Gawsh Doug...I'm all choked up....
And to think that silly "We need a freight fourm" thread actually came to something....
I can only say I'll visit this forum often and try to pass on what I know about flying freight.
I've only flown for one pax company and that was my first job doing Grand Canyon tours in small Cessna's. Have flown freight in Aero Commander 500's, Convair 640's, and the Boeing 727. I was lucky to get hired at UPS fairly early on during a time of rapid hiring (early 90's). Didn't have any contacts at UPS or even a great desire to spend my career there when I got hired (didn't tell them that) but I've been very blessed with my job. That's not to say it isn't a royal pain in the you-know-what sometimes or that I bleed brown....but flying freight has been good to me.
Some nice things about flying freight....
1. Good stability if you fly for one of the larger carriers.
2. You don't have to wait in long TSA lines at the airport, though we do get screened coming on the property.
3. Boxes don't whine or complain
4. ATC is less of a hassle at 3am
5. Ummm...that's all I can think of right now...better go have my coffee....