My Truck Career, Chapter IV

Yes, Chapter IV will begin soon. Who’s counting? Why am I counting? I dunno. But I have worked in three different trucking categories - not just companies.

• Swift Transportation. I got my start at Swift, getting my CDL through the Swift Academy. Here’s my Swift Training diary.

  I drove OTR (my first week) and dedicated regional with Swift until I saw the opening for Swift Academy instructors. This Academy is in Memphis, near my home. So I applied.

• II (a). Swift Academy I was first assigned to teach a class for students to get a CDL Permit. One week and a Friday test for all. Then I was moved out to the range, and worked with students trying to figure out how that trailer worked.
• III. Truck Delivery Driveaway That was “fun” but I heard about a job delivering new trucks from the factory to dealers. Very interesting, but after a few months unpacking new trucks outdoors in North Dakota and Wisconsin winter, I felt a need to warm up some.

• II (b). CDL instructor (again). I found a job again as a CDL instructor. From The Front Of The Classroom: CDL Class From The Teacher's POV I was sent around the US to various locations to teach CDL for contracting companies, such as Coke, McLane, Pepsi and some community colleges. I spent four years traveling and teaching in places like San Bernardino, CA, Houston, TX, and Scranton, PA.

• IV. I had heard about a sector called expediting, driving a 40’ straight truck with high priority small loads. It’s an Independent contractor job, and I lease the truck from a specialized fleet owner. My wife got a Class B so we will be team driving. The fun part is the truck has a 110” RV style sleeper” with most of the comforts of an RV. This job starts next month, and I’ll be driving for FedEx Custom Critical.

I’ll keep you posted.

Errol, really interesting progression from start to current. The new gig sounds like fun plus income. How far and wide will you roam?

Lower 48. Add passports (not in hand yet) to go to Canada. The expedite thing is strictly team. My wife got a Class B for this.

Oh, and HAZMAT + Tanker is really handy for increased dispatch.

You can make great $$ there. My friends ran the white glove division and the expidited drivers made the same amount of $, few costs for truck, less downtime and easier to park! Good luck

It's something I've really been fascinated and entertained the idea of myself. I'm really curious to see how it works out.

Curious Davy wonders:

It's something I've really been fascinated and entertained the idea of myself. I'm really curious to see how it works out.

That's why I'm posting. There's an annual "Expedite Expo" in Fort Wayne in July.

Our onboarding is the first week of April. Even noobs with fresh class B's are on the road in a few days. (Not simply thrown into the pool, there's a mentor/advisor program for all new drivers.)

I instantly thought "Fedex custom critical" when I read the description. Welcome to the family

You can make great $$ there. My friends ran the white glove division and the expidited drivers made the same amount of $, few costs for truck, less downtime and easier to park! Good luck

Even easier. Because it's FedEx, you can park at any FedEx building, like what Walmart does. I see custom critical trucks scattered around my buildings yard all the time.

Errol, some pictures (inside and out) would be great!

Just to prove you’re not making this up. Lol

Not to worry. At the Expedite Expo (2023) Carolyn & I checked out a few expedite trucks. Included in the "sleeper":
* Flip up full bed converts to a dining table w/seats
* Kitchen with microwave, sink & induction hotplate
* Shower with cassette toilet
* Enough standing space for two people to turn around in, if they know each other.

Still, storage is tight. Yup, photos when we get our truck.