Info on NFI

Discussion in 'National Freight Inc.' started by kurbski, Jul 28, 2008.

  1. kurbski

    kurbski Light Load Member

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    Jul 6, 2008
    NE Florida
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    I am interested in NFI because they have newer equipment and a training program for experienced CDL holders lacking OTR experience.
    They also have alot of terminals in the SE where I live.

    Over the last 18 months, I have researched alot of companies and they either don't hire Fl drivers, require a cdl mill certificate costing $5,000+, and make you wait 90 days for health insurance. For the coverage I need after retirement cobra healthcare ins costs $1400 a month.NFI's = $320.00 Then after 6 months, it changes to Aetna HMO/PPO with vision/dental for quite a bit less. So, Initially will be saving around 11k by going this route.

    In return for my training, I will be working for immediate healthcare benefits and newbie pay plus other bennies. Then it changes to .33 cpm + spotting, bonus pay after training. NFI 's terminals are east of Texas and dedicated / regional routes are hopefully available to newbies after paying the dues.. plus 2 terminals are within an hours drive from home.

    If any drivers working for NFI can post some surivival tips, training experience or what to expect, I would appreciate any honest feedback since this is my first choice for an OTR training company. After searching, there just wasn't much info here so the admins were kind enough to add NFI to the company DAC reports. Thanks for reading this and hopefully posting your personal experience with NFI.
     
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  3. Millard

    Millard Bobtail Member

    2
    2
    May 24, 2008
    Mercersburg, Pa.
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    I have worked for National Freight for 22 months now, but as a dedicated driver in the PA/MD area. I have no idea what it's like working for them on the OTR side. However, I do have some experience with their insurances. Yes, they will offer you medical benefits from the first day. Remember though that this insurance is best used for big emergency type stuff rather than the everyday check-ups. This insurance, when I had it, only paid out up to the first $1000 dollars per covered person. You have to read the fine print and be very careful the first 6 months, or you could obviously rack up some pretty high bills. After the first 6 months though, my insurance costs did go down, and the insurance got alot better.

    As for the rest of it, I would recommend that you get the experience you need, and keep an ear out for dedicated opportunities. I've talked to some OTR guys and heard tales of 14-21 days out with very little hometime. I know that the loads have to get covered, but that's a long time I think. I was lucky enough to find my dedicated run which allows me to be home every night, every weekend, and I'm grossing between $1000 and $1100 on a 5-day work week. Overall I like working here.

    Good luck and be safe. I hope this helps a little, and I look forward to seeing you out their.
     
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  4. kurbski

    kurbski Light Load Member

    284
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    Jul 6, 2008
    NE Florida
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    Hopefully some otr drivers will post also. It sounds like your a happy camper. How many miles a week are you doing on dedicated and what type of truck are you driving? Appreciate the reply and info on using the insurance for emergencies only. Being without healthcare can bankrupt you in no time at all if an unexpected emergency occurs.So that's really the only reason I would choose to pay for it because you just never know what can happen. Thanks again for the info.
     
  5. bbkeo

    bbkeo Light Load Member

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    Oct 7, 2007
    winston salem nc
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    I am an otr driver for them. I have been with them for a little over two years. I don't have many complaints with them. The majority of the time I run in the northeast. But every once in a while I will take a run out to TX. But most of the time it's up and down I-95. I go home every other weekend. I usually don't have many problems getting there. What else are you wanting to know?
     
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  6. kurbski

    kurbski Light Load Member

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    Jul 6, 2008
    NE Florida
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    bbkeo,

    Another driver with 2 or more years is a good sign.
    I grew up there in the NE. Sure are alot of pot holes and construction.
    Interested in how efficient you think things are on average.
    Thanks alot for posting a reply btw.

    Do they preplan you as good as they can most of the time within reason?

    Any percentage of otr live loads/unloads/no touch drop n hooks or just luck of the draw here?

    Average length of load? Are there alot of team drivers or mostly solo's?

    Things happen and nothing is ever perfect so I just want to learn the ropes and do it right.
    This might be my first otr job and just curious for the most part.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2008
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  7. bbkeo

    bbkeo Light Load Member

    281
    19
    Oct 7, 2007
    winston salem nc
    0

    Most of the time I know what I am going to be doing all week. It really depends on your dispatcher. Most of my loads are drop and hook if I am in the northeast or if I am at one of our big customers. If I am out of one of our freight lanes they are live loads/unloads because they are broker loads. That doesn't happen to often though. The average milage for my loads is around 450. Which is no big deal. We get paid extra for shorter runs. It is mostly solo drivers. I don't think they have many team runs. Overall it is a good company to work for. If you do a good job they will treat you right. Also we get paid for I think it is 8 holidays.
     
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  8. kurbski

    kurbski Light Load Member

    284
    644
    Jul 6, 2008
    NE Florida
    0
    Knowing your route a week in advance is a nice benefit. The drop and hooks, no teams and extra pay for short hauls is a plus as well. I am not getting into this to try and break the bank, so a short haul day would be fine. And will gladly run as many miles a day as they need me too. But being treated right and working together is more important to me than making a few more cpm imo. NFI is sounding pretty good. If you know any otr company trainers, can you ask them to visit and and explain the training process? or if easier, will give a cell number or email. Thanks
     
  9. newbee22

    newbee22 Bobtail Member

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    Sep 22, 2008
    palm coast, FL
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    does anyone kno if they hire in FL?? and is ita no touch company
     
  10. kurbski

    kurbski Light Load Member

    284
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    Jul 6, 2008
    NE Florida
    0
    Yes they hire in FL. Not sure about the no touch freight but if you go to the website you can apply, look at their locations. Call the 800 number to speak with a SE recruiter in jacksonville.
    http://www.nfiindustries.com

    Southeast 1-800-893-6791 Florida 1-800-893-6792
     
  11. User Name

    User Name Light Load Member

    143
    36
    Aug 20, 2008
    Midwest
    0
    As posted, they do hire in FL. I know that they move a whole lot of water around down there.

    In my case....

    I drive for NFI Interactive Logistics which does dedicated accounts. For the most part all of our freight is on pallets & shrink wrapped & is unloaded with a pallet jack by the receiver. I do help push the pallets while on the jack if need be & I'll help by picking up the occasional something that might be loose on the floor.

    NFI & the account work together & schedules are made from the time the load is loaded on a trailer at the DC till the time the truck returns to the DC. All stops are scheduled but there is a window of flexibility for the most part. There's is the occasional live load back-haul, but not often, many of them are drop & hook. If you work for a large dedicated account, the shippers will usually be more then helpful in getting you loaded in back-haul cases.

    I think right now starting pay is .33 or .34 cents a mile & goes up to .35 after a year & again in 5 years.

    There's a stop pay for each stop although it's almost like an after thought, $10.00. There's another $20.00 paid for each night you're out. There's also detention pay after an hour if you get held up.

    They pay 5 (?)...7 (?) holidays & vacation is... 1 week after the first year.. 2 weeks after the second year... 3 weeks after the 5th year. A weeks vacation pay is based on how much you've made in the last 12 (?) months. It's averaged out per week & you get that amount, I believe.

    There's also a safety bonus/job performance pay & funeral pay.

    Our runs range from "local" that will get a driver home the same day up to 2100-2300 mile rounds. Runs are put together in "packages" where a driver should get around 2500 miles a week, a week being 5 days. Some packages may 5 locals which don't come up to 2500 miles. There's a minimum pay so that if a driver has a short run for that day, they still get paid a certain amount, $150.00 I think. There's also the option to work more days if the freight is there. I've had many 3300-3500 mile weeks.

    Packages are given to all drivers & then they decide which package they want & it goes by seniority in a bid process. Usually a bid will last a few months & then the packages are reworked according to freight demand & the process starts again.

    Let's see.. what else?

    NFI does dictate which fuel stops you use & it changes periodically. I've really not had a problem with fuel locations although some of the day-cabs have only one tank.

    If you've got a day-cab & are out over night they reimburse you for your hotel stay.

    They don't have a national truck wash account but they do reimburse you for having it washed once a month.

    Our terminal is the accounts DC & trucks & trailers are parked here.
    Most of the trucks at our terminal are fleet spec'd '07 Columbia's with the large bunks & 500 Detroit's & a few 500 Mercedes. We also have a half a dozen Pete's with 525 Cat's. All the '07's have an APU unit with hard wired 110v in the bunk. All trucks are turned down to 62 MPH & HP is set at 430, I think.

    For the drivers who do mostly locals, they have day cabs.

    There is no rider program.

    I've been there three years & I'm pretty happy. The people in our office are great to work with & will almost always work with you on anything.


    Again, all of this is in my case..
    All terminals are run differently & pay differently!

    I hope I've answered some questions.
     
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