Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc., better known as FFE Transportation, has grown from humble beginnings.
In 1943, Cy Weller returned from the army and began buying salvage trucks to sell to trucking companies. Cy quickly realized that there was an unfilled need in the transportation industry: a way to transport perishable items over long distances.
Sure, there were refrigerated trucks at the time, but none were available that had the deep freezing capabilities to transport perishable goods across the country. Cy began purchasing army refrigerators and installed them into trailers, giving birth to our nation’s first deep refrigeration trailers.
FFE has grown since its early days and was even a publicly-traded company for some time. The company went private again in 2013, and the company remains the second-largest temperature-controlled carrier in the United States.
FFE has a well-established track record of success and growth, but what is it like driving for them? What positions are available, and more importantly, how much can you expect to earn?
Frozen Food Express Driving Positions
FFE offers numerous driving opportunities, including:
LTL
Regional less than truckload driving opportunities are available primarily in New Jersey, Florida, Georgia and Illinois. An LTL position is ideal for drivers who want to stay close to home, haul smaller freight, and have the communication skills to develop a good rapport with customers.
Company Driver
Company drivers haul mostly high-value temperature-controlled goods.
Owner Operator
FFE works with owner-operators using one of the most profitable structures in the industry. If you want to be your own boss, FFE offers a $2,500 lease incentive as well as:
- Dead head pay
- Insurance programs with lower premiums
- Increased line haul & reimbursement
- Plates and permits provided
- Fuel surcharge
- Maintenance road service support available 24/7
- 100% reefer fuel reimbursement
Teams
At FFE, drivers can choose to work on a company driver team or work with their own team as an owner operator team.
Teams run up to 5,500 miles per week. The company also offers a rider program and pet policy, so teams can bring the comforts of home with them on the road.
FFE Driver Requirements
FFE’s driver requirements are standard in the industry:
- Must have a CDL-A license
- At least 21 years of age (company drivers); 22 years of age for owner operators
- Must be a U.S. citizen or obtain Immigration and Naturalization Service Resident
- Must be fluent in English
- Must have a verifiable work history for 3 years
- Must have a good driving record for 3 years
- No alcohol-related convictions within the last five years
- Must pass DOT physical exam and drug screen
Pay and Benefits
FFE Transportation Services is very transparent about their pay rates and benefits. Potential drivers can view pay rates for local, regional, linehaul and contractor positions.
According to Indeed.com, a company driver earns $45,892 per year on average.
Pay rates vary by region and experience level. For the purpose of our research this article, let’s say that you’re a mid-career driver with 3-4 years of experience.
Here’s a closer look at how much drivers make working for FFE.
Local Positions
Hourly pay rates for this experience level are as follows:
- Chicago and Ontario: $23.05/hour
- Atlanta, Denver, Lancaster, KS and SLC: $23.05/hour
- Stockton and Portland: $25/hour
- Miami and Winterhaven: $21.85/hour
- Burlington, NJ: $25/hour
Regional Positions
- Stockton, Burlington and Portland: $0.44/mile
- Atlanta, Denver, Chicago, KC, Ontario, Lancaster, Miami, SLC and Winterhaven: $0.39/mile
Line Haul Positions
- Solo: $0.4500/mile
- Team: $0.2650/mile
Contractors (Owner Operators)
The pay for contractors is obviously different from company drivers. Pay is based on miles driven rather than experience.
- Loaded: $1.40 for 0-150 miles; $1.30 for 151-399 miles; $0.95 for 400+ miles
- Empty: $0.90 for 0-150 miles; $0.90 for 151-399 miles; $0.90 for 400+ miles
FFE Company Benefits
Along with competitive pay, FFE also offers excellent benefits to drivers.
Company drivers enjoy:
- Weekly pay
- Paid vacation
- Full benefits (medical, dental and vision coverage)
- Disability insurance
- Cab card
- 401K
- Rider program
- Company sponsored training
- New equipment
- Direct deposit
LTL drivers enjoy:
- $5,000 sign-on bonus for drivers with experience
- Weekly pay
- Earn up to $1,100 per week
- Weekly home time
- Direct deposit
- Full benefits (medical, dental and vision coverage)
- 401K
- Rider program
- Paid vacation
Team drivers enjoy all of the above-listed benefits as well as a $6,000 sign-on bonus ($3,000 for each driver).
FFE also offers competitive pay and training for new graduates. Upon completion of the driving academy, graduates enter a 2-day paid orientation followed by six weeks of paid training with another driver.
Graduates earn, at minimum, $400 per week.
When training at the Driver Academy, housing is provided as well as meals (3 meals Mon-Sat and 2 meals on Sunday). Once training is complete, graduates will be assigned a solo truck.
FFE maintains an open door management policy, which means that drivers can approach management with any concerns or questions they may have. Offering competitive pay, training and new equipment, FFE is well-liked by drivers of all experience levels.