Frequently Asked Questions

System drivers (Northern Division)

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: System 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? And, how many cents per mile? Also, what is the average weekly pay?
Answer: 2000-2200 miles. NOTE: This is the average as of December 2009. System drivers earn 40 cents per mile, which includes a two-cent safety/attendance bonus. Drivers are paid for loaded and empty miles. The average weekly pay is $1,023 per week, or $53,196 per year.

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: All 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 the majority of 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.

Question 9: What percentage of your loads are multi-stop?
Answer: The number varies by terminal; approximately: 20%.

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: Mileage driver's average length of haul is 385 miles. There is a minimum pay per load of $50.

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. There is virtually no hand-unloading at L.J. Kennedy. (Drivers are paid $15 when required to live-load)

Question 15: Are there on-the-road truck washes?
Answer: Yes. Ask your recruiter for details.

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 and Long Island?
Answer: An average of 10-12 times per year.

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 is our central dispatch location. 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 Carrollton, Bristol & Auburn. All terminals have driver lounges, excluding Carrollton and Bristol.

Question 22: Do you offer attendance, safety, or referral bonuses?
Answer: Referral bonuses - yes. $500 after 30 days and $500 more after 6 months. Safety and attendance bonuses - 1 cent per mile each.

Question 23: What are average annual earnings?
Answer: $53,196/year, which equals $1,023 per week, before taxes.

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 approximately $85 per week, depending upon the plan you select.

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 Illinois, and all states in-between.

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

Question 28: Are all tractors equipped with Qualcomm/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! Drivers will receive a per-diem payment of $25 per night slept in their tractor, with company authorization.

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. New hires are reimbursed for their travel expenses -- L.J. Kennedy pays for your lodging expenses as well. Drivers are paid $100 per day during the orientation and training phase of their employment.

Question 31: Is there tarp pay?
Answer: Yes! Drivers are paid $10 per load if they are required to tarp a trailer.

Question 32: Is there payment for picking up a shipment that is not pre-loaded?
Answer: Yes. Drivers receive $15 to pick-up a trailer that is not pre-loaded, in addition to tarp pay, if any.

Question 33: Is there detention pay?
Answer: Yes. Drivers are paid $10 per hour for delay-time, after three hours of free-time. The driver must notify dispatch of the delay as soon as it occurs to collect detention pay.

Question 34: Is there stop-off pay?
Answer: Yes. Drivers receive $15 per stop-off, including the final delivery.

Question 35: What is the vacation schedule?
Answer:
5 days after one year ($110 per day)
10 days after two years ($120 per day)
15 days after five years ($120 per day)

Question 36: What is the payout for holidays?
Answer:
8 days after one year ($110 per day)
9 days after two years ($110 per day)

 

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.