How to Get a New FedEx Ground Driver Approved
FedEx Ground has recently changed its driver requirements. These changes will be phased over by Fall of 2022. Learn more here: New P&D Driver Requirements.
Get New Drivers in the Truck and on the Road
With an ever-increasing demand for transporting packages, drivers play a significant role in the overall success of your business. Without drivers, you are unable to meet the obligations of your contract for your Customer Service Area (CSA).
Due to the continuous increase of packages, more drivers are needed to handle the high volume. For this reason, it's imperative to have a plan for hiring additional drivers. This includes having a process for hiring, training requirements they will need to operate a fleet, and the number of stops you should expect of your drivers.
Qualifications Drivers Need to Work for FedEx Ground
In the FedEx Ground business, it’s essential that you’re continuously hiring in the event that work volume increases, or a driver is fired or decides to leave. Without a constant hiring process, you take the risk of packages not being delivered or received on time which ultimately impacts the success of your operation.
Like numerous industries, there are certain qualifications and expectations necessary to work in that field. Below, we have provided a list of qualifications a potential driver needs to become a FedEx Ground driver. Drivers must:
Have professional driving experience within the last three years of their career or be currently enrolled in an entry-level driving course. Driving experience can come from a wide variety of industries such as Uber/Lyft, military, construction, and more.
Be 21 years or older.
Pass both a drug test authorized by FedEx Ground and a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical.
Complete a full background check. In the background check, a potential driver cannot have any DUI’s or felony convictions on their record.
Hold a valid and up to date driver’s license and must not hold a record that contains an extensive amount of accidents and/or violations.
These are the qualifications necessary to be considered and hired as a driver. Keep in mind that it takes between 7 to 21 days for a new driver to go through the approval process created by FedEx Ground. For this reason, having a hiring plan in place can prepare you for the unexpected.
Delivering packages within your designated territory is key in your contract with FedEx Ground. If you are unable to staff routes to meet the volume of deliveries, it will result in serious service issues. These issues can pose a significant risk to your contract with FedEx Ground. For this reason, it’s imperative to hire additional drivers in the event that volume increases.
How Can I Find New Drivers?
Hiring new drivers does not have to be a difficult task, especially with the various job boards available online. To find new drivers for your company, some of the websites we recommend that you post your jobs on, are Indeed and Craigslist. Both of these job posting platforms are an excellent resource to use when searching for employees.
On these job sites, you can post qualifications that you’re looking for, job descriptions, and more. Additionally, it makes it easy for potential employees to search for jobs and find your company for possible employment opportunities.
How Long Does It Take to Train a New Driver?
If an individual meets the qualifications and has completed all their checks required by FedEx Ground, it’s time to train the new driver you have hired. Typically, training should range anywhere between 5-10 days. Training is a staged process, which means there are different levels of training that the new driver will undergo. The training will include:
Scanner Training
Scanner training involves the new driver sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle and scanning each package. Additionally, they will have to grab each box, scan it, and type the correct code for every package. Scanner training provides new drivers with the opportunity to learn how to navigate the scanner and learn the codes that allow FedEx to know the state of the package.
Driver Training
After learning the scanning process, the next level is driver training. This is when the new driver will operate the fleet. The length of time to complete this training will depend on how quickly the driver learns to safely drive and operate the vehicle. The prior experience of the driver will play a role in how quickly this training is completed and how comfortable they are with the fleet. Within this training, drivers will also learn the routes and the various challenges the routes bring. This gives the driver time to learn the navigation and have a clear understanding of how each route is completed correctly.
Driver Training Programs
Some contractors prefer to hire employees who have experience driving with FedEx. However, hiring workers with this form of expertise can put a limit on hiring employees who may have a different driving background and who are punctual and hard-working.
Driving programs are available to prepare new drivers with the information and tools needed to complete the job. Training programs such as L-10 and L-20 can help you hire employees you want to have a part of your team. These programs will ensure that your employees will be safe and qualified to operate a fleet safely and efficiently.
How Are FedEx Ground Drivers Paid?
The amount that you pay your employees will depend on factors such as your budget or years of experience, for example. There are two primary ways that you pay your employees: a fixed daily wage or an hourly rate.
Fixed Daily Wage
A fixed daily wage is a set wage a driver will receive for the day, such as $150 a day no matter the length of time it takes to complete the job. This means that they will receive that wage whether they work 10 hours or 6 hours. Using this form of payment encourages drivers to get their job done as soon as possible. Furthermore, it creates efficiency within your organization because employees are aware that if they finish early, they will still be paid the same amount.
Hourly Wage
Hourly encourages employees to take as long as possible since more hours result in greater pay. It’s difficult to monitor an employee who is purposely expanding their time to increase hours since you’re not in the truck. Unlike a fixed daily wage that encourages employees to work efficiently to complete their job, an hourly wage does the complete opposite. Employees will attempt to stay longer by taking additional time to complete their work.
How Many Stops Should My Drivers Complete?
The number of stops drivers complete will depend on the miles per day that you’re running. For example, if you’re running 100 miles or less, you should be able to complete between 150-230 stops a day, which includes pickups. As you increase in the miles per day that you’re doing, the stop count will decrease. Keep in mind that the number of stops your driver’s make will vary depending on the type of territory you own. There are two types of territories you can own, urban and rural routes.
Urban vs. Rural Routes
Both urban and rural routes have their pros and cons and it’s essential to have your routes set up efficiently so you can maximize your revenue.
Urban routes require fewer miles and stops are closer in distance. This means your employees will make a larger amount of stops. While these types of routes do require a higher upfront cost, the long-term benefits include, less wear and tear on your vehicles and you will save on fuel costs. However, drivers on urban routes face challenges such as traffic congestion, navigating tight roadways, and finding parking.
Rural routes typically consist of stops that are further apart in regards to distance. This means that your team will cover more miles and make fewer stops. However, operating on rural routes means your fleet will accrue an extensive amount of miles over a shorter period of time. Operating on routes that require further stops will result in an increasing amount of wear and tear on your fleet. Furthermore, additional maintenance may be required as well as higher fuel costs to cover routes.
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