Does anybody know WHY the Fedex custom critical straight trucks have such a big sleeper?
Posted by PresentationLive943@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 33 comments
Everyone has seen the Fedex custom critical freightliners with the tiny box and the mega sleeper and I know it's for FedEx freight that is expensive and needs to be moved asap.
However what's confusing me is there are tons of super trucker teams that run 24hrs just like the Fedex custom critical drivers and they seem to be fine in a 70 inch sleeper? Why do they need such a giant sleeper? Are there 4 driver or something?
yycTechGuy@reddit
These trucks are owned by contractors ? I'd be curious to know what and how they get paid.
Mediocre_Orange7308@reddit
FedEx doesn’t own those trucks. The contractors do.
OnAJourneyMan@reddit
It’s a way to retain highly skilled, safe drivers. The drivers are expected to stay out for long periods of time and run hard. It’s a way to ensure they are happy and productive and need to take as little down time or home time as possible.
PoopyStinkbutts@reddit
I do miss how well FedEx took care of us as employees.
ScaryfatkidGT@reddit
Really?
PoopyStinkbutts@reddit
Yeah. I've been treated a lot worse.
Pitiful_Yogurt_5276@reddit
Lmao
qaf0v4vc0lj6@reddit
I used to know a manager at FedEx.
kmccoy@reddit
Here's a youtube video of the interior of one for anyone who is curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3PauN9I4hE
graibeard@reddit
Need lots of space for that fedex driver ego .
MOODkilla2300@reddit
These are all contractors,In expediting you may sit a few days in one area so it's easier for teams to share the space,it's amazing how many people made up answers to this question lol
SaltAndBitter@reddit
What kind of fresh hell companies with coffin sleepers have you been working at where 70 inch sleepers are considered giant to you?
shadowmib@reddit
Probably so that they don't have so much employee turnover. Yeah, you can run teams at a cramped ass sleeper but it sucks. You give them a nice comfortable mini apartment. They are more likely to stick with it. Since it's having a big sleeper doesn't affect backing up to a dock. It's quality of life.
If I wanted to just stay out on the road all the time, I'd find a team partner and go for that
InvstrJester@reddit
There’s a laboratory in it
Leaf-Stars@reddit
Often husband and wife teams who spend their down time using their truck like an RV
SubarcticFarmer@reddit
I knew a guy (haven't talked to him in years) who owned one of the companies that contracts for the custom critical. He told me that he preferred to hire husband/wife teams and they'd basically live out of the truck for stretches for whatever rotations they'd work out. Apparently some of them really did and would be in the truck full time. He mentioned his trucks had full RV hookups and could fit in the spots at KOAs so they would many times act like RVers and just go where the loads went and sometimes just take breaks wherever if there was a gap. It sounded like he'd try to keep them fairly spread around the country for availability.
I believe some of them run 3 drivers per truck for up time so it probably helps with giving everyone enough room and keeping them happy too.
ScaryfatkidGT@reddit
That actually sounds pretty sick till you only get 34h at each campground
willybillybob@reddit
In a team operation, a truck only needs to be stationary for about 22 hours for both drivers to get a 34
Inside-Finish-2128@reddit
And you only need the 34 if you ran solid in the 6 or 7 days prior. Custom Critical loads don't go across the country (flying would be faster, even with the logistics), so they aren't running up against the 60h/70h limits that dictate a 34h reset (unless dispatch strings together too many loads back to back).
SubarcticFarmer@reddit
It's been a long time since I talked to him about it, but for the full time crews and those on extended rotations (I think most were either full time or doing multiple months on/off), it sounded like they could take some extended time off at the campgrounds, basically the same as days off and he'd take the truck out of the rotation for however many days.
leadpoem@reddit
My understanding (and I could be wrong) is that it's more than just a sleeper. It's a full-ass RV setup. Among other things, that means the only thing they have to stop for would be fuel.
ScaryfatkidGT@reddit
Pooper?
Inside-Finish-2128@reddit
Check out the Reliable Carriers channel - I realize that's a different segment, but yes some of those automobile haulers have some massive sleeper setups.
buttweasel76@reddit
Some have poopers and showers, yes.
Theres a few youtube videos of people doing walk-throughs
thatguywithatoaster@reddit
Yeah I saw one that was larger than my first apartment. Crazy nice inside. Even bad granite counters
sleepsoncouches@reddit
Did anybody else see the FedEx custom critical burning up on 65 S north of Nashville yesterday around 1630? Hope they're OK
Inside-Finish-2128@reddit
I've heard that FedEx sends a certain number of EMPTY planes into the air so they can be vectored to where they're needed. FedEx Custom Critical is for the loads need to get there faster than the planes can accommodate. They want the CC teams to be well-rested, well-fed, and ready to GO on very short notice.
I'd guess that the dispatch systems are set up so that the CC teams could take almost any run without running out of hours. To do that, they likely have to sit in random spots. Having good sleeper facilities (shower? fridge? cooktop?) means they're less dependent on other resources to be "reset".
Dezzolve@reddit
I’ve talked to a driver that ran them before, and that’s exactly it. If they aren’t on a run they will be staged around the country just waiting on the call to go. Once they get that call it’s balls to the wall.
firemarshalbill316@reddit
Yeah.
They can keep that macho shit. I like my down time.
Dezzolve@reddit
I mean to be fair they do have a lot of down time waiting between loads. The only thing is you can never be too far from the truck.
Edge2110@reddit
They never go home
red_dirt_ranger@reddit
Part of it is QoL and part of it is simply because they can. Weight isn't a critical factor so they can run the bigger sleepers.
A lot of those "super trucker teams" you refer to still have to be cognizant of weight to not drag into extra permit territory. The ones that don't, you'll often see with the bigger sleepers as well.
Patalos@reddit
You can be “fine” in a smaller area and still be significantly happier in a larger area. Retains loyal and skilled workers.