I finally landed a FT driver job as "swing" at the local FedEx Express hub. I was pretty excited that they contacted me back with the offer. So maybe I made the mistake (some here may say a blessing) of wanting to do a little research while waiting to be processed and all my findings led back to this forum and I read nothing but BAD things all around!
Is there truly NOTHING good about this place for employees?! There are no other forums I've found that will give any feedback (possibly positive to reinforce I haven't made a bad decision after all) or is this just a small group for all the would be whiners at work to vent so they don't lose their minds at work?
Well, that was your first mistake, hiring in as a full-time swing driver off the street. I saw many people who were desperate, do just this when I was in Express and virtually all of them were gone within 18 months. Being a swing is a tough job - much tougher than a regular Courier. You are expected to run ANY route with only having a SINGLE day of ride along prior to doing it yourself. If there is a call-in, you are STUCK in filling that route if there aren't any volunteers. As the new person with NO SENIORITY, you will be your manager's butt boy - you won't be able to schedule ANYTHING during normal Express operating hours. You may go home and think you have the afternoon with your family, to only be called back in an hour later to do a pickup route or run an bulk pickup - and there isn't a DAMN THING you can do about it once you answer the phone.
Anyways, I'm anxious to get started and do my job the best I can and keep my mouth shut and see what kind of vibe I pick up on, if any. Because surely if it's THAT bad someone will start spouting off on a ride along or something. Other than that I'll form my own opinions about the place I will be working and decide if this is somewhere I want a future at.
In any regard, I'm glad I'm in the package delivery business finally and if nothing more to gain, at least experience.
Your second mistake...
When a position in Express is opened up for an off the street hire (ESPECIALLY a full-time position) - than means only ONE THING. That no existing Express employee either in the station or in the JCATS jobs postings wanted ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. This results in the hiring manager getting permission to make a new hire to fill the position - which within the station would be known as a CRAP position that no one wanted.
Here's the kicker. Swing Couriers ARE NOT in the same job classification as regular Couriers. Many not seem important at first - but there is a very important distinction. When a regular Courier position opens up, you CANNOT bid on the position with the rest of the station Couriers for that position. You are STUCK as a Swing until there is a position that opens up that no other currently classified Courier wants - THEN and ONLY then can you put in an application for that position to 'downgrade' to a regular Courier. Most managers do whatever they can to prevent their Swings from bidding on an open Courier position, since replacing Swings is so damn difficult for them (thus why the position you were hired into was done with an off the street hire).
Third mistake... experience in the 'package delivery business' means absolutely nothing to any other employer other than the fact that you were gainfully employed. It is considered to be a semi-skilled position which is filled by seniority within a company.
I'm still trying to decide how to support a family and pay a mortgage with a PT job as a feeder with no GUARANTEE you will move up any time in the next 10 years!
I'm 34, I understand the potential at UPS and I know when I put my mind to things I go get it, I just can't wrap my head around the wait, and I'm a pretty patient person but someone can only wait so long. I have a CDL A license and I've been driving for the past year, I wonder if that would stand out at all. Maybe, maybe not. Only one way to find out right?
Anyhow, I have to atleast see what this is all about, for myself. Then one day, I may be back giving you the thanks you deserve. =)
Fourth mistake... thinking that having a CDL means anything. It may have helped to get your hired (you stood above the other candidates), but as far as 'opening doors' in Express, it won't do you a damn bit of good. Wage positions in Express (with but a handful of exceptions) are bid STRICTLY by seniority. The fact that you already have a CDL won't do a damn thing to get you 'preferential treatment' in getting a RTD position (semi driving). There are plenty of high seniority Couriers who want to get into a RTD position and get out of the grind of running packages. They will have first crack at getting a RTD position.
I've made a commitment to myself to atleast give a new job 1 year to see how things settle in. And no, I'm not one to jump around from job to job, I put 14 years into one job out of high school and decided I wanted my CDL and try my hand at driving (I enjoy driving very much), got my CDL paid for through working a job as a vendor until they went under.
So now I finally land a position at a job I've desired for years and I'm looking for a long term career.
Fifth and biggest mistake. Express is no longer a career for a wage employee. It is merely a job which has stagnant compensation.
Can't be any worse coming from the circus that just left town that I worked at before, very poorly managed. But I did my job as told and gained some driving/routing experience to boot!
May not be worse, but it isn't better by much.
new policy it we get a last minute stop refuse it go figure
