no problem
Big Thanks JLKKLJ777, That really helps out and clears up alot. The recruitment dept. wasn't volunteering any info, and although I've seen your trucks on I 80 a couple of times, I have'nt seen many, Also I tried to search out terminals, but as you mentioned, only the one on Black Horse Lane popped up. On google satellite it looked like you described with only a half dozen trailers viewable, which had me loaded with questions, especially with their website claiming 150 active trucks and the regions it says that you operate in, but since you use the NEMF yards, it makes sense why I couldnt find any EFW terminals in the area I was looking to hire on in.
LTL is slow, TL is slow, who the heck is hauling all the freight? The rails cant be getting it all! Well I hope things pick up for ALL of us. Maybe I'll see you out there, if not, take care.
Thanks Again for the comeback.
When Eastern Freight Ways hires a new driver they put them up in the Holiday inn on the corner (a new hotel and pretty nice accomodations with hot breakfast included) for the 3 day orientation. Lunch is also provided (usually sandwiches, soda and chips or pizza). The orientation takes place at the North Brunswick terminal and is usually where a new driver will pick up his truck (whatever is available at that time).
We do have other trucks staged at NEMF terminals throughout the system as spare units in the event of a breakdown. It is common practice to tow another bobtail unit to the location of a broke down truck so the driver can continue his run. If an Eastern unit is not available a NEMF tractor will be sent in its place.
The company requires the trucks to be parked at an NEMF terminal "IF" you live within a 50 mile radius of a terminal for security reasons. Otherwise you may use the bobtail to go home provided you have a secure location to park the unit with pictures and written permission from the owner of the land submitted to Eastern.
The trucks are equipped with ez-pass (for tolls) and in the past Ohio toll cards have been issued for Ohio. They also have on board computers for dispatching AND tracking.
In the event you have to scale a truck or buy anything for the truck the company will issue you an EFS check for that purchase but requires the receipt within 1 week or the advanced check money will be deducted from the drivers pay until it is received. Most drivers will pay for the scale ticket out of their own pocket and get reimbursed for it later. The company actually will place all submitted receipts into a folder with your name on it until you ask for the reimbursement. What I do is track all my receipts in my notebook and simply ask for a reimbursement around Christmas time (unless I really need it sooner for some reason). For big ticket items such as a blow out I will get the company to issue an EFS check and will fax the receipt directly back to them to cancel out the check. Road side service calls are handled by the NEMF shop.
Eastern do not issue "advances" on pay as a rule. There is no company uniform per say nor are their prohibitions on facial hair. They do not allow flip flops for safety reasons. Technically there is no policy about pets that I am aware of (yet) and I have seen many of our drivers carrying dogs with them. My wife actually brings our 2 mini dachshunds on the road with us and there has been no complaints from the company office personnel.
Eastern is a small entity within a much larger group. Our paperwork is relatively simple as compared to our NEMF driver cousins. We do use the NEMF terminal system for fuel and repairs as well as drop locations for our trailers.
There is some animosity between the 2 divisions though. Mainly stemming from equipment utilization. In short NEMF owns everything and uses whatever trailer they have available for their frieght regardless of what the trailer logo reads. In turn Eastern drivers that need an empty trailer will grab whatever empty they find and use that regardless of whether the trailer reads Eastern Freight Ways or NEMF. There is supposed to be a trailer "pool" for Eastern in NEMF's computer system but NEMF dispatchers can swap out trailers anytime they want. I have even seen partial loads placed on empty Eastern trailers for storage and to prevent Eastern drivers from using that trailer. The drivers themselves do not seem to have any conflicts even though NEMF is union and Eastern is not.
The dispatchers (oh sorry "driver managers" is what they like to be called) are pretty easy going and laid back. They will get to know you by name and provided you do your job they will do their best to treat you well and keep you profitable.
I am trying to be as honest and objective as I can. From one driver to another; "best wishes to you," wherever you decide to work turnnburn.
