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Recently you submitted a resume to Modus Transportation, Inc. - via Monster.com, direct email, or fax - for a delivery driver position. Yours was one that that appeared to meet the company's needs, and I wanted to invite you to contact me if you are interested in proceeding with the application and training process. Modus Management is a small (currently ten drivers) contractor for FedEx Ground.I want to stress a few points for you to consider before proceeding. It is a waste of both your time and mine for you to continue further if the job will not suit you. There are a number of things to like about this job (you can find additional details at www.modus1.com/driver), but many negatives as well. In this email I will stress the negatives since 95% of applicants who apply for this position really do not want it (or are not suited for it) and I want you to make that decision as early in the application and training process as possible. Here are the reasons most people decide to decline the job: ********************** This job is far more difficult - physically and mentally - than most people realize. This is not a “driving job” where you move a vehicle for 6 hours a day and move merchandise for two hours a day. Instead, this is a “delivery job” where you will drive about 2 hours a day total, and move merchandise about 8 hours per day. The average route has 90 to 100 stops per day, and about 300 delivery and pickup packages. This does not require great physical strength, but it does require almost constant physical motion. It is very tiring for a few months until you get used to it; many drivers lose all excess weight they are carrying in the first few months. Additionally, you have to learn to “route” yourself (you will be trained on techniques of course) through each day and even people who profess to be familiar with Denver streets struggle with this mental aspect of the job for a few weeks. ********************** The job starts at $500/week for a 50 hour week (even if you work less than 50 hours). This shows up on a paycheck as an hourly rate of $9.09/hour plus 10 hours of overtime at $13.65. The benefit package is excellent for a small company; after a few months the new employee typically is put on a 10% bonus program; after six months most employees receive a 5 - 10% raise; and overtime over 50 hours/week would continue to be paid at $13.65/hour. So, at the end of the first year an employee has typically earned $32,000 to $35,000 plus benefits. Nonetheless, if the starting salary is not adequate for you then please do not continue the application process. ********************** The application process takes a minimum of one week and starts with a "ride-along" with one of my drivers. This is essentially an unpaid, day-long interview wherein you come in to the terminal at 7:30 a.m. and work with an experienced driver for an entire day (10 hours) so that you can see what the job really entails. Most people that go on a ride-along decide that the job is not for them. If you are interested in continuing after the ride-along then you will need to submit a full written application and take a DOT physical and drug screen (at my cost). It takes about a week for the results to come back and if they are acceptable you will be scheduled for a final interview, orientation, and training class. ********************** During the application process a criminal and driving history will be obtained from government sources. If you have any felonies in the past ten years, or some types of misdemeanors, then your application will be rejected. If you have more than two moving violations on your MVR (“defective vehicle” and the like excepted) in the past three years, your application will probably be rejected. If you have disqualifying records please do not continue the application process. ********************** You must know how to drive a manual transmission. If you don't already know how, please obtain that training elsewhere before continuing the application process. An orientation will be conducted as part of the application process and part of this orientation is to verify that you can safely operate a vehicle. This test is given in a manual transmission vehicle. ********************** The training process starts with an eight-day course in a classroom setting, and includes some driving instruction and obstacle course work with a FedEx manager. During these eight days you will be paid at $9.09 an hour for about 6 hours per day. You then need to complete six “service rides” with a manager. These are relatively short (six to eight hour) training days where you deliver less than a full route. During these service rides I consider you to be a part-time employee and pay straight $9.09/hour for hours actually worked plus time-and-a-half if you work overtime. After this training cycle of about three weeks you become a full-time employee and are eligible for benefits. ********************** We work as a team in my company. There are a number of demands on our labor by FedEx, our shippers and delivery customers, and the needs of our own company. You cannot expect that you can just “finish your work and go home”. While you will not have to work nights or weekends, you may be called on to move to different routes, help others finish their routes, pick up some slack for another employee that has called in sick, etc. The better you are at your job the more I will rely on you to help others so we all end up working about the same amount of time. Employees that pull more than their share are compensated better than others but if this team approach doesn't appeal to you then please don’t apply. ********************** In the actual email you will be given a phone number to call to schedule a ride-along. Please apply by email at this time if you are interested. |
Last modified: August 05, 2007 |
