Pros
STARTING off my trucking career at FedEx Freight is almost one of the best things that could of happened to me. The opportunity to be trained and taught all in FedEx's programs has enabled me to start off my trucking career in the right step. From learning how to handle trucks without having any experience to hauling doubles with no hesitation. I got into the driving apprentice program back in late January of 2022. In the program they teach you one-on-one how to handle and know the trucks that you'll be driving on a daily basis. Non of that driving for 1 hour and the rest online programs. Every day for weeks is more than 7-8 hours of pure driving and learning how to handle trucks in different situations. In my experience, it only took me 5 weeks to get out of the program and be on my own. FedEx helps you acquire a CDL class A without having to have any schooling before hand; which is a very great thing as it takes away the pain of having to pay 5-6k to get one on your own. Instead I got paid to acquire it and got a set job right after. Being on my own for a few months in FedEx has been a good experience both in driving and community wise. One thing for certain based on my experience is that FedEx does actually care about its drivers and they are lenient when it comes to certain things. Honesty is the very thing they honor above anything else (besides safety of course). You screw up something, that being minor or grave, and you tell them upfront and within a timely manner they'll work with you. Not being honest is something that has gotten many people in trouble from what I seen. Starting pay is excellent compared to other companies with my level of experience, which is almost none. Obviously it's not an amazing pay but based on how long I have been working there as a driver I'd take that over any other company in the same line of work. FedEx Freight does pay for hooks and drops. Even for delays that were out of my control. If needed, they as book hotels for us just in case you run out of hours or something happens to where you can't drive back to your terminal. In any job, in any line of work, in any place in the world, there will always be non-so friendly people. In FedEx there's no exceptions. I have met some non-so friendly people but the amount of actually friendly people out weigh the other portion. Almost all of the time I met friendly people willing to help at every terminal, especially including my own (Schaumburg). I started as a part-time dock worker in that terminal and worked as one for 3 years. The opportunities to climb through the company are there if you're willing to look/work for them. As a rookie driver at FedEx Freight, it's such a good opportunity to start off my driving career as it enables me to have choices in the future. To sticking with them for years or to look for something else if better opportunities come up (which for a new driver it doesn't get better than this).
Cons
As with every trucking company, it has it's negatives. From what I've seen it's mostly the management portion of it. Management could really use some people skills and stay on top of what is happening between the driver and them. The back-bone of this company is mainly the drivers; so such that drivers should be treated with respect. Every person should be treated with respect nether less if they shown respect as well. Some managers at terminals treat you with attitude and rudeness. It's unacceptable coming from someone who has the duty of leading employees and working with them. As a driver in FedEx Freight there is runs to where you have to work the dock and be on forklifts. The problem with that is that I've been working the dock more than I've driving. I get that in this time (As of Agst 2022) the economy isn't in the best shape, but at this rate I'm basically part-time driver and full-time dock worker. The pay kind of makes up for it for sure, nether less it's still gets annoying that I'm working the dock more than I'm driving. That being said, as a rookie there isn't much runs at all, or I get stuck with short runs with long hours of dock work. I get that I have to put my time in as other drivers who have been here longer than me have the best runs, but having to be stuck with such short runs for months can be frustrating. Again, the pay is good enough to where it's manageable but it does get annoying. The benefits are pretty good; matching 401k, dental, vision, and health. But my complain is that recently the health insurance changed to a more horrible one. Paying more for less. It is better than nothing but that could of stayed the way it was, would of been better.