Day in the life of a freight dawg?

model700

model700

gettin' there.
Hey guys, this is my first post, so let's be nice. Here's a little about me: My name is Travis, I'm 18, and I like to hunt. I'm just getting into GA, and currently working on my private. I'll be going to school next fall to persue my degree in aviation. Lucky me right?

From what I hear, after becoming a CFI for a while, life in the regionals is hell, and one doesn't get into corperate flying without a lot of ME or TT. (also networking). On the other hand, being a "freight dawg" seems to be the opposite. From what I read, most of these guys like what they're doing. I'm talking about Flight Express and AirNet types, not FedEx and UPS.

What is a typical day for this type of job like? Are you home most of the nights, and what are the schedules like? How's the overall QOL? Most of all, what sucks most about this job, versus what makes it great?

Thanks so much everyone, I'm looking foward to getting to know everyone on the forum.
 
Be sure to check out the freight (ootsk) or something like that section in the lower forum. Also, there is most likely a day in the life type write up on the jetcareers homepage. Believe it or not, JC is more than a forum! Who'd a thunk?
 
Depends on the operator. Where I worked, it was show early morning, load freight, drop off at a few destinations and then chill for 4-6 hours. Then load again on the way back and be done mid evening. Pay can range from liveable to getting by. Biggest thing is getting to scheduled stops on time and not breaking metal. Thats your main concern. And paperwork. Aside from that, if you don't mind subpar equipment, odd sleeping schedule and doing your own thing, its pretty rewarding. I enjoyed it for the time being, but glad to have paid my dues and moved onto green pastures.
 
Travis,

Welcome to the boards.

Well there are a couple of types of freight 121, and 135

You will most likely start out in 135 on demand freight when you cut your teeth. This will be some the best experience of your career and you will also scare yourself silly at times too. Almost all of have done it.

135 Freight varies but here is my experience with it.

Tied to pager with 30 minute call out
6 days off a month
Ok health care
300 bucks a week and 10 cents a mile after 3000 miles flown for the month
Flew 1000 hours a year in dogged out 310's, 402's, and EMB-110's
Long Long days


121 Supplimental Cargo
12 days off a month
good salary
good bennies
averaged about 300-400 hours a year
2 hour call out
Long Long Days at times
Much better QOL
 
In part 135 freight we will typically be home at night and weekends. But that can change based on the type of flying you do. Some bank runs are all night flights.

I just got back from a UPS run. Showed at 5AM landed at my destination at around 8:30AM. Sat in a hotel till 7PM (mmm free breakfast). Got back to my base around 9:30PM. Some employers do not put you in a hotel and you may end up sitting around the FBO all day.

This type of day is pretty typical for UPS, FedEx and DHL stuff.

Bank work can be just about anything. All night flight or more of a UPS type of adventure. Just depends on the different branches.
 
I work for kind of a unique freight outfit in ABQ. We just got a new chief pilot and things are starting to really look good around here. All but 2 of our runs are day runs. We depart anywhere from 6-8am depending on the run and all of us are back to sleep in our own beds by 8pm. The run I'm on is an 8am departure and I get back into ABQ at 7:30pm. We get paid a day rate of $100 a day base pay and $40 per diem a day, comes out to about 35k a year for an entry level 135 gig. We fly 402's mainly but some runs have 310's. We fly between 70 and 80 hours a month.

The biggest gripe our guys have is the equipment. I feel spoiled when I get one of the airplanes with an HSI. No GPS's. A couple do have basic auto pilots but those are usually the airplanes that are being scavenged for parts. I get called out by ATC often for being ten miles off the airway when both my radios are telling me I'm on it. Good times.
 
Speed Pilot said:
I work for kind of a unique freight outfit in ABQ. We just got a new chief pilot and things are starting to really look good around here. All but 2 of our runs are day runs. We depart anywhere from 6-8am depending on the run and all of us are back to sleep in our own beds by 8pm. The run I'm on is an 8am departure and I get back into ABQ at 7:30pm. We get paid a day rate of $100 a day base pay and $40 per diem a day, comes out to about 35k a year for an entry level 135 gig. We fly 402's mainly but some runs have 310's. We fly between 70 and 80 hours a month.

The biggest gripe our guys have is the equipment. I feel spoiled when I get one of the airplanes with an HSI. No GPS's. A couple do have basic auto pilots but those are usually the airplanes that are being scavenged for parts. I get called out by ATC often for being ten miles off the airway when both my radios are telling me I'm on it. Good times.
Click to expand...

That is descent pay for an entry level 135 gig. Should be a little higher for a PIC though but not that bad in this economy. It is sad though the 135 pay hasn't increased that much since my 135 days a decade ago.
 
After a month of 135 freight flying, my biggest complaints are the avionics and crew apartments our company provides for us. They're sloooooooooooowly coming around to the concept of GPS and (ha!) digital radios. Frankly, it's ridiculous that this many King KX-170 radios are still serviceable. Constant bleed-over from other frequencies (often while you're transmitting), and sometimes you'll be simply unable to hear ATC at all. But hey, if it ain't broke... I mean, if it mostly ain't broke, why fix it?

Also, our crew apartments are pretty ghastly. Who knows how old some of the furniture in them is. I can make a pretty good guess at how old the TVs are. And very few of the other pilots make any effort to clean these places. If you're OCD about hygiene (like me), it's tough to relax in most of our crew apartments.

That said, most of the runs have pretty decent hours. I get to be home every night. And I get noticeably better pay than I would with a regional airline.

Plus, I still enjoy going to work every day. That's worth something.
 
Bandit_Driver said:
That is descent pay for an entry level 135 gig. Should be a little higher for a PIC though but not that bad in this economy. It is sad though the 135 pay hasn't increased that much since my 135 days a decade ago.
Click to expand...

I wish I'd have been here around 2005-2007, these guys were starting new hires out around 45k a year to fly 310's and 402's. Most guys with more than a year with the company were in the mid 50's to low 60's. For twin piston work. Damn economic collapse.

Oh yeah. We work Mon-Fri with weekends and holidays off.
 
Cal Goat said:
After a month of 135 freight flying, my biggest complaints are the avionics and crew apartments our company provides for us. They're sloooooooooooowly coming around to the concept of GPS and (ha!) digital radios. Frankly, it's ridiculous that this many King KX-170 radios are still serviceable. Constant bleed-over from other frequencies (often while you're transmitting), and sometimes you'll be simply unable to hear ATC at all. But hey, if it ain't broke... I mean, if it mostly ain't broke, why fix it?
Click to expand...

We've got lots of KX 170B's. I love them compared to some of the original equipment Cessna radios we've got floating around. I HATE factory Cessna radios.
 
Speed Pilot said:
I wish I'd have been here around 2005-2007, these guys were starting new hires out around 45k a year to fly 310's and 402's. Most guys with more than a year with the company were in the mid 50's to low 60's. For twin piston work. Damn economic collapse.

Oh yeah. We work Mon-Fri with weekends and holidays off.
Click to expand...

Damn, hopefully the economy comes back for ya. Believe it or not most of our 727 have old school radios, including the HF's...A couple of planes have digital heads and those are nice. The old school stuff actually works pretty good for us and I have been told by mx actually has a higher xmit power than the new stuff.
 
Bandit_Driver said:
Damn, hopefully the economy comes back for ya. Believe it or not most of our 727 have old school radios, including the HF's...A couple of planes have digital heads and those are nice. The old school stuff actually works pretty good for us and I have been told by mx actually has a higher xmit power than the new stuff.
Click to expand...

In principle, the KX-170s are fine. But I'm telling you the bleed over is atrocious. I personally don't care if they give me the coconut radio from Gilligan's Island but I just want it to work correctly. Know what I'm saying?
 
Cal Goat said:
After a month of 135 freight flying, my biggest complaints are the avionics and crew apartments our company provides for us. They're sloooooooooooowly coming around to the concept of GPS and (ha!) digital radios. Frankly, it's ridiculous that this many King KX-170 radios are still serviceable. Constant bleed-over from other frequencies (often while you're transmitting), and sometimes you'll be simply unable to hear ATC at all. But hey, if it ain't broke... I mean, if it mostly ain't broke, why fix it?

Also, our crew apartments are pretty ghastly. Who knows how old some of the furniture in them is. I can make a pretty good guess at how old the TVs are. And very few of the other pilots make any effort to clean these places. If you're OCD about hygiene (like me), it's tough to relax in most of our crew apartments.

That said, most of the runs have pretty decent hours. I get to be home every night. And I get noticeably better pay than I would with a regional airline.

Plus, I still enjoy going to work every day. That's worth something.
Click to expand...

Thats more of a base thing than a company wide problem. One of the biggest reasons for this is that some pilots refuse to clean up after themselves. They pawn all the responsibility off on the next guy. You get a good group of guys and gals who all particpate in cleaning up after themselves and you will have a pleasant layover. If not, you may as well sit at the FBO and play on the internets. :)

A good example of this is the OMA crew apartments. I hear that place is pretty nice!
 
Is every day about 14 hours? Do you think the companies will be upgrading to at least GPS and other IFR equipment in the future? All I know right now is steam gauges, so it isn't too big of a deal to me.
 
model700 said:
Is every day about 14 hours? Do you think the companies will be upgrading to at least GPS and other IFR equipment in the future? All I know right now is steam gauges, so it isn't too big of a deal to me.
Click to expand...

Thinkin wayyy ahead there.. You're just workin on your private and still have college to worry about. (As do I). Things will change, but companies will skate by with spending minimal money.
 
Speed Pilot said:
I work for kind of a unique freight outfit in ABQ. We just got a new chief pilot and things are starting to really look good around here. All but 2 of our runs are day runs. We depart anywhere from 6-8am depending on the run and all of us are back to sleep in our own beds by 8pm. The run I'm on is an 8am departure and I get back into ABQ at 7:30pm. We get paid a day rate of $100 a day base pay and $40 per diem a day, comes out to about 35k a year for an entry level 135 gig. We fly 402's mainly but some runs have 310's. We fly between 70 and 80 hours a month.

The biggest gripe our guys have is the equipment. I feel spoiled when I get one of the airplanes with an HSI. No GPS's. A couple do have basic auto pilots but those are usually the airplanes that are being scavenged for parts. I get called out by ATC often for being ten miles off the airway when both my radios are telling me I'm on it. Good times.
Click to expand...

I've heard that plenty of times..."Chartran 104 verify you're on V68"....."Uhhhhh yeah, that's what I'm showing"
 
I just got on with AirNet last month after just under 2.5 years as a CFI. I love the personality of the company. Real fun place and great group of folks overall.

I got checked out in the Baron BE58 which is a very nice multi. The condition of our equipment I would rate as good overall. Everything works as it should and while these are cargo aircraft, they are still in better condition than some of the airplanes I flew while instructing. I completed my 135 check ride in the Baron last week.

Once I completed my 135 check ride in the Baron (basically a multi-engine instrument check ride with oral that covers company, 135, 91, and 61 FARS and the AIM), the Chief Pilot told me the four bases that were open. I then chose a route where I will be flying the Caravan since I prefer warm climates and this run is in the companies warmest location (got lucky on that). Looks like pay should work out to around $34k to $36k range for this entry level Part 135 Frieght Dawg job.

My route is Monday through Thursday with a duty time from about 7pm to 3:30am with 4 one hour legs total. Then on Friday I do 2 legs with a duty time of 11pm to 3:30am. I get off on Saturday and Sunday to sleep in and enjoy (oh wait, I work nights so I sleep in every day!).

Should be a fun job and I look forward to this new step in my career. I should finish my Caravan check out next week and be in my new home base about a week or two after that. I will need to go back home after my Caravan check out and do a 2,000 mile move to my new location and no matter how I try to plan it, it seems like it'll take me 9-10 days to complete the move since I presently have two locations to move stuff from. Luckily location number two is only a 3 mile detour off the most direct route (got lucky there as well). Wow, seems like every year I move to a new place to keep advancing in my career!
 
I work for a part 135 FedEx feeder (Baron Aviation.). My day starts at 1750 PM local time (2350Z), I untie and preflight my mighty Cessna Caravan (10min) then go inside the FBO and watch Top Gear for 30 minutes until the couriers show up with the packages. They hand me the manifest and hazmat paperwork and go to the plane and start loading. I review the paperwork, sign it and supervise their loading of the plane from inside while Top Gear finishes. I also do my W&B during this time. When it looks like they're about done I go outside, hand them one copy of the paperwork and keep the other. I glance inside the cargo compartment and make sure they tied the freight down properly, close the door and blast off. After a 1.0 block flight (flown mostly on autopilot, direct from the 530W, and using satellite weather and radar to avoid any thunderstorms) I land in Lubbock, tie my airplane down and walk away. I hand my copy of the manifest to the FedEx people in Lubbock. I call my company and give them the times I entered in the airplane logbook and any invoice numbers if I purchased fuel, oil or services that day. I get in a company provided car and drive to a company provided apartment. I get in my room at about 0210Z and have a showtime of 1030Z, so most of the time I do not have enough time to go off duty overnight, but I do get an average of 7 hours of sleep anyway while "on duty." When I get to the airport in the morning I have a cup of coffee and wait for the Airbus to get there from Memphis. It is due to arrive at 1030Z every day, and lately it has been on time but during winter or other weird situations we have waited quite a while for it. The freight for my plane arrives pre-sorted mostly in it's own AKE can(s) right off the airbus. However I am the third caravan to be loaded in the morning so there is plenty of time to BS with the other feeder pilots in the lounge. About after 15-20 minutes after I hear the jet come in I walk out to my plane and untie it and open the cargo door for the belt loader if they haven't already done that for me. I supervise the loading of the plane, sign the paperwork and am marshaled out of the FedEx ramp about 1135Z for an arrival time back home of about 1235Z, after I pull in the FedEx couriers are usually waiting for me. I tie the airplane back down, hand them the manifest and any hazmat paperwork, go inside the FBO and call in my times for the morning flight. Then I drive home and usually arrive in time to get some snuggling in before my GF gets up for work, getting in my home at about 1300Z. I usually take a nap in the morning but more hardcore people are known to just tough it out and work a separate job or take care of kids, but I usually take a nap then wake up and play video games or read novels.

We have two runs where I am based. One of the runs is 4 days a week(Mon PM to Fri AM) and one is 5 (Mon PM to Sat AM) and the two pilots alternate weekly so every other week I get a "long" weekend.

I'm paid a starting salary of $38,500/yr and the company pays 100% of my health insurance. The QOL is nice primarily because I only "work" about 4 hours a day and don't have to touch any of the packages, in fact we're not really allowed to touch them. I used to work for a UPS feeder and I was going to have a blown back by the time I was 28 if I kept having to load that plane every day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top