FedEx Freight | National Driver here. Yes, it's ALL my fault.

Hi Everyone. I am a Current FXNL P&D driver out of Southern California, soon to be called a "CITY Driver".;)

I have been looking over these boards the past week or so as I heard about the news of the Merger at work. I see allot of mis-information, and allot of anger from both divisions. I can understand that, there is allot of frustration out there. So I decided to register so I can post.

I just wanted to remind you all, that it is not any one drivers fault within FXNL that made a decision to merge the 2 divisions. It's not like we (National) planned this to happen. We do not want ANYONE to lose their job. I mean, really, do some of you think I called up Fred Smith personally and said "Hey Fred, this is a FXNL P&D driver in Orange County CA, and I have a great idea that will screw over the Freight division drivers!" Of course not.

We at National, do our jobs, and do it well. You, may disagree, and thats your opinion. Merging the 2 divisions is a sound and solid business move for both Freight and National, and will make it/US a stronger company, I do believe that. This economy is still in a bad place, it is common knowledge that the freight business is down for everyone, so I cannot believe some of the comments on these boards that are so narrow minded, to just blame National and it's employees for a supposed company failure. That is not the case at all IMHO.

Well, that is what I am picking up on on these boards, and that is just a ridiculous train of thought, and just shows the lack of maturity and wanting to put blame on someone and of course, National employees are an easy target. That is just human nature I guess, you have to have someone to blame, so here I am!

I worked for a Watkins contractor prior to FedEx NTL buying Watkins and had actually left Watkins about 7 months before FedEx bought Watkins, and that time counts for nothing of course.

I have a good start time, 8am M-F. I am #19 in seniority out of 43 City drivers but #13 for bidding seniority as there are 6 previous Watkins employees that have company seniority, that were dock workers turned CDL City drivers with FXNL, and fall into there perspective seniority spot for their job class as a City driver for bidding purposes for start times. I used to work the dock in the early AM, and then go do city driving all day, now they have hired back the AM PT dock workers, so I just drive City now.
The dock is worked by City drivers in the PM for outbound, and they do shuttles to our local break-bulk in Mira Loma, CA. after the dock is done, but are classified as City drivers, not road drivers.

I have an assigned tractor, a 2007 Volvo. I have an assigned route, that I have been running for quite some time now, and have built up a great customer re-pore and take pride in my job, my personal appearance and my equipment.

I stand to lose my route, my tractor and my start time, along with losing 2 paid days per year, as FXF does not pay a birthday holiday, and accrues less personal time than FXNL drivers do. We had never got bonus programs at FXNL, and never have had a shoe program like FXF does here in CA.

So I am hoping to gain a few things out of this too. You have to be positive, or this whole thing will eat and eat at you inside and just harbor anger towards the wrong people.

Am I mad? No.

I understand what is going on with the Company, and I am one of the fortunate ones, that will be able to retain a job with FedEx Freight, and I am very thankful for that. I do not care about what truck I drive, I don't care about my start time, I am not worried about losing 2 paid days off per year. I am not pointing fingers at any one person, ESPECIALLY fellow drivers at FXNL or FXF.

I care about my fellow employees, I care about our customers, and I care about my family, that I will still be able to provide a paycheck to put a roof over our heads.

I am sincerely sorry, and I have empathy for ANY FXF or FXNL drivers, City or Linehaul/Road drivers, supervisors, managers, office or dock workers, that may be layed off and losing there jobs. Some of them want to go and take the severance, some of them do not and do not have a choice. Fair? Nope...but that is life my friends...if you have not figured it out by now, life is not fair sometimes.

Due to my lack of seniority, as I have only been with FXNL since June 1st, 2007, I will most likely be bumped from my terminal, to a FedEx Freight terminal and dovetailed in. I have one choice basically, if I get bumped out of my terminal by more senior freight drivers dovetailing in, and it is local, right down the road from me, so that is a non-issue. I know, some FXNL drivers are concerned how they will be treated, mainly by management at FXF, and of course, FXF drivers. I think they are all professionals, and will hold there personal feelings aside, as any professional would do, and realize, that we are all trying to accomplish the same goal here, make FXF Money, and that secures us a place to work and a future.

There are no "sides" here. That is such a school yard mentality to have. "Oh, your not on my side, your not my friend! I hate you!" Really? Grow up already.

I am not sure where some are getting there info, but Freight drivers CAN choose to come to our terminal from (ONE) local terminal only, they do not have to follow the freight, and they can bump down National drivers with there seniority and dovetail in, and I am good with that. National drivers can NOT do that...we have to follow the freight, if you are good in your seniority spot at your current terminal, thats where you stay. If you want to go to another terminal, if there is a position open, and your position is secure at your current terminal, you will end-tail in, meaning you go to the bottom of the board, as that is called a voluntary transfer.

They deserve it, and I am happy for them if they choose to do so. One day, it will be my turn to move up closer to the top. That time is not now, and I understand that.

I know some of the drivers at the Freight terminal that I will probably be dovetailing into, and I have had NO issues with ANY Freight driver anywhere giving any National driver a hard time. I see many and know many Freight drivers on my route, and all of them are good guys, and some of them were even hoping I would come work with them, as they have seen my level of professionalism in the field, and know I take my job and the Purple Promise seriously. We talk sports, about our families, how our day is going, we are all people, doing a job that allot of people cannot do.

This is MY Career, like it our not. So, if you want to hate me, for being just like you, a Driver for FedEx that's worried...wondering what is going on, please feel free to throw all the rocks at me, as it is ALL my fault as a National driver.:Poke:

And I will just add this in...Time to Nut up or shut-up!
That means, take it like and adult, be mature about it and act accordingly.

Rock on!

Thats a good post driver, I don't have any bad things to say about National drivers.... They are only trying to feed their family like everyone else....

Welcome aboard, glad to have you

Truer words have never been spoken

Great post ... I know it will work out for you one way or the other.

Welcome to the boards and hang around even after all this is over.

Hey Jeff and hohumm, thanks for the warm welcome! Wow, I didn't realize my post was so long! I had allot on my mind I guess.

purple_beer said:

Hey Jeff and hohumm, thanks for the warm welcome! Wow, I didn't realize my post was so long! I had allot on my mind I guess.

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we got plenty of space :)

Welcome To Truckingboards!!!

purple_beer

Excellent post for being your first post.
With your attitude you will do just fine no matter what terminal you end up working out of.
As far as any red shirts or fellow city drivers in SoCal, all you need to ask them is, if they worked for Viking before all this shake up and you will find people that will help you out with any questions or problems you may have.
Since I have not been in SoCal in many years I was wondering if National still has the old Watkins yard in Vernon off the Bandini exit???
Or is Mira Loma the big breakbulk yard now???
I thought I heard from someone that they will try not to close any Freight or National Service Centers in SoCal since there is always so much work there. Also they may need them for future expansion.

Good Luck and things will just work out great for you.

River17 said:

purple_beer

Excellent post for being your first post.
With your attitude you will do just fine no matter what terminal you end up working out of.
As far as any red shirts or fellow city drivers in SoCal, all you need to ask them is, if they worked for Viking before all this shake up and you will find people that will help you out with any questions or problems you may have.
Since I have not been in SoCal in many years I was wondering if National still has the old Watkins yard in Vernon off the Bandini exit???
Or is Mira Loma the big breakbulk yard now???
I thought I heard from someone that they will try not to close any Freight or National Service Centers in SoCal since there is always so much work there. Also they may need them for future expansion.

Good Luck and things will just work out great for you.

Click to expand...

Hey River17, thanks for the kind words! I am sure, some will read my post, and just think I am a kissA**, but that is not the case, I can assure you.

To answer your questions, Yes, the old Watkins Terminal is still there in glorious Vernon, and is not closing.
And for National, the Mira Loma, or San Bernardino Terminal as some call it, is not closing and is our main break bulk center in So Cal. The only Terminal that is closing, to my knowledge in the south is in Oxnard, CA. that is a National terminal.

River17 said:

purple_beer

Excellent post for being your first post.
With your attitude you will do just fine no matter what terminal you end up working out of.
As far as any red shirts or fellow city drivers in SoCal, all you need to ask them is, if they worked for Viking before all this shake up and you will find people that will help you out with any questions or problems you may have.
Since I have not been in SoCal in many years I was wondering if National still has the old Watkins yard in Vernon off the Bandini exit???
Or is Mira Loma the big breakbulk yard now???
I thought I heard from someone that they will try not to close any Freight or National Service Centers in SoCal since there is always so much work there. Also they may need them for future expansion.

Good Luck and things will just work out great for you.

Click to expand...

I agree 100% - Tremendous post. We all can use some more of this level of empathy, common sense and positive thinking.

To answer your question: Yes, the center off of Bandini will stay open (so will the San Diego, Orange County, Mira Loma, and the Oxnard center). They don't make any more land here in SoCal and considering traffic a compact and dense P and D area is definitely a big advantage.

purple_beer said:

Hey River17, thanks for the kind words! I am sure, some will read my post, and just think I am a kissA**, but that is not the case, I can assure you.

To answer your questions, Yes, the old Watkins Terminal is still there in glorious Vernon, and is not closing.
And for National, the Mira Loma, or San Bernardino Terminal as some call it, is not closing and is our main break bulk center in So Cal. The only Terminal that is closing, to my knowledge in the south is in Oxnard, CA. that is a National terminal.

Click to expand...

Oxnard (National) will not close but the FXF facility in Oxnard will move into the FXNL barn. Opposite of what's happening in most other places.

The Oxnard facility is beautiful - I have no clue how much money Watkins dropped on that baby but you can be assured that it was very significant.

hohumm said:

Oxnard (National) will not close but the FXF facility in Oxnard will move into the FXNL barn. Opposite of what's happening in most other places.

The Oxnard facility is beautiful - I have no clue how much money Watkins dropped on that baby but you can be assured that it was very significant.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the clarification! I knew one was closing, I was not positive which one. I personally have never been to either terminal in Oxnard.
I am in the Orange FXNL Terminal, and may possibly be going to the Irvine Terminal as a City driver. I won't know for sure until mid October, according to my Terminal manager.

Oxnard

hohumm said:

Oxnard (National) will not close but the FXF facility in Oxnard will move into the FXNL barn. Opposite of what's happening in most other places.

The Oxnard facility is beautiful - I have no clue how much money Watkins dropped on that baby but you can be assured that it was very significant.

Click to expand...

hohumm

The old Watkins yard in Oxnard must be much bigger than the Freight yard that was built new not so many years ago. I'm sure they will be able to sell that Freight yard to an Old Dominion or Estes. Or they could use it to grow strawberries.

River17 said:

hohumm

The old Watkins yard in Oxnard must be much bigger than the Freight yard that was built new not so many years ago. I'm sure they will be able to sell that Freight yard to an Old Dominion or Estes. Or they could use it to grow strawberries.

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52 doors and a yard where you could hold a NASCAR race - The problem was we were servicing the valley out of there and that made for some looooong stem times with plenty traffic.

Hmmm, strawberries ...

Purple_Beer: I see by reading your post that you work out of the FXFN terminal in Orange Ca. I'm right down the street at the FXF terminal in Anaheim. We are about four miles apart. I'm glad to see you have a good attitude with our current situation. I know when it was Watkins, Viking, and AF we were a lot happier, but that was then and this is now. Most of the drivers who are transferring are following the freight. In your case Anaheim will be transferring 4 road drivers to Orange. Since you don't have any road drivers at your terminal, this won't effect anyone. After these four road drivers are in place, 7 more spots will open up for six shuttle drivers and one extra board driver. We are also transferring 11 local drivers to Orange. Not to panic, they are not coming empty handed. Both our Anaheim and Irvine terminals will lose territory to Orange. You will gain about 185 bills a day. It is true we have a lot of high seniority employees in Anaheim since we've been here since 1979. We are also bringing some equipment with us. I'm not joining the party in Orange, I'm staying in Anaheim. I can't tell you if you will be able to keep your tractor or your run, but a lot of opportunities will open up in Orange. I wish you the best of luck. Since no one will be laid off in Anaheim, I can't qualify for the severance pay, otherwise I would be gone on Jan 30. I'm pulling the pin next August. That will give me 34 years with the company. That's enough. TP

Well Said Purple Beer

Purple_Beer: After reading your post as a freight driver I would be proud to stand and work beside you. One on the most insightful posts I have read on here. I am a Line haul driver here in Texas but to see someone like you have such an amazing attitude let me stand beside you brother and shoulder some of the blame

Never met a national driver I didn't like but that post kicked my ass up between my shoulders......Hooty out and hiding under bed.

Purple Beer and Jeff, you are both a class act! I am an old Watkins contractor/driver. I've always felt and been treated like " the red headed step-child", so this new situation is no different than what I'm use to. People have short memories and this isn't the 1st time, the old Watkins drivers have dealt with displaced drivers and dovetail and seniority issues. Most drivers said, " Oh well, if that's how it is, so be it". The ones that couldn't deal with it, seemed to disappear! Keep it positive and turn the rest over to the Lord. Thanks Purple Beer and Jeff, you give me hope.

Do yourself a favor!!!

Everybody needs to step back and take a deep breath.

We have been into this just over a week...with four months to go...which is a long time for things to potentially change.

Those wishing for severance needed to have their requests in by 9/24 and those wanting to transfer by 10/4.

Between 10/4 and 10/15 those numbers will be crunched and notifications will be given to those who qualify...until that happens everything is conjecture. On 10/15 the TMs will be in meetings to discuss the ramifications of those numbers.

Everything to this point in regards to changes have been based on computer models...software designed to handle these kinds of situations.

It is faceless number crunching.

Once the dust has settled as to who is going where then adjustments will be made.

In the mean time relax...take the significant other out to dinner...beat the kids (just kidding!)...have a cookout...whatever it takes to get on with your life in a normal manner.

We have a LONG WAY to go before all is written in stone.

Rat

Hurricane, you can't compare purple beer and jeff together. That wouldn't be fair to purple beer. Jeff is in a class of his own in which I would not be mean enough to subject purple beer to

no offense jeff but let's face it. you are in a class of your own. You are UNIQUE!!!!