I Think It's Time To Move On

And it's not because FedEx isn't a good company, I think they're great but I'm having some issues and I've been thinking a lot.

I came into this thinking I wanted to be a Road Driver (Linehaul Driver) because what can be better than being on the highways and making 90-105K a year?

I've been an unofficial road driver for the past 6 or 7 months. I'm exhausted and it's not the work, it's the lack there of. I don't move for 12-14 hours a day so I'm not using any energy and then I have trouble sleeping because I'm not tired. I'm also gaining weight at a rate that I feel isn't healthy. In the last 7 months I've gained 30-40 pounds.

This is the first job I've ever had that's mostly sitting. I'm not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. I miss the physicality of working in Walmart's distribution center or being a delivery driver for FedEx ground. I'm bored out of my mind going to the same buildings every day, driving on the same highways listening to the same songs and podcasts.

The only benefit is the money. This is the most money I've ever made, but I'm starting to think it isn't worth it.

And it's not because FedEx isn't a good company, I think they're great but I'm having some issues and I've been thinking a lot.

I came into this thinking I wanted to be a Road Driver (Linehaul Driver) because what can be better than being on the highways and making 90-105K a year?

I've been an unofficial road driver for the past 6 or 7 months. I'm exhausted and it's not the work, it's the lack there of. I don't move for 12-14 hours a day so I'm not using any energy and then I have trouble sleeping because I'm not tired. I'm also gaining weight at a rate that I feel isn't healthy. In the last 7 months I've gained 30-40 pounds.

This is the first job I've ever had that's mostly sitting. I'm not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. I miss the physicality of working in Walmart's distribution center or being a delivery driver for FedEx ground. I'm bored out of my mind going to the same buildings every day, driving on the same highways listening to the same songs and podcasts.

The only benefit is the money. This is the most money I've ever made, but I'm starting to think it isn't worth it.

Dude. Are you a Road Driver or a CDSA? Do you drive Extra Board or just get kick-outs? Criminy, if it's variety you want come to the dark side - City. What terminal are you at? Can you transfer to another hub?

I'm a CDSA that doesn't have enough seniority to get a route and it may be another 2 years before I'm able to. I'm assigned to the dock, but I get road runs everyday because, since COVID, were short staffed. I'm out of POS and I've thought about transferring, but that's not in the cards right now.

I had the same problem at about the 6 month mark, I started wondering if I could handle another 30 years of driving to the same location and seeing the same people at the same time day after day.

Unfortunately I can't really help you with what you want to do, but 3 years in now I'm a lot happier and excited for the next 30 years. Not going to lie hitting 100k for this year may have something to do with it as it is more money than I ever dreamed of making.

Id say not to make any rash decisions and see how you feel in a few months your attitude may change.

If you're looking for physical work, food service is always looking for help and it'd pay better and allow you to continue using your CDL you worked so hard to get. There's days I start to feel bored but that will happen at any job. I agree with Bobcat to give it some time to make sure its not something you want to continue with. Fortunately we bid daily so if I don't want to go a certain direction I don't take that route. I'm sure there's some OTR drivers that get bored with certain lanes when they've driven them so frequently (like Stevo running across i80 nearly nonstop). What I've found driving nights (which I assume you do alot of) is talking to other drivers makes the drive easier.

I've been asked by some local friends about going over to ODFL but I just can't imagine driving the exact same route, at the same time everyday for 6 months to a year depending on bidding. Life's too short to be miserable at your job but at the same time I'm sure by making more money you've been able to financially provide a better life for your family.

If you're looking for physical work, food service is always looking for help and it'd pay better and allow you to continue using your CDL you worked so hard to get. There's days I start to feel bored but that will happen at any job. I agree with Bobcat to give it some time to make sure its not something you want to continue with. Fortunately we bid daily so if I don't want to go a certain direction I don't take that route. I'm sure there's some OTR drivers that get bored with certain lanes when they've driven them so frequently (like Stevo running across i80 nearly nonstop). What I've found driving nights (which I assume you do alot of) is talking to other drivers makes the drive easier.

I definitely plan on staying on a truck, I don't know doing what though. I considered food service, but I'm not comfortable with that move at the moment. Restaurants here are getting shutdown randomly and schools are closed.

Unfortunately I can't really help you with what you want to do, but 3 years in now I'm a lot happier and excited for the next 30 years. Not going to lie hitting 100k for this year may have something to do with it as it is more money than I ever dreamed of making.

Id say not to make any rash decisions and see how you feel in a few months your attitude may change.

The money has been great, the sedentary lifestyle has not. I like being active and running around and that's my biggest issue right now. Even being on the dock is 8 hours or more on a forklift.

Go city dude

If you're looking for physical work, food service is always looking for help and it'd pay better and allow you to continue using your CDL you worked so hard to get. There's days I start to feel bored but that will happen at any job. I agree with Bobcat to give it some time to make sure its not something you want to continue with. Fortunately we bid daily so if I don't want to go a certain direction I don't take that route. I'm sure there's some OTR drivers that get bored with certain lanes when they've driven them so frequently (like Stevo running across i80 nearly nonstop). What I've found driving nights (which I assume you do alot of) is talking to other drivers makes the drive easier.

I definitely plan on staying on a truck, I don't know doing what though. I considered food service, but I'm not comfortable with that move at the moment. Restaurants here are getting shutdown randomly and schools are closed.

Unfortunately I can't really help you with what you want to do, but 3 years in now I'm a lot happier and excited for the next 30 years. Not going to lie hitting 100k for this year may have something to do with it as it is more money than I ever dreamed of making.

Id say not to make any rash decisions and see how you feel in a few months your attitude may change.

The money has been great, the sedentary lifestyle has not. I like being active and running around and that's my biggest issue right now. Even being on the dock is 8 hours or more on a forklift.

Ya, I don't understand why you won't do City. Especially if you've done Ground. Does POS not have any openings? Hell, HGR is so shortstaffed they put volunteers from other centers up in hotels for the week to help their City. You should look into that to try it out of POS doesn't have openings.

If you're looking for physical work, food service is always looking for help and it'd pay better and allow you to continue using your CDL you worked so hard to get. There's days I start to feel bored but that will happen at any job. I agree with Bobcat to give it some time to make sure its not something you want to continue with. Fortunately we bid daily so if I don't want to go a certain direction I don't take that route. I'm sure there's some OTR drivers that get bored with certain lanes when they've driven them so frequently (like Stevo running across i80 nearly nonstop). What I've found driving nights (which I assume you do alot of) is talking to other drivers makes the drive easier.

I definitely plan on staying on a truck, I don't know doing what though. I considered food service, but I'm not comfortable with that move at the moment. Restaurants here are getting shutdown randomly and schools are closed.

Unfortunately I can't really help you with what you want to do, but 3 years in now I'm a lot happier and excited for the next 30 years. Not going to lie hitting 100k for this year may have something to do with it as it is more money than I ever dreamed of making.

Id say not to make any rash decisions and see how you feel in a few months your attitude may change.

The money has been great, the sedentary lifestyle has not. I like being active and running around and that's my biggest issue right now. Even being on the dock is 8 hours or more on a forklift.

Ya, I don't understand why you won't do City. Especially if you've done Ground. Does POS not have any openings? Hell, HGR is so shortstaffed they put volunteers from other centers up in hotels for the week to help their City. You should look into that to try it out of POS doesn't have openings.

And you could always do Ground on the weekend ;)

I'm on the city board, but don't have enough seniority to have an AM start time to get a route. I heard HGR is offering sign on bonuses. I'll see if they'd be willing to let me volunteer out there. We have about 72 city drivers and 30 (give or take) routes.

I wanted to do ground on the weekends, but the wife was against it. My time with a contractor left a bad taste in her mouth and the weekend is family time. If I could do ground as a FedEx employee, I would rather do that than freight. I had a blast doing ground.