Frequently Asked Questions

Carrollton drivers (Southern System)

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 mile, how many miles will I get, per week?
Answer: 2000-2500 miles. NOTE: This is the average as of December 2008.

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: Drivers are home the majority of weekends. At L.J. Kennedy, we understand the importance of home-time to our drivers and their families. We work diligently to get our drivers home most weekends.

Question 6: What do you transport?
Answer: Gypsum Board, Pre-cast Concrete, Roofing, Structural-Steel, Insulation, Nursery Goods, Lumber, Misc. Building Materials.

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. All tractors are governed at 65 mph.

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. We also equip most tractors with Prepass transponders.

Question 9: What percentage of your loads are multi-stop?
Answer: The number varies by terminal; approximately: 5%.

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 Carrollton average is 317 miles.

Question 13: What is your turnover rate?
Answer: Our turnover rate is approximately 42% 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. (Drivers are paid $20 when they are required to tarp a load)

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: There are ocassional deliveries to the five boroughs of NYC, but they are not frequent.

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. The referral bonus is $500 per hire after 30 days and $500 more after 6 months.

Question 23: What are average annual earnings?
Answer: Average pay is $51896/year, which equals $998 per week. This includes an attendance and accident-free bonus payment for qualifying drivers.

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 only $75 per week.

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 North Carolina to Missouri, and all states in-between.

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

Question 28: Are all tractors equipped with Qualcomm or PeopleNet 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) A per diem payment of $15 per night is paid to each Carrollton driver who is on an approved layover.

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 Carrollton, KY and Kearny, NJ facilities. Drivers receive $90 per day during the training/orientation phase of their employment. New hires are reimbursed for their travel expenses -- L.J. Kennedy pays for your lodging expenses as well.

Question 31: Is there detention pay?
Answer: Yes. Drivers are paid $10 per hour, after 3 hours waiting time, for detention, subject to certain conditions. (Ask your recruiter for details. Note: detention is a relatively rare occurrence at LJK)

Question 32: What is the vacation policy?
Answer:
5 days after 1 year ($110 per day)
10 days after 2 years ($120 per day)
15 days after 5 years ($120 per day)

Question 33: What is the payout for holidays?
Answer:
6 days after 1 year ($110 per day)
7 days after 2 years ($110 per day)
Drivers must be available to work the day before and the day after the holiday.

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.