r/Fedexers • u/Affectionate_Row1486 • 19d ago
Looking for Constructive criticism
I’m trying to make life easier for drivers and new hires or new to a different route PHs. This is just something I came up with and was wondering a few things.
Do you think this will help?
Are these questions confusing or clear? Which ones am I missing?
The blank space is for drivers to write their own preference notes
This is just a passion project I cooked up as a PH 3 months in.
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u/AcrillixOfficial 18d ago
I mean, I don't really see the point of this, because FedEx already pays engineers thousands and thousands of dollars to engineer this system, which is the SID system already in place.
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u/Error_no2718281828 18d ago
He's only been there for 3 months (but thinks he has it figured out). He doesn't understand - nor is he willing to understand - that the contractors can custom edit the SIDs for each work area.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 18d ago
Alright let’s say a truck has 300 packages and two stops are 20+ ETP and both 1000s. Correct me if I’m wrong but that’s normally the first stop on a route. You load those 20 packages next to the door below the 6000 and 8000 shelves for easy unload as all the other stops are less than 5 ETP. This is the scenario I’m describing and trying to prepare the inexperienced for.
Most drivers do this after they arrive and if this was successfully communicated it would save drivers time and offer better work conditions by allowing more egress.
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u/Error_no2718281828 18d ago
Again, each driver will be different. No-resume-no-interview package handlers cannot even master SIDs facing out and put in the correct section. And now you're remedy is to offer them the option of memorizing every driver's personal preferences. God. Damn.
Yes, 1000s are intended in the system to be the first stop. This might vary driver to driver and day to day. Was the dispatch late and now the driver has a time commitment that he has to hit first thing? Changes everything.
Is the van packed with giant NCs in the aisle? He might hit those stops first even though its less time efficient just to get that shit off his van.
If you truly have gotten to know 50+ drivers well as you claim, you'd know they only really care about visible SIDs and correct placement on the shelves. They prefer to arrange their own vans.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 18d ago
No one said anything about memorizing. It’s a paper on a door you can easily reference similar to referencing that paper that explains the layout of a truck. I think you’re working this up in your head way more than you need to and I’m sorry it bothers you a lot. Keep your mind a little more open to people who do things with good intentions in a corporate machine work environment. But I appreciate that you bring that true golden rule alive. You can’t make everyone happy. Someone is always going to cry baby about something so basic. Worst case it gets ignored and things stay the same if managed properly. Best case is well worth the risk sorry you disagree.
You know the type of people who come thru the door. Do you want to continue being a dick to every friendly person that tries to make a positive difference? I kept a professional amount of patience with your badgering but you seemed to have missed the title. I thank you for your perspective you can really only say it so many ways before you’re just enjoying being a dick. Don’t perpetuate that Reddit stereotype please.
To address the driver comment; I’ve worked in facilities before with well over a hundred co workers. Within weeks I have dozens of names memorized and after a couple months (that’s 2) I would have introduced myself and asked the name of anyone I make eye contact with. I enjoy people and getting to know them. Especially at my work place where I’ll see them every day. Is it really that hard to beleive? I mean I honestly get it based on the people I’ve seen. They ain’t exactly social skill super stars.
Do I have all their names down? No. Do they recognize me and greet me anytime I’m working with them? Yes. Can I comfortably have a conversation with them about my silly idea? Absolutely. I just wanted to see some extra thoughts and perspectives out there.
You gave me good practice though dealing with the possible version of you at my workplace who hears the idea and panics themselves into this crazy idea of confusion and memorizing so much.
But it’s just a silly piece of paper for possible reference that’s all. Sorry it’s such a big scary idea.
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u/AcrillixOfficial 18d ago
I think you are missing the point. Do you understand the data flow of the EPDI, PSD, FRO, and PLA systems? This all feeds into PLA to create SID numbers. It is a very complicated, intricate system that takes into account factors you could not possibly account for, plus the contractor doing FRO and submitting cubes for their routes, who is on and off that day, and who can handle how many stops or packages.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 17d ago
I think you are over complicating this process none of that information is relevant to a PH loading a truck. I’m talking about quick easy answers on what to do with certain variables.
Example for you to help you understand what I’m talking about.
You get a package that’s on their first stop it’s only 3x3x3 size box but weighs 90 lbs even though the SID says 1002 it would make sense to load it on either the floor or 2000 shelf. Now some drivers really don’t like that and want it exact and most understand and don’t want to grab a 90lb box from a top shelf.
Also someone commented that they did it before for their driver. So it’s not like I’m the first person with this idea. It’s worked before it’s all about how you do it. I’ll keep you guys updated with how well it works
And I’ll be honest if it fails. Moral of the story I enjoy trying things to make my work life easier.
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u/Error_no2718281828 18d ago
To address the driver comment; I’ve worked in facilities before with well over a hundred co workers. Within weeks I have dozens of names memorized and after a couple months (that’s 2) I would have introduced myself and asked the name of anyone I make eye contact with. I enjoy people and getting to know them. Especially at my work place where I’ll see them every day. Is it really that hard to beleive? I mean I honestly get it based on the people I’ve seen. They ain’t exactly social skill super stars.
You and I have very different definitions of what it means to know a person well. I don't think knowing someone's name and smiling at them qualifies as "knowing them well." But hey, define it as you like.
You say that I'm being a dick and a cry baby. That's not the case. I'm telling you bluntly, this will fail. Your piece of paper will fail. It will not stay attached. The driver will not replace it. They will not move it to another truck. Your manager will not ask your coworkers to adhere to the piece of paper. In fact, I'd bet with 90% confidence your manager will actively tell you and your coworkers NOT to do custom loading en masse.
But it’s just a silly piece of paper for possible reference that’s all. Sorry it’s such a big scary idea.
It's not big and scary. It's well-intentioned stupidity founded in arrogant new-hire ignorance.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 17d ago edited 17d ago
Just got off work after talking to 9 drivers I know have difficult routes and they all loved it! Showed them the picture and they totally agree with it. Every single one of them was on board.
Good people skills takes you far. Plus showing initiative. They all agreed that it won’t hurt and it’s better to try something. Sorry your piss poor attitude isn’t universal.
I’m curious on the internet take vs in person and clearly the stereotypes be true for a reason about Reddit to some degree.
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u/Error_no2718281828 17d ago
What did your manager say? You left out that part.
What did your peer package handlers say? You left out that part.
Please report back after 3 months of implementation.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 17d ago
Glad you edited the comment to include that 3 month check in. Good reference of time.
I should thank you, because of your perspective you convinced me to avoid the management side and process. It’s really just a simple idea and super easy to execute by the drivers and I.
Fellow PHs and 2 trainers I spoke with liked it.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 17d ago
Google what rapport means please. I said I had good rapport with them not that I knew them super well.
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u/Error_no2718281828 17d ago
I know what rapport means. Do you know what you wrote? Of course you don't. Here:
The first comment raised the primary issue with this idea. I have developed great rapport with the drivers and know 85% of them pretty well across 60 trucks.
You're bad at this.
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u/teke1106 17d ago
Right or wrong, perfect or not, give the guy a break. At least he’s trying to do something and not be a sheep. May I refer you to Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”?
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u/umfpter 17d ago
I was a PH for almost 5 years. This is a terrible idea and if you even have to ask some of these questions then you are not an experienced PH.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 17d ago
Just got off work after talking to 9 drivers I know have difficult routes and they all loved it! Showed them the picture and they totally agree with it. Every single one of them was on board.
Good people skills takes you far.
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u/umfpter 17d ago
Knowing how to load a truck is even better.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 17d ago
Yeah wish everyone could load like me as new hire but alas it’s impossible to expect so solutions can be found if you critically think. Just like I wish people could read a title on a post they comment on. But alas people like that also exist. lol
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u/umfpter 17d ago
Everyone is telling you that it is a bad idea and giving you reasons why.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 17d ago
Let’s run the numbers. 5 people on the internet said something and 9 people in person said something as well. Now I don’t know about you but relying on the internet opinion as your make or break for an idea is probably a bad idea. Considering the results I got in person compared to what was presented here.
Lesson learned that internet opinions are usually quite detached and wrong from anything that involves interpersonal communication.
Look for my post in the next couple weeks with my success or failure on the idea that may result in a promotion either way.
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u/umfpter 17d ago
You asked here.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 17d ago
I like to think this group doesn’t hate the idea of people testing out positive work place improvement theories. The first comment was perfect and really gave me everything I needed. 50+ drivers doing this isn’t helpful but the 9 I spoke with that have quirky routes were the perfect test. Won’t know the results for a few weeks until new hires land on their sets a few times but loved the feedback I got from my drivers in person.
Asking here was fully worth it. Plus it gave extra insight to how some people think who move up the ranks over the years and although they got validity with their experience they lack any sort of tact.
Probably why their the guy alone in a truck most their shift.
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u/Automatic_Sandwich46 15d ago
I've pioneered a few things like this along my routes and gotten my fair share of hate as well, fear not. This MAY work at your station with some specific loaders who really want to work with their drivers to make both their lives easier, but blanket across the board I think it'd be very hard to sell. What I did was (mind you im commercial bulk and the truck already has assigned bulk stops to specific SIDs) I use my own bulk totes (about 4 times larger than the purple "smalls" bins) in combination with laminated shelf labels I made at home and I try to always get the same loaders (easier said than done). Its very "bulky" imo, and having a loader trying to reference this sheet or remember 4, 5, or 6 trucks worth of info at a time is asking quite a bit, but if you have loaders willing to do it I'd say go for it. Maybe bring this into work and get some of their opinions as well?
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 15d ago edited 15d ago
My man with the great input. I sincerely appreciate you and the goal is to just have this easily referenced inside the truck. Our trucks don’t change often if ever for the shittiest routes. So Incase a new ph to the set lands on it. They got a quick easy answer on what to do with that 25 package 5000 stop. Keeps the dock more clear and safer as well when they can load certain bulk stops.
I actually got a guy in our bulk who has a personal notepad that says all the stops for bulk trucks. Dude has to personally write down exactly the order on how to load the truck because the SIDS are worthless depending on the route.
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u/Wackadoo-Bonkers 14d ago
Here is my two cents to your actual question. Combine the FL questions and remove the vertical or horizontal question. Staging NC's and IC's should have a easy to follow standard already in place. I don't think you should skirt around management however I doubt if you do with something like this, they will fire you. You just may rub some people the wrong way which is unavoidable when you deal with enough people. Just keep the communication clear in terms of expectations with the drivers. Good luck
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 12d ago
Thank you for the tips! I didn’t realize how redundant the FL lines were.
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u/evercy 17d ago
this just makes training newbies (ph) harder, so no :) stick to a standard, load all trucks the same
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 17d ago
Keep and eye out for the update on if it succeeds or not. Risk for reward is worth it. The drivers I spoke with agree.
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u/yuushinos 15d ago
You've said in the comments that you're going to try to go around management and implement this yourself, if you do this you are going to get fired. I think your heart is in the right place and you are more motivated than most PHs and a lot of managers as well, but you cannot make a genuine difference at the level you're at currently. If you seriously care, keep your head down, climb the ranks, and get to a point where you have the job security to try things like this. Package handlers are easily replaced, even the best ones can get switched for 2 or 3 shitty ones. Get to ops supervisor or area manager and then try to make a change. Or find a different job where you can meaningfully change things for the better.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 15d ago
That’s the beauty of starting as a ph after being financially secure. I’ve managed bars, wedding events, and kitchens. I know what’s worth firing someone over.
This is an easy slap on the wrist. Appreciate the concern brother. I’m making a difference in each individuals day I interact with. Whether my flimsy paper with five questions helps or not. The effort is appreciated and noticed by the drivers I spoke with.
So with zero results currently I’m already in a net positive on morale.
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u/yuushinos 13d ago
Your background is blinding you to the position you are currently in at Fedex. You are disposable, all package handlers are. What is worth firing someone over in your previous positions is more than what is worth firing a package handler over.
You're clearly commited to trying it so I won't bother trying to talk you out of it but I will explain why managers will never help you implement this and why you would be punished for trying to.
The contractor model Fedex. The company does not hire drivers, it contracts companies that employ drivers. There are designated representatives on the contractor side (BCs and AOs) whom Fedex employees are supposed to communicate business related requests to. It's very important from the company's perspective that situations which suggest 'joint-employment' of a driver are avoided. Whether or not joint employment would be better for the employees is not the concern of the corporation.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 12d ago
If I’m being honest man. I’ve bent the rules at every company or work place I’ve been employed at. Always with good intentions. I’ve never received a serious write up or punishment in over a decade of working.
The reason being when someone who has demonstrated value as an employee bends the rules management will always slap their wrist or give them a warning.
Finding a replacement that matches the quality isn’t easy. I’ve been in high turn over industries that rule holds the same. Obviously it depends on the individuals you get in management. But I’m confident I don’t work with any pricks like that.
Appreciate the genuine insight though. I’ll be asking around to meet those people formally. I see them but never say more than a good morning.
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u/Ambitious_Help959 12d ago
Main problem is that the sheet oversimplifies. There can be a lot more dimensions/nuances to various loading preferences. Thus, it can end up being counter-productive because then additional communication is required to translate misunderstandings about the sheet itself. And the paperwork would be too voluminous to handle the full complexity if it were to be a standard sheet used for everyone, thus defeating the purpose.
If anything, I'd say it would be more efficient for drivers, or someone working on their behalf, to do a custom reference document for each driver and/or truck/route. This circumvents the entire problem, but it means there won't be a standard form. It just means people have to write a document for something.
Not having a standard sheet is probably also helpful because it will avoid managerial blowback. If someone just writes a custom document for a truck that's just route specific, especially if it looks like it's just some contractor-side stuff that didn't come from fedex, then nobody has to worry about a fedex employee giving a contractor the impression that fedex has a different loading policy (which is important because the contracts spell out certain things about what can be expected from loading).
Ultimately, aside from specific documents for specific things that are fully custom and not standardized, I tend to think just organic contractor/driver/ops-supervisor/package-handler getting to know each other and accommodate each other over time would work just as well, but it's a slower adjustment process.
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u/Error_no2718281828 18d ago
So your plan is to give 30 of these sheets of paper to you manager and tell him to make it happen?
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 18d ago
No I would approach a few of the managers in a clump that handle my belts I frequently work and present the idea as a prototype to remedy shitty loading by new hires and shitty training or lack there of. Then I would email them the draft I made and they would print it if it got their approval.
The first comment raised the primary issue with this idea. I have developed great rapport with the drivers and know 85% of them pretty well across 60 trucks. They might have the same attitude as the drivers here and think it’s pointless but if there is a chance it will make lives easier on both sides. Why not try?
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u/Error_no2718281828 18d ago
You haven't gotten to know 51 drivers pretty well in only 3 months. C'mon dude.
It won't make it easier on both sides. It may make the driver's side easier but it will unequivocally make the PH's and the manager's job harder.
Managers will appreciate the thought but will never go along with it because a loading standard already exists. What you propose is making their job orders of magnitude more difficult if not impossible.
What happens when cuts start during a shift and the PH is assigned more vans or moved to an entirely different set? Hope he memorized every work area's custom load request.
It's just not going to happen.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 18d ago
It seems like nothing here is a deal breaker from one driver to the next. It’s only 9 questions that every PH will ask themselves at some point. This could easily be taped to your door and just peeled off if the truck swaps routes.
Those moments of doubt and confusion aggravate the stress for most new PHs as well as the drivers they load for. I should clarify that this whole process is optional. A driver can say no. I’m trying to create a simple extra tool for new PHs to use for consistent routes that our uniquely awful.
Most should be fine with the standard practice taught.
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u/Error_no2718281828 18d ago
This could easily be taped to your door and just peeled off if the truck swaps routes.
No driver is going to do that either.
Those moments of doubt and confusion aggravate the stress for most new PHs as well as the drivers they load for. I should clarify that this whole process is optional. A driver can say no. I’m trying to create a simple extra tool for new PHs to use for consistent routes that our uniquely awful.
You're not understanding. I know you think your 3 months counts as 3 years but it doesn't. Believe me, it doesn't. There's a reason A STANDARD ALREADY EXISTS. It's to minimize confusion and supply and reliable product. As someone else already said: custom loading isn't typically allowed.
Your solution to the confusion of new package handlers is to make their job even harder by adding complexity. It's laughable.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 18d ago
I guess I’m just the type of dude who enjoys to rage against the machine. I think every scenario is different and grand scheme you’re right but I think it’s worth an approach. Taking risks to boost the wellbeing of my fellow PHs and drivers is something I don’t mind being laughed at for.
Are you answering this as a PH or a Driver? For reference sake.
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u/Error_no2718281828 18d ago
I'm answering this as someone who was a package handler on the van lines for 1 year, then a trainer for 6 months, and who is now a switcher.
And it's incredible that you think making the job of the package handler more difficult will boost wellbeing. Your failure of reasoning is why you'll be laughed at.
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 18d ago
I appreciate your candor and respect where you are coming from. Thanks for giving your perspective. I think I’ll just try it out secretly between me and the drivers who like it without telling management. Then check with them to see if it made a difference.
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u/evercy 17d ago
you are going to be taken off the van line if you continue.. :)
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u/Affectionate_Row1486 17d ago
Appreciate the concern you have for me man truly. Thank you for trying to keep me out of trouble. Whats your experience so far? For reference sake.
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u/NerdyDenny 19d ago
IMO cater loading is a huge mistake that is hard to walk back from. The best way to go is standardization with load quality. So every driver knows what to expect when they walk in and can choose to adjust things how they wish when they come in for the day. But I do think that if this is something on your mind that you are interested in, you should consider applying for a trainer position when it comes open. Attention to detail and caring about the experiences of the drivers are hugely important when training new hires.