Trying to get into freight

tlewis95

tlewis95

I drive planes
I am thinking that I want to try this freight dog thing here pretty soon, and am just wondering what my options are. I know that there are many operators, but I am curious for how many (if any) are based near Chicago. I know of Freight Runners Express in MKE, but that is about it for companies around here.

I think that I would like on-demand flying more than the schedule routes (at first) just because I can see myself getting bored flying the same route pretty quickly, but those don't seem very common anymore.

Any help or advice would be appreciated!
 
Can you fog a mirror? Do you have 1200 hours? Flight Express wants YOU! ;) I think the closest you'll get is CinciNasty, though.

There's not too much up there, IMS. I think Castle (bad rep, BTW) is up there somewhere, and of course Hairnet is still in Columbus, AFAIK. We have at least two members who work for Freight Runners, so maybe they could give you the skinny, but my impression is that they generally only hire guys who have either some freight or some serious single-pilot 135 experience. If you're willing to stay at the same longitude but "head west" (the way of Davy Crockett, Horatio Alger, and the Donner Party), you might talk to Huggles about his employer.

Now, if you're willing to REALLY throw geographical caution to the wind, I would bet that a persistent guy who showed up in Yipsitucky (Willow Run) with a pretty resume in hand and a willingness to get paid beans to join the OOTSK could find a job.
 
tlewis95 said:
I am thinking that I want to try this freight dog thing here pretty soon, and am just wondering what my options are. I know that there are many operators, but I am curious for how many (if any) are based near Chicago. I know of Freight Runners Express in MKE, but that is about it for companies around here.

I think that I would like on-demand flying more than the schedule routes (at first) just because I can see myself getting bored flying the same route pretty quickly, but those don't seem very common anymore.

Any help or advice would be appreciated!
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If you're talking feeders for ups/whatever, it is very much scheduled. The schedule is just set by them and not us.
 
z987k said:
If you're talking feeders for ups/whatever, it is very much scheduled. The schedule is just set by them and not us.
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How does it work in selecting the routes then? Are you stuck on the same one for a while? Or can you switch daily/weekly?
 
tlewis95 said:
How does it work in selecting the routes then? Are you stuck on the same one for a while? Or can you switch daily/weekly?
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I'm sure it varies by company, but here, we bid new runs every 2 months, but if you're at an out-stationed run, you'll be there at least 6.
 
If you really want to fly freight, do it.
But I personally think that the best financial advice is to go to the regionals. Gasp. But it is true.
Unless you can get picked up by a freight outfit that can still pay amazingly well (relative to regionals) from the word go, the median freight wage will be out paced by the average regional after a year.

-Crew 121 time.
-FMS time.
Pilot demand for the future is unknown, so the weight of these things is unknown, but if the majors are on your wish list, a regional may be in your future anyway.

If you want to learn how to fly with the fire of fr8-dogg, do it.
But on a serious side: the flying is amazing, splitting your sleep schedule in to two 4 hour bits blows.
 
Boris Badenov said:
Now, if you're willing to REALLY throw geographical caution to the wind, I would bet that a persistent guy who showed up in Yipsitucky (Willow Run) with a pretty resume in hand and a willingness to get paid beans to join the OOTSK could find a job.
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AFAIK right now, you currently gotta know someone to break the YIP vortex. Jobs are being filled, but some of it at least is musical chairs.
 
Douglas said:
If you really want to fly freight, do it.
But I personally think that the best financial advice is to go to the regionals. Gasp. But it is true.
Unless you can get picked up by a freight outfit that can still pay amazingly well (relative to regionals) from the word go, the median freight wage will be out paced by the average regional after a year.

-Crew 121 time.
-FMS time.
Pilot demand for the future is unknown, so the weight of these things is unknown, but if the majors are on your wish list, a regional may be in your future anyway.

If you want to learn how to fly with the fire of fr8-dogg, do it.
But on a serious side: the flying is amazing, splitting your sleep schedule in to two 4 hour bits blows.
Click to expand...

Do the math on that. It takes ~4-5 years for regional pay to make parity with my company, who does not pay well at all. That is, the total amount paid all together. Not yearly. After that point the regionals start to go way ahead... but personally, I have no intentions of being here in 5 years.

4 + 4 sleep really sucks though.
 
z987k said:
Do the math on that. It takes ~4-5 years for regional pay to make parity with my company, who does not pay well at all. That is, the total amount paid all together. Not yearly. After that point the regionals start to go way ahead... but personally, I have no intentions of being here in 5 years.

4 + 4 sleep really sucks though.
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You might want to check your numbers. You are at AMF right? I am a on 4th year FO pay at a regional and make more then a topped out 120 CA. It looks like my 1st year I made the same money as a SA227/1900 CA.
 
Gonzo said:
You might want to check your numbers. You are at AMF right? I am a on 4th year FO pay at a regional and make more then a topped out 120 CA.
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Ya... but what did you make the first couple of years? That was my point. What regional are you at?
 
z987k said:
Ya... but what did you make the first couple of years? That was my point. What regional are you at?
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I would agree on the large that regionals will end up eventually paying better, if you pick the winning horse. However, there are always exceptions to that rule. Multiple specific guys even here on this site (that I won't call out because I don't want to draw attention to their paychecks, they are accomplished and have worked damn hard) have come up through freight and seem to be doing just fine.
 
Douglas said:
If you really want to fly freight, do it.
But I personally think that the best financial advice is to go to the regionals. Gasp. But it is true.
Unless you can get picked up by a freight outfit that can still pay amazingly well (relative to regionals) from the word go, the median freight wage will be out paced by the average regional after a year.

-Crew 121 time.
-FMS time.
Pilot demand for the future is unknown, so the weight of these things is unknown, but if the majors are on your wish list, a regional may be in your future anyway.

If you want to learn how to fly with the fire of fr8-dogg, do it.
But on a serious side: the flying is amazing, splitting your sleep schedule in to two 4 hour bits blows.
Click to expand...

this sums it perfectly!

honestly, I have really enjoyed flying cargo. Buuuut... I can say that after nearly 2 years doing this, I am seriously considering giving up my $40k a year job to sit in the right seat of an RJ for $20k. Only reason I mention this is because, if the regionals had been hiring 2 years ago, thats where I would be now. The majors, or anyone "decent" gig seems to be looking for "crew" experience, "FMS" experience, etc. Basically, the good jobs want you to prove that you can play well with others and manage a more advanced airplane. It seems nobody cares for awesome single pilot IFR skills anymore. Of course that is just my observation... take it for what its worth. All the 135 freight companies seem to be hiring now!
 
SIUav8er said:
this sums it perfectly!

honestly, I have really enjoyed flying cargo. Buuuut... I can say that after nearly 2 years doing this, I am seriously considering giving up my $40k a year job to sit in the right seat of an RJ for $20k. Only reason I mention this is because, if the regionals had been hiring 2 years ago, thats where I would be now. The majors, or anyone "decent" gig seems to be looking for "crew" experience, "FMS" experience, etc. Basically, the good jobs want you to prove that you can play well with others and manage a more advanced airplane. It seems nobody cares for awesome single pilot IFR skills anymore. Of course that is just my observation... take it for what its worth. All the 135 freight companies seem to be hiring now!
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Don't you have an asian auto-pilot? Is that not crew? lol
 
One more freight dog saying don't do it.

As a noob you will most likely be flying scheduled the unscheduled stuff is mostly done in bigger planes, jets and crewed planes. I have never flown unscheduled but the guys doing it look just as tired sitting in the pilot lounge as I do.

While the flying is cool the schedule sucks. The money is good for the first year compared to the regionals but sucks comparatively after that. QOL really sucks, look at the thread about 135 schedule, does that sound like something you want to do for a few years? SWA, UPS or Fedex will not hire you just because you flew freight not without years of doing other things after freight dogging.
 
FlyingScot said:
One more freight dog saying don't do it.

As a noob you will most likely be flying scheduled the unscheduled stuff is mostly done in bigger planes, jets and crewed planes. I have never flown unscheduled but the guys doing it look just as tired sitting in the pilot lounge as I do.

While the flying is cool the schedule sucks. The money is good for the first year compared to the regionals but sucks comparatively after that. QOL really sucks, look at the thread about 135 schedule, does that sound like something you want to do for a few years? SWA, UPS or Fedex will not hire you just because you flew freight not without years of doing other things after freight dogging.
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I would agree as to that part. I have not flown 121, but there is no way in hell the schedule is as bad. I don't think it's possible.

M-fri 5am-9pm, Sat 6-10am
 
z987k said:
I would agree as to that part. I have not flown 121, but there is no way in hell the schedule is as bad. I don't think it's possible.

M-fri 5am-9pm, Sat 6-10am
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IDK how you guys hate this schedule. The UPS schedule is literally the easiest I've ever had. Weekends off, home all day, 8 hours in base, 10 hours in the outstation and less then 2.5 block of flying a day.
 
Whats your goal?
I do both on-demand and scheduled.
If you are the kind of guy never to leave the bed, then getting called at 8 pm to do an all-nighter to Mexico won't be a problem.

UPS routes are cake, but if you're like some members here which do not live in the outstation, it can suck.
Be a self starter and find something to do, you'll be happier, but if you're flying a 207 with 200 lbs of boxes, chances are pretty slim that the out-station has anything more than a stop light in the town.

I'm with the other dudes, go to a regional. Hit on the 3 non gay/granny/ghetto flight attendants. Money sucks initially, but look at what airlines what. (Emirites, Qatar, Cathay...) Also you'll build time faster. I don't know many freight dogs who fly 1000hrs/year. 121 schedulers try to put you right at 999.9.
 
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