Eastern Freightways North Brunswick, NJ

I apoligize for what apears to be a personal attack but, when you have guys like this who flat out lie to help companies like this recruit drivers , well, it just not right and it puts un knowing peple into situations that cause extream damage . again, I apoligize.

 

It is illegal for dot or any other police officer to collect payment for a ticket. so to say that you payed it on the spot sounds at the very least suspicious!

 

As Paul Harvey would say; "And here is the rest of the story...."

Our operating authority had been suspended by the state of Virginia due to an unpaid over weight ticket. I could not continue through the state UNTIL the previous fine was paid, as well as the reinstatement fee for our operating authority.

This is commonplace in Virginia and has actually happened to me twice. When the fines are not paid the magistrate revokes a carriers operating authority UNTIL all fines and fees have been paid. The scale house operators get the notification on their computers when they punch in the carriers DOT number when you stop on the scale.

Of course this was on a weekend a couple years back so Eastern dispatch was "unavailable."

I paid all the fines including the reinstatement fee with my personal credit card and then was reimbursed later on.

The second time VA DOT stopped me was during the normal work week so I called dispatch for an EFS check to satisfy the fine rather than pay it myself.

The problem is we have drivers that get an over weight fine and decide to quit (or simply "forget" to pay the fine on time) the company. They never tell Eastern management about the fine and so one of the current drivers get to clean up the ex drivers mess before they can continue through the state.

I hope this helps clear this up.

 

once again you are right on both counts, the outstanding overweight fines, which are numerous and nobody will answer the weekend number,which is a joke. Somebody should be in the office on Saturday. Trucking is not Monday thru Friday 9-5 anymore. Eastern people are spoiled.

 

To be fair I guess you can include me and Kim in the "spoiled" category.

I mean we have a double bunk assigned truck that runs 70 mph.

We are on a dedicated route that permits us to shut down on 3 of the 4 legs for 5 to 6 hours to get some quality rest.

We are able to sleep in our own bed at home 3 nights per week.

We get about 48 hours off at home per week ( 12 hours from Thursday night to Friday morning and about 36 hours from Sunday night to Tuesday morning.

No one from Eastern really bothers us. We may go several weeks without actually speaking to anyone at EFW. Just computer messages regarding dispatches, loaded and unloaded calls.

Then there is the steady weekly paycheck in excess of $2200.00 (combined) per week. Of course this is less money than we were making last year but it is also less stressful and more home time for us.

What I really like is the hands off approach management has taken with me. They have realized that I will go out of my way to satisfy a customers needs provided those needs do not jeopardize my safety (eg operating when tired).

 

I think some of these other posters here have such hatred for Eastern that they dont listen to what you are trying to say. You take a bad situation and make it work for you. If you do your job, nobody will bother you, case closed. some of these idiots want to make noise. it makes them feel important. remember, an empty barrel makes the most noise.

 

No company is "perfect." The key is finding one that YOU can work with where the pluses out weigh the minuses.

This explains why you can always find happy drivers at ANY carrier if you look hard enough.

I have found many new recruits to this industry have some preconceived notions about what it means to be a truck driver today.

They hear about trucks with toilets, showers, satellite TV's, obc's, Internet capabilities, inverters, microwaves, refrigerators, making BIG money, and most importantly "sight seeing."

Imagine their surprise when they actually get into the biz and find none of those creature comforts! Instead they find a small 4x8 metal box with a thin foam mattress for sleeping! no cabinets for storage! no television! no CB radio! heck even no AM/FM radio (JB Hunt ordered their trucks without the radio back in the early 90's). Talk about culture shock!

Couple the above with racing all over the country with just an address, a phone number, an atlas, and your wits, and it can be very disheartening. Dealing with the average motorist, congestion, bad weather, bad roads, Leo's of every stripe, harried dispatchers, trucks that may break down en route, and surly customers take its toll on every new driver. When you have been away from your friends and family for several weeks, hear the angst in your spouses voice and have no idea when you will actually get a chance to "swing by" the house to see them or your kids you may decide to just throw in the towel altogether.

In the past Carriers would routinely keep drivers away from their home states to keep them making money. Let the driver get through their home state or home town and appointments were missed and drivers suddenly took ill for several days.

Breakdowns were a special challenge. Trying to get someone (anyone) to come out and help you could take several hours. Some drivers will learn how to fix minor problems so they can continue to a repair shop rather than sit on the side of the road not making any money and just getting more and more frustrated.

As time goes on Drivers become used to such spartan accommodations, become immune to the trials of the road, develop an emotional callous (if you will) in regard to relationships, and become hard in general. Just as a lump of coal MAY turn into a diamond given enough time and pressure a new driver can become a road warrior. A driving professional that has little to no fear and a can do attitude.

 

but when get a new guy and give him one of them broken down tractors on a friday afternoon headed towards home and he gets 40 miles out and it blows up on him, this guy is never going to come around.

 

Oh snap. well i guess that would do it. I know under normal circumstances if you try to hand them cash, the dot will tell you real quick to put that money away. So if you wouldnt have paid them would they just have held you there indefinitly

 

Yes. When a carriers operating authority has been suspended you are shut down at that location until the fines and reinstatement fees are paid. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.00.

See? You learned something new today.