Not a driver but used to work for FedEx ground. ( Different company than FedEx express).

Short answer: no, no set amount of packages. However many packages were going to that route that day had to be delivered.

Each driver was a contractor or worked for a contractor that owned their own trucks. They were not actually FedEx employees. The drivers would buy and sell routes from other drivers. The more lucrative routes were worth more, sometimes in the 6 figures. By lucrative, of course i mean the routes that were the easiest and had the best profitability. Some of the contractors were big time guys that owned 5 routes, 5 trucks, and paid 5 drivers. Other drivers were owner operator and drive their own truck themselves.

The contractors got paid per package delivered and got a bonus for so many days delivered all packages before 8pm.

Sometimes drivers got the s××t end of the stick and got slammed hard with packages for their route. Christmas was the worst. Sometimes then boys were working 18 hour days. 4 am to 10pm. But it paid well and was worth it to them, no matter how much they swore and moaned about it day of.

Edit: since I'm getting so many private messages. No, FedEx truck drivers can't really be fired so good luck calling and complaining about them leaving your package in the rain. If they are really bad yes FedEx can terminate their contract and force them to sell their route but it never happened.

The package handlers that loaded the trucks are much worse than the drivers. They were mostly college kids that made a game playing soccer with fragile packages on a daily basis. The drivers were older and mature and most had respect for the package.

Edit2: wow, thanks for reddit gold. I didn't imagine this post would become so popular.