Eastern Freightways

Just gotta get it out there. Former employee here. Gotta say it.

Eastern isn't ALL bad. But they are the definition of a "starter company".

They have a firing freeze, and will hire felons, so if you want a job you can't lose, or if you did something naughty, Eastern is for you. If you have a cdl but no experience, Eastern "might" be for you. For a time.

Pay maxes out at 40cpm plus another 3cpm monthly "bonus". Flatbedders get 10 cents more. Plenty of Northeast, they're northeast regional, after all. Ever seen the beat up old NEMF purple trucks dawdling down the road? Yup, the Groupe Shovelle owns them, and they own Eastern too!

Had about 100 trucks back in 2017... now they're down to about 60.

Mr. Shovelle won't raise pay is what inside sources tell me, despite the driver bleed.

On the bright side, aside from being unable to get fired, supportive-ish of rookies, and open to felons, Eastern Freightways does pay you on time. But forget about detention.

I ran dryvan, crossed the George Washington Bridge or Tappan Zee 4 times a week, and only once in a year made a cent above 1000 dollars in a week.

It's as messed up as NEMF.

Seriously. If you want Northeast Regional and to run linehaul, try Old Dominion or perhaps ESTES?!? If you want Flatbed work, TMC will train ya. And so will Roehl, but Roehl can be gimmicky about pay and they'll make you sign an agreement in blood to stay on for a full year.

Umm... yeah. that about ends my rant. Rookies, consider it but be wary. get your experience and RUN. anybody with experience, please do us a favor and let EFWY continue its slow death spiral... it's a bad company.

I honestly don't know how long they'll keep the doors open. Eventually they'll lose that US Gypsum account and then Mr. Shovelle, from his dilapidated mansion in Elizabeth, NJ will raise a bony finger and declare: "PUT THE OLD BEAST OUT OF HER MISERY. EASTERN IS DONE!".

 

30 years of running in NYC/NJ and being subjected to Elizabeth, NJ's finest welding crews when things break, and being repaired with spare parts from the "tractor-trailer boneyard" they had out in PA that *finally* dried up a year or two ago will do that.

Some of the trucks and trailers are older than me!

 

Are you going on as a flatbed or drive in? If you are a rookie, use them to get your first year experience then step up to something better.

 

Stick it out for a year.

yeah they got a new trainer named Morris... well he ain't new but the old trainer quit recently. Morris is good, he'll pick up the phone I'm told.

Are you getting trained out around harrisburg, pa or newburg, ny? I was trained in Newburgh, NY.

Training will be tough because you're not just learning to drive for real out there on the road you're also learning to secure loads with straps, throw tarps, and all that jazz.

Just don't give up. Stick it out for 6 months minimum if you really hate it, but if you can make it a year then you can go anywhere you want!

You'll wanna quit, trust me.

Eastern Freightway's is a starter company. Once you get 6 months to a year experience, better companies will look at you.

I'm telling you as someone who was a rookie at eastern, just stick it out. They are good for getting experience, and then you can move onto better gigs that don't suck as much. But you need that experience!

If you have any questions, I'll check this thread from time to time so just post 'em here man.