I know I am late to the party on this one but I am going to throw my two cents in. I have driven 6 years for FXG working for the same company (Col. Ohio). In the beginning the hand written checks and 1099 status were the thing until Ground forced the companies to incorporate and pay their drivers as employees (thank you Cali.) The "allure" of FXG is that maybe you could buy route and grow your own business, but with their new ISP agreements coming out, you need to buy a minimum of 5 routes in most states to even be approved which comes out to a nearly half million investment.
I do the OSU campus and I typically go in at 8, dispatch at 8:30-9 and get back at 1600 four out of five days with the fifth day being the late pick up night as we have a rotation set. I make a base of $45k, bonus when I reach a certain stop count, and have a company FXG vn I can drive back and forth to home, but have no benefits as my wife carries her and the kids through her job.
Like any delivery position, some days are good and some are bad, some heavy and some light. When you are a younger driver you ride the emotional rollar coaster way more frequently and as you age and learn the routes you learn to roll with it. Still, of the two companies, I would encourage you to go Brown. They are literally the gold standard for drivers. EVERYONE aspires to be UPS drivers because of the benefits and if you aren't committed to FXG, totally go Brown.
I am leaving my "comfort" to go seasonal at Brown for the chance. I have talked to 20+ drivers in my area and all say if I can put up good numbers, I am in. Been hearing Columbus is short drivers right now and supervisors are out delivering. I think there might be more to it than that, but at face value, it's a chance. Spoke to the station manager and he said he can get me in the door too. Who knows, I personally think I have the ability as I have never met a stronger FXG driver in person, but being that it is a Union, I totally get the bureaucracy and rules for being laid off too.
I've heard of "scratching" which is a fun topic and seems either A) Unattainable or B) Totally attainable. I get the concept as far as coming under the allotted time for the route, which I think is all it is.
