whataclub

About to finish new hire training and I have a crash pad in Germantown. I drove my car to Memphis to have during training but now that training is finishing I would want to drive it back. Does anyone have experience using uber or taxis to avoid having to buy an airport car while in reserve or is a car a necessity/taxis and Uber's unreliable? I'm believing it is the latter but curious to hear any input.
Thanks!

UnusualAttitude

You need a car for multiple reasons:

1. You are on probation. Do you really want to make the call that you couldn't get to the airport because there weren't any Uber's avail at 2:30am when they called you in? I would personally be stressed depending on Uber or cab.

2. Even on first fly there will be stretches where you aren't used. You are going to either spend a lot of money ordering delivery food or get very bored never leaving the crash pad. Many days you'll probably want to catch a movie or go hit golf balls, anything to get out of the crashpad for a while.

By the time you add up the amount of money you would likely spend on Uber over the next year you can probably find an old beater crashpad car to leave in MEM.

-UA

skid

Depending on equip it is not a bad idea to have a car for yourself. If there is a way you can swing keeping your car there for a few months I think that may be a good option.

I kept my car in Memphis for being on reserve and it helped a lot. I have not dealt with Uber or the rest of them in Memphis so I cant offer a suggestion on that end.

On reserve I had several multi day trips on the 767 but had just as many Airport standby and out and back trips. If you look at the open time in the 767 a lot of it is same day out and backs.

Other equipment I am sure will vary from my experiences but with the amount of hiring going on you may not be on reserve for too long. I was reserve for 2 months and since then been flying steady. Once you get to a VTO/secondary line you can trip trade your trips to make it so your car may not be necessary anymore.

Congrats and welcome aboard!

Sunny1

I spent a whole lot of time in a Cordova Crashpad on RA my first few years at FedEx. I would have gone crazy not having a vehicle to get out and do things. I got to know all the trails at Shelby Farms very well!

As others have pointed out - do you really want to rely on Uber or a Taxi at 2 a.m. when you get called into work, and what if schedules gives you an hour short call? I like Uber when I need transportation somewhere while I'm on a trip, and it's always been a positive experience, but I wouldn't want to rely on them for a short notice in the middle of the night in Memphis transport. I'd be stressed out about having to rely on someone to come get me if the phone rings, and it'd probably affect my quality of sleep.

If I were you I'd figure out a way to keep a vehicle in Memphis until you're at least able to hold a line (which isn't taking long lately it seems), and then you could possibly make it work without a Memphis vehicle, and maybe even a crashpad for that matter.

Welcome to FedEx!

Nightflyer

You need a car in Memphis.

Don't even think about trying to do it with Uber or a Taxi.

You just won the lottery, don't throw your ticket in the trash before you cash it out.

I do know guys who share cars, but not two guys on reserve.

FlyBoyd

If keeping a car in Memphis isn't an option, get on FB Jetflyers and ask if you can borrow someone's car. My car was sitting a ton and as we all know cars will breakdown the more they sit. I only really need it 5-10 times a year. In exchange for sharing expenses like oil changes, gas and new tires, a new hire buddy of mine drives it when he needs it. There is occasionally a conflict but we are able to work around most of them as he is on reserve and I hold a line. There is someone out there that would make you the same deal just to have their care driven vice sit in the Democrat lot. Cheaper for you both if you can't afford a Crashpad car..win-win (win?).

Jetjok

Exactly what Nightflyer said!

You've not been at FedEx long enough to become a cheap captain yet.

whataclub

Thanks for the replies. I was figuring a car would be a must but wanted to check anyways. A follow up question. For those who are out of state but keep a car in Memphis; looking into TN car registering it says one of the items needed to register a vehicle in TN is proof of residency. Planning on commuting and not establishing residency, is there any work around for that for FedEx pilots? Id prefer to just buy a junker down there as opposed to my home state (in the northeast) and drive it down. Thanks for the replies!

Mark2792

I bought a road-toad airport car in Memphis. If I were you, I'd title it at your home and drive it there with out of state plates.

It is not illegal to keep it there with out of state tags. However, your insurance carrier might have an issue. My airport cars were local "to work and back", and I got a cheaper rate as a result, but the insurance company was never told that the car was kept 800 miles away in Memphis. What they don't know won't hurt them, and last time I checked, my insurance covers the entire United States, which means it can be driven in Memphis.

NOW; I have been told that the local constabulary in Mississippi has a different view of the issue. If your crashpad is in that state, then you might want to be wary. I've heard that the local Buford T. Justice has a problem with out of state cars in his town driven by Fedex pilots [another rooster in the hen house?] and has given tickets to some of our pilots. I do not know what the outcome of all that was, but keep it in mind.

If you take a ride on the crew van through the Democrat lot, you will see that half of the cars have plates from states other than Tennessee.

MaydayMark

I did this for over 20 years and never had a problem. In fact, in the County that my home is located in there is an annual car tax (based on kbb trade in value) but you are exempt if the car is "garaged out of state."

I had a crashpad for a short period of time in Mississippi and had no problems there either.

I can't imagine not having a car in Memphis (with REALLY GOOD AIR CONDITIONING, I'm not sure you need brakes).

Good luck and congrats on the new job.


MM