As you said before you are not a contractor. I had plenty of sleepless nights worrying about how I'm going to get everything done, or is my employee going to show. Always got it done but when things are taken from you due to nothing you did wrong it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Whether or not you agree with that I don't care, I am bitter and pissed. I have A few friends that own other type of routes and they are not controlled the way x controls you. They laugh at the way x has controlled us for years. They hire who they want, drive what they want. Are allowed to leave the building to start their day. X holds you hostage until they close your scanner, sometimes waiting for one package that they misplaced on someone else's route(home delivery). Or just lock doors in the ground terminal. Mr. Mick you are a very smart man not buying one of these scams. Stay away and stay smart.Bounty when you get away from your route, I hope you go to work for someone. If not, you will be in shock to how little control you have of your own business. I don't care what business it is. You don't have control. Your customer(s) does/do. You might long for the certainty of a large company having work for your employees everyday. The times when you wake in the middle of the night wondering if you will have enough for the week so you actually make some money has to be better than complaining Fedex has to approve the driver you want.
The real world of business ownership isn't all roses. A bit more autonomy means you don't have the assurances you had with Fedex. The price you pay for having Fedex may be high but it's a hell of lot cheaper than paying employees when you aren't making money.