As we head into 2025, FedEx contractors face a business landscape shaped by Network 2.0, evolving contract standards, and rising operational expectations. To stay ahead, contractors need to take a strategic, data-driven approach to business planning that prioritizes profitability, efficiency, and adaptability.

If you’ve coasted in the past without a formal plan, 2025 isn’t the year to take a chance. The time to start planning is now. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to build a practical business plan for the year ahead, with a focus on actionable strategies and tools to ensure success.

Topics: Business Tools, Business Planning, FedEx, FedEx Ground, Contract, Negotiation, Network 2.0, Margins, fedex ground legal advice, fxg, CSP, BOSS, fdx, CSA, fec

The evolving landscape of FedEx contracting is demanding more from contractors than ever before. With the implementation of Optimized CSA (Contracted Service Area) negotiations, FedEx is setting new benchmarks for efficiency, service quality, and profitability. Whether you’re already transitioning to Network 2.0 or preparing for changes in 2025, understanding these negotiations is critical to your business’s success.

Topics: FedEx, FedEx Ground, Negotiation, Network 2.0, fedex ground contractors, fxg, CSP, CSA, fec, optimized csa

A Financial Roadmap to Network 2.0 for FedEx Contractors

As FedEx accelerates its transition to Network 2.0, the landscape for Contracted Service Providers (CSPs) is changing rapidly. For those navigating this evolving network, staying profitable while maintaining operational excellence can be challenging. The key to thriving in this environment? A customized financial plan tailored to your Contracted Service Area (CSA). At eTruckBiz, we’ve helped CSPs across the nation develop these critical plans, and we’re here to guide you through every step.

Topics: FedEx, FedEx Ground, Negotiation, Network 2.0, fedex ground contractors, fxg, CSP, fec

We've got some news that's making waves in our circle. A new lawsuit has popped up concerning contractor status. It's stirring quite a bit of chatter, and we at eTruckBiz think it's crucial to chat about it, especially since it touches on the heart of our operations – the independent contractor model.

Topics: FedEx, ISP, FedEx Ground, Business, Contract, Negotiation, contractor, Financial, Network 2.0, Margins, fedex legal issues, low cost model, fedex ground contractors, fedex ground legal advice, fxg, fedex lawsuit, Spencer patton, Patton Logistics, CSP

It has been a long time since economic conditions were favorable for a package rate war between UPS & FedEx.

In fact, because of generally good economic conditions, until a couple of years ago, there was little need for our two favorite competitors to try to steal each other’s business. A rising tide had been raising all boats, even including regional package carriers. Most indicators were signaling that there would never be another true price “war” like there was in the early 90’s, the early 2000’s or the period from 2008 - 2010.

Everything was stable in “pricing-land”...

Until it wasn’t.

Topics: FedEx, FedEx Ground, Business, Negotiation, contractor, Financial, Margins

At eTruckBiz, our mission is simple- to help contractors run the easiest and most profitable business possible. Recently we’ve become aware of a potentially growing problem found within several contractors’ operating agreements. In each case, these were recently negotiated contracts done by popular brokers in the FXG space.

Topics: Business Results, ISP Negotiation, FedEx, FedEx Ground, Business, Contract, Negotiation, contractor, Profit, Agreement, consulting, settlement, Cash flow, brokerage, brokers

Can anything good come from a grim FedEx earnings pre-announcement?

While the announcement and the withdrawal of next fiscal year’s guidance are ominous signs of storminess to come, there may be a silver lining. In recent months, eTruckBiz has seen a 70% increase in renegotiation requests for its clients being granted, signaling that FedEx may be more willing than ever to work with struggling contractors.

As many of you know from attending our many informational sessions over the years, the contractor model affords FedEx Ground the lowest cost provider of last mile transportation services in the industry.

It appears that now may be the time to unleash the power of this competitive advantage.

Topics: Business Results, ISP Negotiation, FedEx, FedEx Ground, Business, Contract, Negotiation, contractor, Profit, Agreement, consulting, settlement, Cash flow, recession, Rates

By now, it’s easy to see that everyone’s operating margins are being seriously squeezed.

In an effort to force some sort of helpful response, some made a plea to FXG asking for assistance in various areas to solve a worsening financial situation. 

Trust us when we say that FXG is very aware of the plight of CSP & TSP’s.

But now, there is another added challenge that has reared its head. This one, along with inflation not seen for generations, is going to create some unprecedented financial problems that will test even the best operators…

Topics: Business Results, Bookeeping, Training, Intelligence, Business Metrics, Negotiation, Profit, consulting, Money, Cash flow, Inflation, Costs, recession, expenses, renegotiation, Financial, Rates

We recently caught up with two guys heavily involved with building successful transportation companies to ask for their insights into 2021.

The first expert is a long-time CSP from the Midwest, Tracy Taylor. The second is the founder and CEO of eTruckBiz, Jeff Walczak. Both have spent the better part of their careers in the FedEx Ground arena. We engaged in a fast-paced conversation to produce our most recent Truck Talk podcast episode.

Some of the insights may surprise you.

Topics: Business Structure, Business Tools, Business Planning, Training, Intelligence, Business Metrics, ISP, FedEx Ground, Business, Negotiation, Metrics, Profit, leadership, safety, coaching, Scheduling

For more than 8 years, we’ve been building products & services to help CSP’s transform the way they approach running their businesses.

Recently, the FXG model itself has been transforming in unprecedented ways. For most CSP’s , the days of being a “hands-on” operator are gone, and the need to provide leadership & management through systems, processes and people are quickly being implemented. The days where you or your BC’s could “jump in a truck” to fix things are gone.

Topics: Business Structure, Business Tools, Business Planning, Timekeeping, Bookeeping, Intelligence, Business Metrics, ISP, FedEx Ground, Business, Negotiation, model, Metrics, Profit, leadership, safety, coaching, Scheduling, Dynamic Route Optimization

It's a simple question with a simple answer. If you're a FedEx CSP, you may think - of course FedEx decides how much I'll earn because they decide what to pay for my services.

But it's not the right answer.

Focus instead on two key words, "decides" and "earn."

FedEx offers, or negotiates, estimated fixed and variable revenues, but they don't decide how much of that you'll keep.

You will make decisions during the course of the contract  determining how much you'll earn.

Don't confuse income with earnings.

Topics: Business Structure, Business Outlook, FedEx, Training, Ground, FedEx Ground, Negotiation, Profit

Wayne Gretsky, Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, and Pete Rose. Each was phenomenally successful at scoring goals, points, or runs in their respective sports. Coaching others to do the same? Not so successful.

Bill Belichick, Pat Riley, Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa. Polar opposites to the previous four athletes.

"What's your point?" you ask.

Business people, like athletes, don't have to be great players to be great coaches and vice versa. However, great coaches can bring out the best in others.

Topics: Business Structure, Business Outlook, FedEx, Training, Ground, FedEx Ground, Negotiation, Profit

FedEx recently announced that seven-day service will be starting in 2020. This means big changes for FXG Contractors.

"Eight Days a Week" is a popular song written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon in the 1960's about love. According to McCartney, the title was inspired not by love, but by work.

He has been quoted as saying when he asked his chauffeur how he was doing, the chauffeur replied, "Oh working hard, working eight days a week." (Wikipedia, May 22, 2019).

You and your drivers probably feel the same about FedEx' recent announcement to move FXG to a seven-day work week.

Topics: Business Structure, Business Outlook, ISP Negotiation, FedEx Ground, Negotiation

 

As an FXG contractor, you will soon have, or recently had, the (planned?) opportunity to leave money on the negotiating table.

How much money is up to you, and will be determined by your lack of preparation.

If you're not bothered by leaving money, then simply picking a MESO and moving on with your life is up to you.

On the other hand, for contractors who rely on profits for your livelihood - you may find this blog post helpful. After all, eTruck's mission is to help those who want expert guidance.

Topics: Business Outlook, ISP Negotiation, FedEx Ground, Negotiation

Some of you reading this have already negotiated your first ISP agreement.

Maybe more than one. Others, still have not gone through the process yet, and are wondering what to expect.

Whether you are a veteran, or going to be a rookie, we thought we'd take this opportunity to share with you what we have learned from helping more than 800 of you (as of August of 2017) successfully get through the process.

Topics: Business Tools, ISP Negotiation, Ground, ISP, FedEx Ground, Business, Contract, Negotiation, contractor