bobtailing for hometime

Maybe a ride with a friend or a taxi would be safer for you until you find out?

 

Take it all the way driver!! Hometime is not privilege..

 

It all depends on what terminal...and what is their "mood". Unless Swift has activated "Line 5" (personal conveyance), keep in mind this is going to be a logged event and will effect your hours.

 

Some companies don't like to have trucks go over 50 miles distance. Also remember bobtailing is not as much fun as driving the whole deal. Tractors can be squirrely on the road too when driving and it is amplified if it is wet out.

 

I don't drive for Swift, but in general this is something you should have cleared with your dispatcher before waiting for the weekend to ask. A weekend dispatcher probably does not have the authority to give permission and I'm guessing you don't live right around the corner or you wouldn't have asked.

Many companies have strict policies on bobtailing for personal use. So if Swift keeps a close eye on their trucks you may get yourself in some hot water

 

When I was with Swift, company drivers in company trucks weren't allowed through the gate unless dispatched on a load. An exception might be made for going to an outside repair shop or vendor, but I never saw one made for a driver going home. Maybe this policy has changed, but I doubt it.

 

No apu, no inverter, no truck close to home for home time...

 

Boy howdy, NW, got that right. I've had some scary rides bobtailing, especially stopping. Those trailer brakes really do a lot, especially on my old Pete, that didn't have steer axle brakes. Don't forget to nail everything down. Many times, I'd drop a wagon at a rail yard in Chicago, and have to bounce (they don't call it bounce for nothing) to another yard across town. Felt like parts were falling off. And due to insurance regs, like milkman says, I don't think you can take a truck anywhere, except on business.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4178113]Boy howdy, NW, got that right. I've had some scary rides bobtailing, especially stopping. Those trailer brakes really do a lot, especially on my old Pete, that didn't have steer axle brakes. Don't forget to nail everything down. Many times, I'd drop a wagon at a rail yard in Chicago, and have to bounce (they don't call it bounce for nothing) to another yard across town. Felt like parts were falling off. And due to insurance regs, like milkman says, I don't think you can take a truck anywhere, except on business.[/QUOTE]

Husband works for Prime as lease now and company before. Some times he brings the trailer home, sometimes they want it dropped. They have sometimes booked him as close to home as possible, sometimes not. He pays for his fuel now, so the closer the better, but sometimes he has been 168 or so out He has tried to still stay within the dot hours for driving though by taking a ten off if he has been at a receiver and close to running out of hours. I think he gets more sleep in the truck on those trips because of grandkids being here and getting to stay up all hours then. All companies are different on their rules, but company drivers for some companies are really stuck. We are lucky we have a truckstop in town and a Walmart for him to park at, or he brings the tractor home, country living.