My Day By Day Experience At Eastern Freightways Flatbed Division

UPDATE

So as I've mentioned in the past I've been having some thoughts about being out here. After talking to a couple of other drivers it seems that they are starting to push Saturdays and I like my weekends and after the week they wanted me to work Saturday and changed it for me, last week all of my runs were min runs under 300 miles. A small punishment for not wanting to do Saturdays? Maybe, Maybe not. Another driver was going through the same thing so...

Anyways I've been looking for something local which is tough to get into with only 4 months experience and I live in a pretty small area so there are not many options but after several applications the calls started coming in. I talked with 1 company and set up an interview and road test for last Friday. Everything went great except for backing. LOL going from a sleeper and a split tandem flatbed to a day cab and 53' box proved to be a bit of a challenge. Did the drug test and got my MVR. I had things lined up in case this doesn't work out and had given my notice last Thursday. They left it up to me as far as when I wanted to get done.

I decided Friday afternoon that I was done. I went down Saturday to clean out my truck and the windshield was not done so I would have had to sit Monday anyways if not Monday and Tuesday reaffirming that I had made the right decision.

I got the call Monday! Offered a driving position. Local, dedicated, M-F, home every night and weekends, $21 hr, 45-55 hours a week, overtime after 8 hours, smaller company 45 trucks. I'll be covering the West Lebanon, NH to Burlington, VT routes. and I start Monday the 23rd. I call that a win.

So unfortunately this thread will be ending and I'm not sure if there is any interest in a local gig thread or not. I'd like to do an unedited overall summary of working for Eastern Freight ways. The good and the bad.

Mike

So if I follow your posts, assuming today is your day 40? They are going to have your truck until Monday at the earliest? Did they give you a loner? If my math is correct, that 5 days of not turning any wheels? Reminder, lol, its gonna be brutal up here the next few days, welcome NASCAR!! Woohoo

Chris

Good luck with the new position. I hope it works out as well as you're hoping

Mike

Hope the new gig works well.

Chris

Mike

So if I follow your posts, assuming today is your day 40? They are going to have your truck until Monday at the earliest? Did they give you a loner? If my math is correct, that 5 days of not turning any wheels? Reminder, lol, its gonna be brutal up here the next few days, welcome NASCAR!! Woohoo

Chris

Hey Chris.

Sorry day 40 was last weds. the 11th. They has nothing planned for me on Thursday the 12th and the windshield needed to be replaced so I was down Thursday and Off on Friday and would of been down this past Monday unless they had a loaner in Concord and I'm not sure if there was one kicking around or not. I did see that it was Nascar weekend. I used to watch but haven't had the chance over the last 2 years so I've fallen behind on where they are and when. I've been a few times and it has always been a crazy time

Good luck with the new position. I hope it works out as well as you're hoping

Thank you Rob. So do I. I really wanted to keep my Class A experience going and not have to go or start with B

Mike

Hope the new gig works well.

Chris

Thank you Chris. I believe it's a step in the right direction for this period of my life.

Mike B, I want to wish you all the success in the world. If being home on weekends and local is your choice, go for it. Either way of driving, OTR or local is your individual choice to make and no one should change your mind. If things change in the future you can still go back to OTR. You will make a good living at the wage you stated and OT after 8 hours is definitely a plus. Keep an open mind and full concentration on everything you do while driving local and all the success in the world to you. I always preferred being home daily when a was raising my family and after they were in school and the wife returned to work I was able to get a dedicated 4 day run and be home for 3 day weekends. You are the captain of your own ship to say. Good luck and congratulations to you.

Hey all. OP here. Yes I went/took a local job for the last 18 months. There wasn't much to post, well, maybe there was. It has been an interesting time with a few ups and downs. The job I had became very repetitive with the same stories day after day. Some good as well as some bad..... I enjoyed my time being local but have decided that this is a good time for me to come back to the North East dedicated Dry van route. As of this writing it is Saturday night and I am heading for orientation tomorrow morning. I'm looking forward to picking up where I left off 18 months ago. Tomorrow night I will create the thread and start the journey. I'm hoping you all will come back and follow the day by day experience. I enjoyed chatting with you all and learning from each of you. It helps to keep the mind busy. So till then......

Hey all. OP here. Yes I went/took a local job for the last 18 months. There wasn't much to post, well, maybe there was. It has been an interesting time with a few ups and downs. The job I had became very repetitive with the same stories day after day. Some good as well as some bad..... I enjoyed my time being local but have decided that this is a good time for me to come back to the North East dedicated Dry van route. As of this writing it is Saturday night and I am heading for orientation tomorrow morning. I'm looking forward to picking up where I left off 18 months ago. Tomorrow night I will create the thread and start the journey. I'm hoping you all will come back and follow the day by day experience. I enjoyed chatting with you all and learning from each of you. It helps to keep the mind busy. So till then......

It would be nice if you would take the time, when available, to point out your highs and lows from your previous gig. Might help some folks out :)