Go Back  Airline Pilot Central Forums > Airline Pilot Forums > Cargo > FedEx
FedEx, from throwing boxes to flying... >

FedEx, from throwing boxes to flying...

Notices

FedEx, from throwing boxes to flying...

Old 05-31-2009, 04:29 PM
  #1  
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
 
CloudSailor's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,037
Default FedEx, from throwing boxes to flying...

I was unable to think of a better title to the post but, I have a friend who is trying to get some info on becoming a FedEx employee to later, once things turn around, fly for you guys.

Just a few questions for those who have taken that route, if you don't mind answering...

1) Does one have to be employed specifically by FedEx Express to be considered for a pilot slot? Or will say, FedEx Office suffice?

2) Does the employee get to interview at the completion of the one year of service to the company, in addition to meeting the minimums for hire, regardless of whether the company is hiring pilots or not? Or does the employee have to wait for the company to be actively interviewing/hiring so that he can interview for the pilot slot?

3) What happens if the FedEx employee has to move to a different city/state because of his flying job? Is there flexibility for relocating?

4) What would happen if the employee has to quit, on good terms, from his FedEx job because of his flying job... will he lose all chances for the pilot interview?

Thanks for your time. I don't know a better way of getting these questions answered than to ask the guys who have gone on that path.

Hopefully see you on property by 2010!

Sincerely,
one of the poolies.
CloudSailor is offline  
Old 05-31-2009, 05:18 PM
  #2  
...Whatever It Is!
 
MD11Fr8Dog's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,680
Default

Originally Posted by CloudSailor View Post
I was unable to think of a better title to the post but, I have a friend who is trying to get some info on becoming a FedEx employee to later, once things turn around, fly for you guys.

Just a few questions for those who have taken that route, if you don't mind answering...

1) Does one have to be employed specifically by FedEx Express to be considered for a pilot slot? Or will say, FedEx Office suffice?
FedEx Express, anything else is a different company.

2) Does the employee get to interview at the completion of the one year of service to the company, in addition to meeting the minimums for hire, regardless of whether the company is hiring pilots or not? Or does the employee have to wait for the company to be actively interviewing/hiring so that he can interview for the pilot slot?
Once you meet the time requirement, I believe it is still one year, AND provided the company is interviewing and hiring, one can then apply for interview if they meet the required minimums - which have been known to change (I have a friend at UPS that this happened to).

3) What happens if the FedEx employee has to move to a different city/state because of his flying job? Is there flexibility for relocating?
The one year requirement, I believe, is the minimum to apply for any job company wide that is listed as open. So, I think you'd have to be the flexible one!


4) What would happen if the employee has to quit, on good terms, from his FedEx job because of his flying job... will he lose all chances for the pilot interview?
No, but he will not interview as an internal applicant, he would have to apply like everyone else. To get hired as an internal, he would have to start all over again as a "box thrower"! However, if he did get hired later, he would get to keep that original employee number, which is nice!

Hiring to the corp flight dept and/or the training dept may have completely different rules and timelines. Someone else will have to speak for that!

Disclaimer: This is all based on how I did it 15yrs ago! YMMV!
MD11Fr8Dog is offline  
Old 06-01-2009, 05:56 AM
  #3  
New Hire
 
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: 757 F/O
Posts: 7
Default

CloudShipper,

This is a combination of 2 posts I made about 3 years ago on another forum. If it's a little disjointed, I apologize.

I did what you're inquiring about. A little background (sorry in advance for the long post)...

Retired USAF. UAL for 1 1/2 years, furloughed. Consulting work while trying to get back to a flying job. After contacting my USAF friends at FedEx, I decided Purple & Orange was the way to go.

Mid 2004, FedEx would NOT interview furloughed folks (other than US Air on a case by case basis). My sponsor suggested throwing boxes for a period of time (it varies, more on this to follow) and get on board as an internal hire.

Policies change and FedEx is interviewing furloughed folks on a case by case basis. The advantage to being an internal hire is that if you are qualified for a given position and FedEx is hiring into that position, you are guaranteed the interview (provided your record at FedEx to that point is clean & you meet all the qualifications).

I applied and was hired as a courier. A better choice for me (more on this later) then being a handler. 7 months later I was called for the interview. 1 month later I recieved the "You're Hired" call. The system works. Some things to consider...

I remained a courier for 4 more months after being hired. FedEx policy states that you stay in a given job for a minumum of 1 year prior to internally switching positions. This was an easy 4 months, as I knew a large carrot resided at the other end of the tunnel.

Again, in my opinion, being a courier is less routine than tossing boxes (handler) at the airport or local station. If you have other employment, being a handler might be a better fit.

Be careful of the following if you take any of these positions...You WILL sign a letter of commitment (LOC) to that particular station/airport. This committment is usually longer than the 1 year FedEx corporate policy (i.e. 18 months, 24 months, etc). While all these commitment time frames are waiverable, the 1 year corporate policy is not typically waived. The station/airport LOC is waiverable, but is at the discretion of your local manager. Get this ironed out prior to signing on the dotted line. I was very up-front with the manager that hired me and when I was hired to fly, there were no surprises/hard feelings. As a matter of fact, I had a great relationship with my co-workers and supervisors and they were all genuinely very happy for me.

Not flying was definitely a concern I had. My sponsor inquired and let me know that it was a concern for them as well. I immediately began doing some single engine flying at the local airport and would update my on-line application each time I'd fly. It was never even discussed at the interview. I imagine that this topic was/is a hit or miss thing at the interview/meet and great.

With regards to whats happening right now...Strictly in the "I heard" arena, recency is an issue. It is not something directly addressed in the FedEx qualifications section of the web page for applicants (unless that's changed?). I'm sure, however, that the interviewers are looking at it since they have so many "qualified" applicants (i.e. things that separate you from the pack).

Again, just my thoughts.

During my interview process, I received many compliments/thanks for having been a courier. You certainly gain insight to a side of the company that most of our pilot brethren never see. Plus, I dropped 15 pounds running around as a courier! Stay positive and it is an enjoyable experience.

I couldn't be happier with my career choice. Great company, great group of professional aviators.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Ramps
F15Ramps is offline  
Old 06-01-2009, 09:57 AM
  #4  
Gets Weekends Off
 
FedElta's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: Retired, again...
Posts: 608
Default Cloud

Hi Cloud,

Haven't seen you here in a while....glad you're still treading water. My son, and Whale, and you are surely waterlogged by now, but hang in, it will be worth the wait.

Regards,
BG
FedElta is offline  
Old 06-01-2009, 02:58 PM
  #5  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 191
Default

That's too bad that it has to be Fed Ex Express, there isn't a single job in the US on the site as of today!
Gunpig is offline  
Old 06-01-2009, 03:15 PM
  #6  
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
 
CloudSailor's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,037
Default

Fr8Dog, Ramps,
Thank you for taking the time to answer all the questions, I really appreciate it. It is a great route to take for aspiring FDX pilots, particularly for those of us from the all-civilian side.

FedElta,
You're right, I know it will be worth the wait. I am luckily still flying for a great carrier while I wait out the swim in the pool. I hope your son is also employed while he swims.

Gunpig,
You're absolutely right, not a single job on the Express side of the house. Wow.
CloudSailor is offline  
Old 06-01-2009, 03:37 PM
  #7  
Gets Weekends Off
 
pilotgolfer's Avatar
 
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: A320 Captain
Posts: 1,982
Default

I worked for Fedex doing the sort and driving out to SWF each night. The catch to getting an interview as an internal employee was that you had to be FULL TIME for a year. I was hired as casual status and that didn't qualify. There was no telling if any full time positions were going to open up at the station any time soon. This was back in 1996 so I'm sure things have changed since then.
pilotgolfer is offline  
Old 06-01-2009, 06:51 PM
  #8  
New Hire
 
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: 757 F/O
Posts: 7
Default

Even my experience is beginning to be a little dated. I can say that I was NOT "Full-Time" in the standard sense of the word. My position as a PM Pickup Courier was termed "Permanent Part-Time". This amounted to 25 hours a week (usually more if you wanted it) and you were eligible for benefits (insurance, tuition assit., etc). Again, I did this from July 2004 to July 2005, so take it all with a grain of salt. As many folks on this board will attest, things are always changing at Purple & Orange.

Cheers,
Ramps
F15Ramps is offline  
Old 06-01-2009, 07:04 PM
  #9  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 191
Default

Does UPS offer a similar internal interview program?
Gunpig is offline  
Old 06-01-2009, 07:13 PM
  #10  
Organizational Learning 
 
TonyC's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: Directly behind the combiner
Posts: 4,948
Default

Originally Posted by pilotgolfer View Post

... you had to be FULL TIME for a year. I was hired as casual status and that didn't qualify.

The requirement is PERMANENT, not CASUAL. PERMANENT can be either part-time or full-time. FedEx loves the flexibility of using part-timers, so expect most entry-level jobs to be part-time.






.
TonyC is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SWAjet
Major
8
01-01-2020 12:25 PM
TipsyMcStagger
Cargo
56
08-13-2008 02:42 PM
DLax85
Cargo
4
08-04-2008 07:07 AM
RockBottom
Major
0
03-05-2005 04:12 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices