Wakefern Foods — Local services in Newark

Appointment for reefer unloading was 1000 and I came in the afternoon before. Prior reviews mention the crazy street parking situation. You just have to find a place that isn’t blocking a driveway or bus stop on streets around the facility. I found parking on Cornelia St. There is a sign nearby that says no parking on Thursday (street sweeper maybe?). The streets have trash everywhere but before truck drivers are blamed, I saw someone standing at the bus stop who just pitched her garbage onto the sidewalk. At first, I was wondering if the area was safe but after a while, it looked like mostly employees from businesses in the area and truck drivers. On Cornelia, there is a nice grassy area alongside the building where I was able to walk my dog. The other side is overgrown with bushes and weeds. I also saw Newark’s finest cruising by at least once. I was ready to start my truck if he looked like he was going to write tickets but he moved on. 🙂 To check in walk to Euclid/Joseph, the guard shack to the right of the entrance. Have your DL, docs, truck and trailer plates. Once you provide your info, guard will direct you to office just inside the gate. When you walk in, lumpers are sitting to your right and the check in window is straight ahead. In some places you have to wait away from the check in window until called. If you do that here, other drivers will just barge in front of you so just go on up to the window. 🫤 They will take your phone number and call you when a door is ready. You don’t have to pay lumper at this time. When I left the office I saw a food truck out in front on Euclid. She didn’t have a menu but she told me what she had so I went with her recommendation, barbecued chicken with rice and black beans. It was excellent! Around 7pm they called me with a door. There is mostly plenty of room here to maneuver except for the docks right in front of the dumpster and huge stacks of cardboard are piled around that dumpster so of course that is the dock space I got. 😂 A little bit of wiggling to get in there but not so bad. Break seal, open doors, tandems back, chock wheels and then take docs back to the office. The lumpers will also let you know cost at this time. There is a notice that tells you what forms of payment they accept. I had to pay with efs paper check because they don’t accept relay codes. I was unloaded by 10pm the day before my appointment! 🎉 They will call when your paperwork is ready. Walk back to office to pick up paperwork. Exit out the opposite side of the facility onto Lister. I parked on the street again and finished my 10. Safe travels! Update: Nov 2024-they brought paperwork out to the truck when done. My appointment was 7am, I arrived the evening before and had a door by midnight and was unloaded in about an hour. Approximately 40,000 meat $300 lumper fee. Huge thank you to staff for getting done early! I also found a nice trailer washout with great coffee and sandwiches. Conoco 120 Middlesex Ave Carteret 95 S to exit 12. Not much room to line up in parking lot but owner comes out and helps direct traffic. It’s worth the small inconvenience of lining up. In route, you will come to a Conoco before this one…don’t turn there! The right one will be about a mile down...

⭐ 1 Star – This Place Should Be Shut Down

I checked in at 8:30 AM and didn’t get out until 12:30 AM. Let that sink in: 16 HOURS sitting in a truck, waiting for a dock door. Not to get unloaded. Not for a breakdown. Just to get a door.

This is, without exaggeration, the most unprofessional, disorganized, and downright disrespectful warehouse I’ve ever dealt with. The staff here clearly could not care less. No updates, no urgency, no communication. You’re left to rot in your cab while they play games inside. Ask for help? You’re met with blank stares or the same worthless line: “We’ll let you know when we have a door.” Spoiler: they never do.

This isn’t a workplace — it’s a driver detention center. A total time sink where your hours-of-service, patience, and respect go to die. It’s like they run on a system designed to waste as much of your day (and money) as possible.

To my fellow truckers: AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. If your company tries to send you here, push back. If you’re an owner-op, skip the load — it’s not worth it. If you’re a broker or customer using this location, know that this warehouse is actively damaging your supply chain with pure incompetence.

16 HOURS for a door? This isn’t just poor operations — it’s abuse.

Shame on this place. And shame on anyone who continues to do...

Do not deliver here. They will cite you for parking big truck 1000.00 dollar. Just got the results back. She will cite you for truck and trl. You been warned. My boss thought it was for 2 Hours so he was going to pay it online. It said no court appearance can't pay on line even though you making deliver. They don't let you park on the property. But THIER is no parking in that area it is zoned residential. But you wouldn't know that So I'm giving you guys a heads up. Truck and trl cite both. Are you listening don't deliver here. Ever. Experience driver over 40 plus yrs. If you see any positive don't believe it you been warned. The negative are facts. I was just there. Read my review I don't lie or play games you been warned. Were you see those truck parked on picture is where you will. "WILL" get a ticket. Look it up. Zoned residential. Look up 23.5.31. She will stick it in your door handle. I promise. I look to see was it just me or did anyone else get pop yep. Guy across guy behind him. I was like. But they not going to tell you sh@# The receiver. You can't just pull to gate either reason. Very tight around THIER. Also every place you look is a driveway that says tow away somebody's business in a residential sign everywhere. Use Google maps and see. Why they telling you park 5...