FedEx Freight | Hot Button Topic -Top Road Drivers Feel No Economic Pain

[Jeff]

I don't know how it works in the city anymore but I know the top 50-70% of the road drivers, never feel the pain of the slow down.

Now don't get me wrong, I am a blessed man and can afford the slowdown for the most part but I don't think it is right that these get 100% checks every week when others work 2-3 days a week.

Am I wrong for thinking this way and should they make it Mandatory that all employees feel the same pain.

Red shirts had to take a cut
I assume City drivers have reduced hours which is a cut.
Bottom 30% (or so) get canceled and feel the pain.
Top 50-70% of the Road never feel the pain.

 

[jdk1600]

In my terminal we have about 19 road drivers. I am 3rd from the bottom and have only worked 3 days in the last two weeks. And two of those days were people that called off, not because freight levels were higher on those days.

You may find this hard to believe, but I do not have anything against those road drivers that have more seniority than I do and are in that group you have designated as being in the top 50% to 70%.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending upon your point of view, capitalism will always have people who are working all the time and making money hand-over-fist, while others are only getting to work a little or not at all. The opposite is socialism. And that is something I am 100% opposed to. I'd rather have the chance to make more than someone else and create my own happiness, than to have all of us make the same amount of money and work the exact same hours.

Personally it sucks for me, but I am not the type to complain or feel that those with more seniority should have to give up any part of their bid to help me out. In fact, I wouldn't want it that way, because I would like to be in their position, and will certainly be glad if I ever make it that far or stay that long.

My approach has been to burn all of my vacation and personal time before filing for partial or full unemployment. As of this past week I have burned all of my vacation and personal time. So this Friday will be my last full paycheck.

In Pennsylvania, if you work less than 40% of your normal work hours per week, you qualify to file a claim for partial unemployment. This past week has been as follows: Monday - Sat at home, Tuesday - Shuttle Run/Dock Work, Wednesday - Sat at home, Thursday - TBD and Friday - TBD. At this rate it is likely that I may not get to that 40%+ and will have to file for partial unemployment.

In my opinion, some pay is better than none. And if they aren't going to allow us to work inbound or outbound if we are cancelled, put some of the freight from purchase trailers on our pups so that we can work or let more senior drivers who want to volunteer to take off to help us out, then I have no problem filing for unemployment. As the law states, I am willing and able to work, and there is no work available through no fault of my own.

What really sucks is that I'd love to tap my 401K monies to live off of instead of having to file for unemployment, but the plan rules only allow it under certain circumstances. And unfortunately right now I am not in danger of foreclosure, in need of money for a medical procedure, burial expenses of an immediate family member, etc. You get the idea.

I was just at the point of getting some things squared away financially and the economy went south. But that is the case for a lot of people. So I am not alone. Worse case is that I have to collect full unemployment benefits and look for a new job. I have already started getting my resume in order as I am old hat at this game. And it won't be a total loss, I have my CDL free of charge thanks to FedEx Freight.

At 39 years of age I am getting used to this thing called life...

P.S. I knew I should have never dropped out of that astronaut program!!! LOL

 

[Tenspeed]

Nice post jdk, This is a real touchy subject with some, It goes back to the senority thing, but I personally think FDX could help out a little more than they are, why dont they offer to keep your insurance up if you take the three month layoff, I know drivers who would of done this but the insurance problem turned them away from it. I know purchase is cheaper than us but they could scale back and help the drivers. I can go on and on but it will never change. I beleive they call it corporate greed!!

The trillion dollar man talks a good game let's see if he has the nads too put up or shut and get this economy back on track!!

I vote for a tax holiday of 6 to 12 months!!

 

[BusterNite]

I don't know how it works in the city anymore but I know the top 50-70% of the road drivers, never feel the pain of the slow down.

Now don't get me wrong, I am a blessed man and can afford the slowdown for the most part but I don't think it is right that these get 100% checks every week when others work 2-3 days a week.

Am I wrong for thinking this way and should they make it Mandatory that all employees feel the same pain.

Red shirts had to take a cut
I assume City drivers have reduced hours which is a cut.
Bottom 30% (or so) get canceled and feel the pain.
Top 50-70% of the Road never feel the pain.

Sorry Jeff, I have to disagree with you here. Don't the top 50%-70% of the city drivers also get all the extra work or hours? Seniority has to count for something.

 

[jdk1600]

Thanks Tenspeed. Like I said, I favor those with seniority over me. Fair is fair. They've earned it. I just don't want to hear FedEx complaining to me about having to file for unemployment because my pay has been cut by 60 to 100% each week. I don't begrudge their use of purchase trailers. It is a business decision. So they shouldn't begrudge my filing of unemployment. It is a survival decision.

On the economy front, I would love to see Congress pass and the President sign a massive stimulus plan. We need both infrastructure stimulus and lower taxes on capital gains, dividends, corporate income and personal income. We should be able to create a plan that stimulates everyone, not just a few. A tax holiday on the personal withholding tax would be a great idea!

As a side note, I personally know of some city drivers that are getting overtime, while I am getting only a day or two a week of work. But I chose the road, so I cannot complain...

 

[SHUTTLE DRIVER]

Everybody Should Share The Pain!

Their should be a company policy out there to make it more fair for drivers both city & road. Rotate the cancelled runs for road & the no work days for the city drivers. The company made a committment with us when they hired us fulltime. We stayed committed to them, but when times are slow like this we seen to get the scraps or even nothing. NO_ WORK The policy should rotate both boards to allow everyone to work. It's Not fair for just the bottom bids, both road & cityto sit home all the time when things slow down.I understand what the company is doing to try to STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVEwith the cutbacks that they did. Meanwhile why does the low man sit home 2-4 days a week & the company does nothing to change that. Other LTL competitors have a police in plane & FED EX should have one also.

 

[diesel dummy 69]

I dont see anything wrong with the bottom guys sitting home.The senior drivers have put in thier time and earned the spots where they are.Though management should ask the guys if they would slide off once in awhile to help the others that are not working.

 

[jdk1600]

It is what it is. Who knows, maybe I'll get to work tonight and Friday and won't have to file. I can at least hope right? I told my center that as long as I work 3 days a week to be above the 40% cut, I wouldn't have to file.

On the other hand, with unemployment and the days that I actually do work, I'd be able to bring home closer to 75% of what I normally make instead of 0% to 40%...

 

[SHUTTLE DRIVER]

Goober don't be GREEEDY! There is absolutely something wrong with the bottom of the board sitting home. The company feels this economic pain, Why shouldn't everybody share the pain, I understand the senority issue. The company is trying to stay ahead of the curve by keeping their employees in place for when the economy starts the recovery process. Meanwhile people NEED TO SURVIVE! One team one dream!!!!

 

[jdk1600]

And that is why I intend to file for partial unemployment if I don't get three days a week. That is my bottom line. FedEx has theirs, I have mine.

 

[Loose Canon]

Goober don't be GREEEDY! There is absolutely something wrong with the bottom of the board sitting home. The company feels this economic pain, Why shouldn't everybody share the pain, I understand the senority issue. The company is trying to stay ahead of the curve by keeping their employees in place for when the economy starts the recovery process. Meanwhile people NEED TO SURVIVE! One team one dream!!!!

One team one dream? We all make different choices at different times in our lives. One dream sounds like everyone should have the same things in life like: mansion, millions in the bank, trophy wife, kids that go to Harvard and become lawyers, 15 exotic sports cars, and GM's private jet!

 

[SHUTTLE DRIVER]

Loose Cannon must be in the top 50% - 70% of the board! Nobody here is talking about living a pipe dream like the analogy you're trying to make. The only choice I made was to accept a position with Fed Ex Freight as a full tine employee @ the time. I made a committment with them & they made a committment with me to be a FULLTIME EMPLOYEE. The pain is felt by the company & should be justifiably felt by everyone that works for Fed Ex Freight is my point. Senority or Not!!!

 

[imported_cactus flower]

I disagree..The senior drivers, who have the most time in, get to choose, work or stay home, that is what seniority is for. We all know when we got into this, how it works, I did spend my time at home in the slow times too, I paid my dues, I was warned of it many, many years ago when I hired on, accepted it, and now am a senior driver early starter, who even is gettin overtime, and happy about it. One day I will move on or retire, and create an open spot, then a junior driver will move up, and be working all the time. I have no remorse about working everday, I paid my dues, and this is the right way for it to be handled. With that said, those who don't like it, like with so many other posts on this board, don't like it, move on...you will find all other trucking companies go by seniority too. Better planning on those who are towards the bottom, knowing how this works, should be setting aside money during the busy season, like we all used to, so when this hits, you are prepared.
It was said on here about we should all share the burden. If we had a team atmosphere at FedEx, maybe it could be so, but since they have taken over, they seem to have ruined a good place, and the only teamwork is amongst friends it would seem, so I don't see too many people willing to part with their share of the work.

 

[cosmo]

Im sorry, but I started at the bottom of the board, for 7 mos. I scraped by on 15-35 hrs. / week. Things picked up and I started to get more senoriyt, more hrs. I then transferred to road, at the bottom, and for 8 mos averaged 3 nights per week. Now I am close to top, I have offered to take a day off to let others work, HOWEVER... some of the prima donnas dont want to work on Fri. They want it scheduled to suit them, I offer Fri. if I am not cut during week, so I get at least 4 runs. I quit offering, it seems that it only benefitted the top 2 in the city, as they would get there hrs plus a run, would not let it trickle down to the ones who needed the work.

 

[jdk1600]

Just so everyone knows where I stand. I am not complaining. Just wanted to make that clear. I respect the seniority system.

All I ask is that people do not look down on me for having to utilize partial unemployment. Everyone's situation is different. I need everything I earn to pay the mortgage, the car payments, the utilities, put food on the table, etc. I rarely if ever go out to eat and my big vacation this past year was a two day trip. I am by no means living large. Nor do I need a lecture on personal finance.

My only concern is that I have heard from other drivers that have been in a similar situation, that they were given a little grief for utilizing unemployment. All I can say is, they don't pay my bills.

 

[snake plissken]

Loose Cannon must be in the top 50% - 70% of the board! Nobody here is talking about living a pipe dream like the analogy you're trying to make. The only choice I made was to accept a position with Fed Ex Freight as a full tine employee @ the time. I made a committment with them & they made a committment with me to be a FULLTIME EMPLOYEE. The pain is felt by the company & should be justifiably felt by everyone that works for Fed Ex Freight is my point. Senority or Not!!!

I was at the bottom at one point and did what i had to do to get by, If you dont like it go back to your old job if its that bad, I dont know what you want but i try to take off for guys and they want to pick what nights they want to work...Give me a break if you dont like it move on get another job if you think you could do so much better,I was bottom man when we were AF at my barn and i only worked 1 to 2 days a week....and know im in the middle...SO TRY YRC OR RL OR BIG E....Or ask one of them how it works ITS THE SAME...So file for unemployment..

 

[Slackdragon]

balogna

I'm reading some balogna here

.... don't feel the pain .... I have felt the pain ... 3 weeks straight with out a single dollar made .... came in to work the dock to get enough on the 4th week to pay insurance ..... The dock workers only getting 25hrs for the week .... thats not a pretty picture to face ...taking their hours ... yes their hours (I feel that way)

Its has been several years since then. and I can afford to slide and let others work now. ... and I do ....

I have paid my dues

Don't be crying to me about sharing .... Go earn your own ....

 

[trucking62]

Just so everyone knows where I stand. I am not complaining. Just wanted to make that clear. I respect the seniority system.

All I ask is that people do not look down on me for having to utilize partial unemployment. Everyone's situation is different. I need everything I earn to pay the mortgage, the car payments, the utilities, put food on the table, etc. I rarely if ever go out to eat and my big vacation this past year was a two day trip. I am by no means living large. Nor do I need a lecture on personal finance.

My only concern is that I have heard from other drivers that have been in a similar situation, that they were given a little grief for utilizing unemployment. All I can say is, they don't pay my bills.

u say your not complaining but that is exactly what u r doing go sign for unemployment who cares u do what best fits u.im am sure u had a chance at one time to come to the road and by the way the road is feeling it with the runs that have been cut and guys with 8 yrs going back to a 100 mile run and guys that had runs with less seniority back working 8hrs on the dock. talk to the poor guys out of pocono or other centers and hubs your opening up a can of worms u dont wantto go their with we are all feeling it and we all have to suck it up hopefully it will turn by march.

 

[SHUTTLE DRIVER]

trucking 62 good post! The only thing that I differ with you is that WE ARE NOT ALL FEELING IT! Some prima donna's around here thinks that their crap doesn't stink! These select few think that they are above feeling any affects of the economy because they have senority. Those select few should share the PAIN !

 

[trucking62]

trucking 62 good post! The only thing that I differ with you is that WE ARE NOT ALL FEELING IT! Some prima donna's around here thinks that their crap doesn't stink! These select few think that they are above feeling any affects of the economy because they have senority. Those select few should share the PAIN !

i would have to disagree with u,that is what seniority is all about one day getting to the top and haveing a cake run sounds to me just like many others their is some jealousey their instead of worring about u