Welcome to Aetna Freight Lines

Owners/Operators Program

Minimum qualification requirements - The minimum qualification standards that were applied by Aetna Freight Lines in considering an applicant for a driver's position are as follows:

  • Driver applicant must be 23 years of age or older.

  • Three years verifiable experience in the past five (5) years in the operation of a tractor-trailer unit, over the road, with a motor carrier. (This experience to include a minimum of one year’s experience with the type of trailer the applicant will be pulling.)

  • No more than three (3) points in the previous 3 years of application date.

    • Preventable DOT recordable accident
      2 Points

    • Serious traffic violation per Section 383.51
      2 Points

    • Non serious traffic violation per Section 383.51
      1 Point

    • Preventable Non DOT recordable accident
      1 Point

  • No preventable DOT recordable accident or serious traffic violation per 49 CFR 383.51 in the previous 12 months prior to date of application.

  • No commercial transportation-related felony, theft or larceny conviction within the applicant’s lifetime that resulted in an active prison or jail sentence. All other non-transportation related convictions will be subject to review at the discretion of the company and/or its insurance company.

  • No conviction for DUI, DWI OR OWI on driving record within the previous five (5) years. No violation of 49CFR Part 382 or 392 of the FMCSR for drugs or alcohol.

  • No more than three (3) Out-of-Service violations on roadside inspections within two (2) years of application date.

  • The nature and severity of any of the items referenced above, as well as the Independent Contractor’s record viewed in totality, may be sufficient cause for declination of the application.

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System Wide Terminal Pay - Settlements can be made at most of our terminals, between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Eastern Time, Monday thru Friday, by providing the terminal with your delivery paperwork. You may also choose to mail your paperwork to the Pittsburgh Office in postage-paid envelopes that we provide. We can then either load the payoff on your Comdata and EFS Card or pay by check, which we do each Wednesday.

In order to assure and assist our drivers in meeting compliance requirements of CSA 2010, effective September 10, 2010 regardless of the method of submission of paperwork for payment of a load (mailing, scanning, faxing, TripPack or in person) logs through the day prior to submission will need to accompany the paperwork.

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Truck Pay % - You earn 75% of 100% Gross Revenue. Combined with the other features and benefits offered by Aetna, we have one of the best overall packages in the industry.

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Liberal Advances - You may advance up to 40% of gross revenue. Emergency and after-hours advances are available at the discretion of the company.

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Safety Awards - In January of each year Aetna presents Safe Driving Awards to those drivers who have been with Aetna for the entire prior year and have met the program award standards, by having no preventable accidents or cargo claims and have met the program MVR, minimum revenue and compliance standards.

Aetna pays a $100 bonus, $50 to the driver, $50 to the truck owner, every time we receive a D.O.T. Roadside Inspection with “Violation Free”.

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Permits - We pay permit charges. We will permit you for the states you request and that are required.

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Road and Fuel Tax - We offer two options for filing the quarterly IFTA tax:

Option #1 is to sign up for the Aetna IFTA. If you meet our program's conditions Aetna will pay your fuel and mileage taxes for the quarter. You must generate at least $25,000 in billed revenue for the quarter, have no preventable accidents or cargo claims, have no more than 2 D.O.T Roadside Inspections with Out of Service violations in the prior 12 months and turn all of the previous month's logs, original fuel slips and toll tickets copies into the Pittsburgh office by the 10th of the following month.

A $100.00 refundable escrow is required.  Contact the General Office for the enrollment forms and all conditions.

 

Option #2 is to maintain your own IFTA account and send us a quarterly report. If you elect this option you must provide a copy of your IFTA license as well as turn in photocopies of your fuel slips with your original logs.

Under either option Aetna files and pays the road taxes for the few states that have such a tax (NY, KY, NM and OR for example). There is no charge back to the trucks for these taxes.

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Base Plates - You may use your own properly-apportioned base plate, or purchase one from us; call for the current cost. Up front money may be required, and temporary plates are available within a few hours of receipt of your check and necessary paperwork. In the event of lease cancellation, the base plate must be returned and you will receive a pro-rata refund when the plate is reissued.

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Comdata or EFS Card - All drivers and owners are issued a Comdata or EFS Card. Advances are issued to this card, and owners also have the option of having settlements put on their card. Owners can also use their card to manage their drivers' advances and payroll.

Drug and Alcohol Testing - Pre-employment drug testing is required. Our Safety Department has over 300 collection sites throughout the country, many of which are near our Processing Stations. Drivers are subject to random drug and alcohol testing, which are paid by Aetna (the pre-employment test is charged to the truck owner).

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Workers' Compensation & Accident and Disability Insurance - Aetna does not require you to have Workers' Compensation insurance unless mandated by the state of domicile. We do have an optional Accident and Disability policy available for owner-operators, which can be used in some states in lieu of Workers' Comp. We also offer a Workers' Compensation program for our fleet owners. Ask our Safety Department for details.

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Non-Trucking Insurance - Bobtail/Deadhead (Non-trucking) insurance must be carried by the equipment owner. We offer this coverage for only $37.50 per month. Owners who wish to carry their own coverage must provide Aetna Freight Lines with a Certificate of Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, naming Aetna as “additional insured”.

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Physical Damage - Aetna offers a comprehensive and collision insurance program for truck owners. Call the Safety Department for details and an application.

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Guest Passenger Program - Aetna offers a guest passenger program for any passenger over 18 years of age. Ask our Safety Department for more information.

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Escrow - We do not require any escrow money in advance. Escrow is $500, and is deducted at the rate of $50 per week until collected. This escrow is available 45 days after equipment cancellation, providing you comply with the cancellation terms of the Service Agreement. You also have the option of establishing a Maintenance Escrow. Money held in a Maintenance Escrow is available upon request during normal business hours.

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Dispatch - We have a network of more than 50 terminals and agents, as well as a Central Dispatch that will work for you. There is no forced board, and no company equipment to compete against. You may contact Central Dispatch at any time for help in finding loads, or you may also use our vast terminal network. You can haul for any of our affiliated companies without having to broker or trip lease.

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Sign-On Locations - We prefer you to sign on at our General Office in Pittsburgh, but have the available option to sign on via web cam. This allows us to give you a full orientation and the opportunity to meet us. If this is not convenient for you, we do have Processing Stations located throughout our system. If you have several units and drivers, we may be able to come to you.

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Equipment Qualifications - We require equipment to be no greater than 15 years of age. Flatbed operators need adequate chains, binders, straps, and at least enough tarps to cover a 45ft. long 3 ft. high load. Side kits or lumber tarps are not required, but they are a plus. Equipment leased to Aetna is required to undergo periodic equipment inspections at authorized inspection stations. Aetna participates in the cost of periodic inspections that are done "on time" per Aetna's inspection schedule.

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Trailer Rentals - If you need a trailer, we will rent one for you from a reputable national chain. The rental rate includes insurance and maintenance costs and will be deducted weekly. A $500 escrow is required on flatbeds and $1,000 on vans and is deducted at $50 per week until collected. Your escrow is returned to you in accordance with our Rental Trailer Agreement, upon return of the trailer.

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Questions - Please feel free to contact us with any other questions you may have. Contact our Safety Department at (412) 490-7777 Option 3, or fill out the Pre-Application Clearance Form, available by clicking on the Pre-App form button on the Aetna Home page, and fax it to us at (412) 490-2345.

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