Frequently Asked Questions

Bristol drivers

Question 1: Do you have a lease-purchase program?
Answer: Not at this time and none is anticipated.

Question 2: Where are your terminals?
Answer: Auburn, ME/Bristol, CT/Stony Point, NY/Kearny, NJ/Florence, NJ/Aliquippa, PA/Carrollton, KY. NOTE: Some drivers are permitted to take their tractor-trailers home, to company-approved locations.

Question 3: If paid by the hour, how many miles will I get, per week?
Answer: 1500-1800 miles. NOTE: This is the average as of December 2007.

Question 4: Do you offer advances to drivers?
Answer: Only in case of emergency and not on a regular basis.

Question 5: How often will I get home per week during the week?
Answer: 3-4 times. NOTE: All drivers are home virtually all weekends. At L.J. Kennedy, we understand the importance of home-time to our drivers and their families.

Question 6: What do you transport?
Answer: Gypsum Board, Pre-cast Concrete, Roofing, Structural-Steel, Insulation, Nursery Goods, Lumber, Misc. Building Materials. NOTE: We do not normally haul machinery or items that require chains & binders.

Question 7: Are your tractors air-ride & conventionals?
Answer: Yes. Typical units are equipped with 427-450 hp engines,10-speed transmissions, 210" wheelbases & mid-rise sleepers. The average tractor is under 4 years old. Tractors are a mix of Macks, Internationals, Volvos & Freightliners. Virtually all tractors are equipped with powerful, dependable electronic engines and air-ride suspensions. More and more of our tractors are equipped with automatic transmissions, for ease of operation and driver convenience.

Question 8: Do you provide fuel & toll cards?
Answer: Yes. Drivers are provided with Comdata cards for on-the-road fuel, as well as EZ Passes for tolls and Ohio Turnpike cards.

Question 9: What percentage of your loads are multi-stop?
Answer: The number varies by terminal; approximately: 25%.

Question 10: Do you have "forced dispatch"?
Answer: For company drivers, yes.

Question 11: Are there any dedicated runs?
Answer: Not at this time.

Question 12: What is your average length-of-haul?
Answer: The Bristol average is 144 miles.

Question 13: What is your turnover rate?
Answer: Our turnover rate is approximately 32% per year, company wide. This is one of the lowest turnover rates in the truckload industry. Carriers can claim many things about their drivers, but turnover is the best measure of driver satisfaction in existence.

Question 14: Do you have drop & hook loads?
Answer: Not at this time. Approximately 82% of our shipments are pre-loaded & pre-tarped, but the vast majority of deliveries are live.

Question 15: Are there on-the-road truck washes?
Answer: Not ordinarily. Drivers can wash their tractors at most company terminals. We do have a Blue Beacon account for drivers that cannot get to a terminal for a Fleetwash wash.

Question 16: Do you have "Trippak"?
Answer: Yes, but only for company drivers not domiciled at a terminal.

Question 17: Are riders permitted?
Answer: Not at this time.

Question 18: How often do your drivers deliver to the five boroughs of NYC?
Answer: 12-15 per month.

Question 19: Do your terminals have repair facilities?
Answer: Most terminals offer repair facilities, as well as secured parking, fuel and showers.

Question 20: Do you have central dispatch? What are the hours?
Answer: Kearny and Carrollton are central dispatch locations. They are open from midnight Sunday to Saturday afternoon. The dispatch hours of our satellite terminals vary. Ask your recruiter for details.

Question 21: Do you have terminal showers & driver lounges?
Answer: Showers are available at all facilities, excluding Bristol & Auburn. All terminals have driver lounges, excluding Bristol.

Question 22: Do you offer safety or referral bonuses?
Answer: Safety bonuses - yes, at this time. Referral bonuses - yes.

Question 23: What are average annual earnings?
Answer: $59,332/year or $1141/week is the average. Drivers earn $15.80 per hour to start with a boost to $16.30 after 15 weeks, plus time and a half after 40 hours.

Question 24: Does the company provide family medical benefits?
Answer: Yes! (Ask recruitment for details). Drivers also receive company-paid life insurance. Our payroll deduction for family medical benefits is amongst the lowest in the trucking industry.

Question 25: Will I receive paid vacations & holidays?
Answer: Yes! L.J. Kennedy has one of the best holiday & vacation pay packages in the business; call for details!

Question 26: Where will I run?
Answer: We serve an area that stretches from Maine to Virginia to Ohio, and all states in-between, but virtually all deliveries for Bristol drivers are in New England and the Northeast.

Question 27: Can I get "direct-deposit?"
Answer: Yes!

Question 28: Are all tractors equipped with Qualcomm units?
Answer: Yes.

Question 29: Will I receive a tax-free payment each night I sleep in my tractor, with company authorization?
Answer: Yes! (Ask your recruiter for details)

Question 30: Is flat-bed experience required?
Answer: No. L.J. Kennedy provides all new drivers with extensive freight securement training, both on-the-road and in the classroom. Driver training consists of one day of classroom work and 4-9 days of on-the-road load-securement training and assessment depending upon prior flatbed experience. Orientation begins each Monday at our Kearny, NJ facility. New hires are reimbursed for their travel expenses -- L.J. Kennedy pays for your lodging expenses as well.

The information contained in this website is posted by L.J. Kennedy Trucking in good faith and is subject to change without notice. This is a guide, not a contract or offer of employment. L.J. Kennedy reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to make adjustments due to errors.