.13 an hour. I worked 4 10 hour shifts, but no overtime after 8 while clocked in to education.
Week 1 is skills you learn how to back. You get 1 remedial week if necessary.
Week 2 is basics. Public roads in a pup.
Week 3 is road/advanced learn how to hook a set and drive to another barn. Also drive a 48 footer. You need to have your cdl by this point.
Week 4 is city mentorship. Go out with a city driver and see what it's like.
You get one more remedial that can be used during weeks 2 to 4. If you need more than one remedial you flunk out. I was ready for my state test in 2 and a half weeks and I've never driven a manual. I was so bad I was told to just leave it in first gear my first week.
That's a summary of it. If you have any questions, let me know.
truckingBORED
Careering down the road to AUTONOMY!
- Credits
- 368
Get access to the employee handbook online and read the section on the Driver Apprentice position. Talk to your local DDI. I have seen some really good drivers come through program. Luther, Bill and Dustin do a great job in the Harrisburg region. Don’t be afraid to train there, if given the opportunity.
Streaker69 gave an excellent summary of the course and pay.
Talk to your sup about applying for the program. I assume you work the hub so if you don't get a satisfactory answer, hit the city dispatch office on the way out one morning and ask them who you can talk to about open positions. Hagerstown city needs drivers so you'd be assigned to do that upon graduation but you can certainly bid on an open road spot when they become available.
Richard Cranium
TB Legend
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- 0
Line haul at any given terminal is like real estate...location, location, location.
While I know nothing about your domicile’s line runs, you need to be intimately aware of the runs available at your yard. If your yard is heavy on night runs and you want to be able to run days at some point, you need to take a hard look at the line board there. If they’re all on the younger side, there won’t be people retiring to open up day positions. At my yard, other than the top extraboard driver, most of our junior road drivers will work nights until they retire.
Also, the extra board is not guaranteed work. Can you afford that?
Not wanting to rain on your parade, but you need to think before you take the line haul plunge.
While I know nothing about your domicile’s line runs, you need to be intimately aware of the runs available at your yard. If your yard is heavy on night runs and you want to be able to run days at some point, you need to take a hard look at the line board there. If they’re all on the younger side, there won’t be people retiring to open up day positions. At my yard, other than the top extraboard driver, most of our junior road drivers will work nights until they retire.
Also, the extra board is not guaranteed work. Can you afford that?
Not wanting to rain on your parade, but you need to think before you take the line haul plunge.