FedEx reviews

FedEx Ground is extremely controlling in everything we do. They call us "independent business owners" and "business partners", but in reality we do not have the freedom that a true independent contractor should have. We have to buy our own delivery vehicles which must be less than 3 years old. We have to place their logos on our vans or trucks in specific locations or they will not be approved for us to use. They require that we purchase backing cameras, shelving in straight trucks, etc. or we cannot use the vehicle which doesn't have them. We are required to wear their uniforms, wear an employee type I.D. badge. We are required to make our pick ups within certain time windows which they negotiate with shippers or we lose "bonus" money. We are required to sign a one-sided, non-negotiated contract every year or else we will have no job. If our work area grows to beyond the limits of a 12 hour work day or beyond the capacity of the delivery vehicle, we have the choice of giving away the overload to another contractor or adding on a "supplemental" vehicle which does not get the benefits of a contracted route. The supplementals are virtually impossible to get contracted even if they are handling the same number of stops and packages as any other contracted route.

FedEx does not provide adequate benefits to a majority of the employees. Some Workgroups do have adequate benefits. The executive management group has an excellent pay, retirement, and bonuses. There retirements benefits are outstanding, retirement pay, and retirement medical. As for the majority of employees the pay is inadequate, the health insurance is sold to the employees for a high price with very poor coverage. The traditional pension plan was discontinued, and frozen. They have a very inadequate cash Pension Plan that will pay a minimum token amount when the employee leaves after 20 years. It is based on your salary and time in service, and applied to a company account every three months with a interest rate of 1% every three months. That ADDS up to 4% the year, and you do not control the money in the account. It is controlled by the company. Many of the retirees are struggling with the health insurance. The retirees have to pay $700 to $1,000 a month for coverage for two people. This is no better than Cobra coverage. Many people go to work for large companies for the benefits, health insurance and retirement knowing that this was promised at the beginning of their employment with this company. FedEx is very good with public relations they have the means and the money to make the story sound good. They also are very good of promising many things. But to is all smoke and mirrors.