I'm seeing all these post (and ads) regarding jobs with 7 out 3 home, 7 out 7 home, 14 out 7 home...the list goes on and on.

And I am wondering, how many of you guys actually do this? Unless I am missing something here. I fail to see the logic. Let me tell you why.

If I'm out 7 days, I may not get but 5 days of productive work. That's not an issue with my current job. But, it's been an issue on most jobs.

That comes out to half a years work, and a half a years pay

Even though I have very little debt remaining. I'm not ready to go into "semi" retirement. And, I've seen the "economy sucks" post from other members of this board.

So, are some of us deceiving ourselves? Do we/you really need 10-14 days off a month? Or, is this just a recruitment tactic to get semi-retired drivers to enlist?

Don't get me wrong guys and gals. It sounds GREAT!! But it also sounds like a reduced annual earnings deal to me.

__________________
Insuring polititions fear that
which goes bump in the night.
Seek out their personal homes
and family members. -- SU 83
__________________

Considering that Knight is the one company that is advertising that around here I would have to say you are right on the money! Not to mention that it involves slip seating.

__________________
My wife asked, "What will you be doing today?"

I replied,"nothing."

She said, "but you did that yesterday."

I said, "right, but I haven't finished it."

YuP!
And slip-seating can be a REAL and ROYAL pain in the buttox.
Working a limited schedule, how many drivers do y'all reckon will be willing to spend those working daze waiting for a Big truck to be repaired? I suspect every time you return to duty, you'll be inheriting someone ELSE's mechanical problems.

Perhaps that 7/3, 7/7, and/or 7/14 makes reference to 7 days driving and 3 days waiting for repairs --- all the way to the top, 7 days driving and 14 days waiting for needed repairs?
No pay for waiting though.
And the repairs will probably be arranged while you're away from the home-20.

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Pontificating Dogmatist

Slip seating does suck, but it has its place.

I drive for a aggregate hauler and slipseating is a part of the deal.

I run dayshift for 12 hours and I've got a GOOD nightshift driver...we let each other know what's happening via phone and try to make the best of the situation.

The only downside to this is when the truck needs a PM or other repair. Someones shift and money gets cut short for that day and sometimes that week.

Deals like 7 on and 7 off actually work out better from a companies standpoint because they are making money all the time instead of having a truck sit empty and non-productive on a drivers days off.

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Big Red



Freedom wasn't won with a registered gun.

the company I work for does it like this. I left oregon on friday,delivered st. Cloud mn on monday, reloaded and delivered sparks nv on thursday, reloaded for Vancouver which will deliver on this Monday. I got home friday afternoon and don't leave till sunday nite. so got my restart and more time off on the way back if I want it. But usualy we're home for the weekend. It wouldn't work for everyone but it works for me!

Well when you put it like that, I do the same. I'm generally home on weekends too.

But, 14 out and 7 off??? I'd go nuts. 7/7 14/7 21/7 just does not work (for me), unless you keep moving for EVERY avaliable hour you have, stopping only for your 10 breaks. Even then, you will have to reset somewhere.

__________________
Insuring polititions fear that
which goes bump in the night.
Seek out their personal homes
and family members. -- SU 83
__________________

firstly, which companys offer this Roehl and Knight? I thought I read somewhere on the Roehl site that 7/7 drivers have full bennies?

secondly, I'm coming from the Airline industry. and considering truckdriving. Why is it so prominent for company's advertising to promise weekends off and everyone to seem to prefer that? isn't it a 24/7 industry. weekends off in the airline biz is not really an option. Personally I want all my days off in a row and 7/7 14/7 is VERY desirable to me, then again maybe it's what I'm used to. We were compensated for our jobs taking us away from home by 12 days off a month, that was the big advantage over a 9-5 job, working 18/19 days a month. we had to have 24hrs off duty every 7 days on.
Please pardon my ignorance, I lost my job on 3rd of April and am taking the time to research other career paths.
our company went under partly due to high fuel costs, but the nail in the coffin was losing a large military contract. 95% of the time I took troops to/from the middle east.
Dan

Dan,

Run away from trucking. You will be gone 29 out of thirty days a month and get paid for only 14 of those 29 days. The rest of the time you will be driving when you should be asleep, awake when you should be asleep, and not getting paid while babysitting the truck at a consignee where a minimum wage illegal immigrant decides if he will unload your trailer today or tomorrow.

Trucking companies can promise all kinds of things because there is no way to enforce their knowing false promises.

BRI

7/7, etc schedules are very desirable to people who don't need to work fulltime. People, like retirees, who have a steady check coming in from their previous employer would be attracted to these schedules as a way to bring in a little extra spending money without having to live on the road most of the month.

Not all people are burdened with heavy debt. Not all people are living paycheck-to-paycheck. Some people have their homes paid off, money in savings, and are just looking for a way to escape the boredom of staring at 4 walls all day.

I'm glad to see companies offering these schedules. Roehl seems to offer the most flexible scheduling of all the companies.

LOL sounds like you bit off more than you could chew. take a deeep breath and start looking for your way out of this biz, doesn't seem like you are happy in it.

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tip for new truckers: to err is human, to forgive is not D.O.T. policy.