Key Takeaways

• The most sought after aspects of being a driver at FedEx include job security, weekly pay schedule, positive company culture, independence during the workday, and fair wages.
• The most common complaints from drivers at FedEx are being asked to work too many hours, wanting to be paid more including higher overtime pay, lack of benefits packages for contracted drivers, working in bad weather, and the physical strain of moving large packages each day.
• The average hourly rate for FedEx delivery drivers in both King County, Washington and Pierce County, Washington is $24/hr. 
• The estimated average salary of a FedEx driver in King County and Pierce County is $48,000, slightly higher than the national average salary.

Introduction

FedEx Driver Reviews- Positives

• Job security and stable work availability was one of the most commonly mentioned benefits, likely because many FedEx drivers are contractors.
•  Direct examples of comments on job security included; "consistent schedule weekly", "overtime available", and "stable work that is year round".
• Having a weekly pay schedule was also frequently highlighted as a great feature of being a driver at FedEx.
•  Direct examples of what employees listed in the pros of working as a driver included; "you get paid every week", "pay every week", and "weekly pay Friday, pay is a bonus, no biweekly".
• Company culture was mentioned often, with a focus on the work environment being casual and friendly. 
•  Direct examples of what employees said about work culture as a positive aspect of being a driver at FedEx included, "everybody appears to be laid back", "very laid back", and "friendly coworkers great team players".
•  Independence in the workday and not being micromanaged also was one of the top five most common positive aspects of the driver position at FedEx.
•  Direct examples of what employees said regarding workday independence included, "drive by yourself no one looking over you" "work by yourself which i like", "work alone, finish when you are done", and "nobody is constantly looking over your shoulder".
•  Fair wages were mentioned as an aspect of this job by many employees (however, it's important to note that there were also many reviewers on the other end of the spectrum, who were critical of their pay rates, which is referenced in the section below).
•  Direct examples of what employees said regarding fair pay were basic, and included, "make good money", "good salary", and "money was good".

FedEx Driver Reviews- Negatives

• One of the top complaints of FedEx drivers was having too many hours each week or too long of individual workdays.
•  Direct examples of complaints from employees included; "longer than 8 hr days 3 days out the week", "peak season expected to work up to 7 days a week", "they over work you for no extra pay" and "long hours if you get unexpected packages".
• It was also noted that holidays and the pandemic both increased the likelihood of being required to work too many hours.
• Another of the top complaints was that the pay was too low, and that drivers weren't paid enough for regular hours or for overtime.
•  Direct examples of complaints from employees included; "overall salary too low/lack of overtime "pay kept getting lower each week", "pay could be a lot better", and "pay the workers more".
• The physical strain of lifting packages all day was also a top complaint, with it commonly noted that there was no size limit on how large of packages a person had to lift, as well as it being strenuous to lift large packages all day.
•  Direct examples of complaints from employees included; "expected to lift up to 150lb box", "if it's heavy you've still got to deliver it even if you're working 14 hours a day", "lifting big heavy boxes all day", and "too labor intensive".
• Being exposed to bad weather both during package delivery and when driving was also a top complaint.
•  Direct examples of complaints from employees included; "have to drive in bad weather", "working in outside in hot and cold environments", "you get to work outside when its nice but also when its terrible outside," and "working in the weather sucks".
• Another complaint, which likely relates to the contractor status of many FedEx employees, was lack of benefits including PTO.
•  Direct examples of complaints from employees included; "no benefits, they fight you every time you want time off", "no benefits, a lot of pressure", and "no benefits for the drivers".

Driver Compensation

Average Hourly Rate For Drivers In King & Pierce Counties

• The average hourly rate for FedEx delivery drivers in King County, Washington is $24/hr. 
• The average hourly rate for FedEx delivery drivers in Pierce County, Washington is also $24/hr. 
• These counties have hourly pay significantly higher than the national rate, which one source lists at $17/hr and ZipRecruiter calculated to be $19 per hour via their database of active jobs and job posts.
• Hourly pay rates were also available for several large cities in these counties, which showed that pay tends to be the same or slightly higher in urban areas.
• The average hourly rate for FedEx delivery drivers in Seattle, Washington is estimated to be $26/hr. 
• The average hourly rate for FedEx delivery drivers in Tacoma, Washington is estimated to be $24/hr.  
• The average hourly rate for FedEx delivery drivers in Auburn, Washington is estimated to also be $24/hr.  

Average Salary For Drivers in King & Pierce Counties

• If we use $18 as a national pay rate (the median of the two listed pay rates, $17 & $19), we can calculate that FedEx drivers are paid 33% more in King County and Pierce County than nationally (Calculation $24/$18= 1.33333= 133%).
• Given previous research revealed the average national rate FedEx delivery drivers make is $36,000, we can calculate that the salary a driver in King County and Pierce County would make is approximately $48,000. (Calculation $36,000 x 1.333333= $47,999.99)
• An additional source showed that the FedEx driver salary in Seattle is advertised as between $45,000-$60,000. 
• FedEx driver salary in Tacoma, Washington are advertised to be between $40,000-$64,000.  

Research Strategy