RIP Fred Smith FedEx

[raaizin]

Fred Smith the Founder of FedEx has passed away. He changed the Air Express industry and had a great impact on the world. The story of FedEx is remarkable and worth reading about. He changed my life and I will forever be gratetful for having worked there. RIP Fred.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgw6nllwlwo

 

[skyactiv]

What was your occupation title at FedEx?

 

[fdcg27]

Before scanned documents and electronic signatures were a thing, there was a good market for overnight letters and Fedex got started at the right time with the right equipment.
Imagine being able to charge enough per envelope to be able to profitably operate Falcons leased from the then US agent, Pan Am.

 

[raaizin]

What was your occupation title at FedEx?

I started as a part-time courier in March 1983 in NYC and ended finished as an Operation Manager at the Newark Regional hub. I worked for them for 35 years and retired in 2018. I must say the early years were fantastic. I worked long hours about 11 hours each day for years. One day I started at 7am and punched out 1 or 2am the following day after I made an airport run! No DOT rules back then!!!! It was a Friday so I was off the next day. I never graduated college which was a mistake but it turned out much better than I could have expected. It was fun with a great bunch of guys we had many laughs. RIP Fred I am forever grateful for what you did for my family and me.

 

[mrsilv04]

I'm not sure that taking over RPS and turning it into FedEx Ground was the best of ideas... nor has it been managed in the best of ways.
Having people who deliver the packages being independent contractors is not ideal. But it is what it is. But, to be able to fully compete with UPS, something had to be done.

I will say though, in my years of running a warehouse for a software company... NO ONE was better at international shipping than FedEx.

I had a cousin get his CDL and he was running a team driver route for FedEx between Illinois and California. Basically. the truck rarely ever stopped... mainly it only stopped to swap drivers and to fuel up. One guy was driving while the other guy was sleeping. Some of the things he saw. But, he could only take about three years of it before he gave it up. The mental and physical burnout of doing that has to be high.

 

[02SE]

This is not intended to diminish his impact and the tremendous loss. RIP.

But if I were him, I think it would be awesome if his casket resembled a flat rate box.

 

[andrew_j]

Only retired for 3 years and sadly plopped off.

 

[Dave Hess]

RIP.

I’m kind of interested if he wrote about this service In Vietnam and being an OV-10 Bronco observer.

 

[Finklejag]

One of the best 747 liveries.

 

[Greenbeforeblue]

R. I. P. Marine. Semper Fi