Question: Do we have any say on locations we could deliver to?

That will all depend on the company you're driving for and their policies. For the most part you're pretty free to do what you want out there time wise as long as you make your pick ups and deliveries on time. Last week I stopped in Indianapolis and took my grandmother out to lunch since I hadn't seen her in a while. Unless you're an o/o you will have pretty much no say in where you go so it will just be one of those things if you happen to be passing through the area you can stop. If you plan right you might be able to take a 34 hour restart by your friends house. Different companies have different policies as far as how far out of route you can go.

 

A lot of Companies will let you take your 'Hometime' anywhere in the country with a few Exceptions.

 

Sure I've done it plenty of times. I use to go see family who's spread out across the country or take a planned vacation. It's something you plan for instead of impulse. You try to do on your off time so not to inconvenience the company. You don't do surprises as they are planning your next load by the time you deliver.

You might or might not get where you want when requested on time so I wouldn't go spending a bunch of money ahead of time like I've once done and got there four days late after flying my ex in, getting a motel and rent-a-car.

Then there might be an occasional time you just happen to deliver somewhere where a friend lives and you might have a few hours for dinner or something.

 

I know with Swift you can take home time anywhere you want to. You simply advise the zip code you want to take home time and the date you want HT to start, with your request at least 5 days in advance of your HT start date. They will try to get you there on time, but it will be dependent on available freight to route you there. Usually it takes several loads to make it to your HT, and can be a circuitous route.

 

I know with us we can ask. When I was in training and we were in tx waiting for a load my trainer just mentioned something west would be nice (because prior to this never been west of kc, mo) next thing i know we were california dreaming heading to the left coast. It doesnt always work like this. Each company is different but you can ask. Worst they can always do is say no.

 

Just because companies have hometime,that does not mean you have to take your time off at home.I live in Iowa but took hometime(4) days once in Louisiana so I could attend an outdoor jam.If you wanna take your hometime in a different state so you can visit friends and family,companies don't care and don't dictate where you are required to take hometime.You just need to give them a couple weeks notice and then remind them every few days you have hometime coming.

 

I remember that.... I used to drive 4 axles for them in Pac NW. One winter I looked up the Hawaii zipcode and set it for H/T as a joke on my boss....

 

^^^ I hope in some dark cubicle a planner was pulling out his/her hair trying to figure out a route....