Pluses in feeders:
1) I have a key to the building, and my own alarm passcode.
2)My boss is 65 miles away. As long as the trailers show up on time at the hub, and get pulled on time, or i have a good excuse, he doesn't care.
3) Easiest job at UPS. If you serve a preload, the preload full time supe will kiss the ground you walk on, as long as the loads are early.
4) Nice air ride cab, with an air ride seat, good A/C and heater, and at my center, I am the only one that drives MY tractor.
5) You mostly work nights.........
Minuses in feeders
1) Remember the key and alarm passcode? Thats because sometimes your phone rings, and you gotta go(part of getting the big bucks). Plus, you may start at an odd time, like 1930 on a Sunday night, and you are the only one there.
2) If you hate working nights, or have sleep issues, then you will hate feeders, 'cause you gonna work some nights.
3) Lots more paperwork- Seal controls,figuring out your DOT hours, signing off equipment, keeping up with your hours(thats right, you have to keep a running total of hours worked versus hours left to work. And have them handy when the boss man calls.
4) Bring a load in late to a preload, and they have run out of work. Hell hath no fury like a preload supe whose operation has been sitting still, getting paid for 15 minutes
5) Having to leave your tractor to be worked on. Spares are spare for a reason........
We have a 6 month bid, but I have enough years to hold my current run forever, if I choose to do so. I normally am off within a 30 minute window each morning. This is WAY better then when I was in package, when it could vary from 30 minutes of ot to 2 hours. Plus I only get in and out of the cab maybe 30 times a night, which is way better then the 4-5 hundred in package.