Starting Out
- Thread starter jaymad1
- Start date
Well, jay, everyone has their own opinion of each expediting company out there, but as a former FEDEX CUSTOM CRITICAL team driver with my wife, we found out that FEDEX's business has taken a nosedive. You may not know, but FEDEX CC was ROBERTS EXPRESS. 2 years ago FEDEX bought them. It was good in the beginning until customers found out that it changed hands and business really started to fall apart. The main FEDEX went out and bought all these trucking companies in an effort to win an expansion in Japan and the whole deal fell through. So now FEDEX isn't putting any time or money into any of the companies they bought. We are hard workers and were staying out on the road for 2-3 months at a time trying to make a good living and in the last 3 months we were with them, we had 15 loads. We were forced to leave and have found a home with Con-Way Now in Ann Arbor, MI. They are a smaller company with about 300 trucks with 275 loads a day versus FEDEX's 1200 trucks and 300 loads a day. They treat you good and they dont "forget" to pay like FEDEX. Make a good choice and good luck in whatever you choose.
nashpredator
Expert Expediter
My advice to anyone considering ANY FedUp company is: Make sure you have a nice comfortable pair of walking shoes. You will need them for the day when the repo man comes to the truck stop ( that's where you'll be cause you will never have a load) to take your truck.
I cannot speak from experience about FedEx - but I do suspect that there will be a lot of other drivers wondering if anyone reads the postings on this site. The question that you have asked is repeated almost every month. If you really have your heart set on getting into expediting - DRIVE SOMEONE ELSE'S TRUCK. Then you can decide after 6 or 12 months if it is what you really want to do. Then if you decide to get out of the business - you don't have to go through bankrupcy court to do it. Your credit will still be in good shape - and your spouse won't be saying "I told you so."
Good luck.
Good luck.
Larry is right. If you want to see if expediting is for you, drive someone else's truck. Give it 6 to 9 months and you will see for your self. I lost my truck in march and my bankruptcy will be completed the end of this month. 20 years of A+ credit rating down the toilet. Live and learn I guess. These companies will tell you anything to get you on board but have all the excuses why its slow and no runs for you. It does pick up in the summer but slows down alot in january. If dump truck is boring you, go drive tractor trailer for awhile until the economy gets better. Save up some cash then go for it. My big mistake was buying a new truck. High payments and low income. Alot of used equipement out there that can be bought cheap. Good luck in your decision.
Randy
Randy
For every driver that is running his/her butt off right now, there are two other drivers sitting in truck stops wondering how they will make payments this month. There are enough horror stories out there to convince me that this business is difficult for new drivers (and some of the old drivers too). If you are going to take the gamble and try your luck in this business, it makes more sense to use someone else's money. Check out the classified ads and see if you can find someone else's truck to drive. You can always pick up a good 'USED/REPOSESSED' later.
Lostmarbles
Expert Expediter
I just got started in the over the road business. Reasons aside I had several tractors paid for from another business. I checked out all of the owner opp. programs first and then spoke with an old friend. He put one of my trucks to work hauling a flat bed. Thank God I didn't fall for one of these other programs! I have seen only three "D" trucks in 4370 miles (one week). I have seen all 15,000 Swift trucks I think!...lol
Point is, think hard about this and don't spend more than $22k on a truck cause there are a million of them out there. If you are lucky enough to have a friend in the business then talk to Him or Her. Its not what you think I found out fast. You can bet that as soon as I can I'll be putting someone in to drive for me. Did I tell ya how lucky I was to find a friend to show me the ropes?
Good luck what ever you decide. L. Marbles
Life is what happens to you while your busy makeing other plans.
Point is, think hard about this and don't spend more than $22k on a truck cause there are a million of them out there. If you are lucky enough to have a friend in the business then talk to Him or Her. Its not what you think I found out fast. You can bet that as soon as I can I'll be putting someone in to drive for me. Did I tell ya how lucky I was to find a friend to show me the ropes?
Good luck what ever you decide. L. Marbles
Life is what happens to you while your busy makeing other plans.