Needing advice

You already know the answer to that one...

 

Double cross em. Take back the 2 week notice, run for them until you get to Chicago, all the while cleaning out your truck. Eventually you will get a load that delivers in Chicago. Give them their truck, uber to greyhound, and get out of dodge. Pretty simple huh

 

except the company is on notice that this driver is ready to depart.

 

Hence the take back the 2 week notice part of my post.......OP needs to become a good actor. Make them think he wants to stay

 

What "company" holds a security/escrow deposit for company driver positions?

 

Start documenting everything. And lawyer up.
Get copies of your contract. If they are not allowing you to move the truck, or if you do, and they penalize you that can be used as evidence that you were an employee, not a contractor. I'm sure the IRS and labor board would love to hear about that.

 

Two questions and they are important,

Do you have an active fuel card or card with money on it from the company?

Do you have fuel in your tanks?

I would have fueled up the truck as a habit and ignoring their "orders", drive it back to their location.

You put in your notice which as a 1099 driver, you don't have to do.

You are an independent contractor, you can refuse loads, drive the truck back to their place and pretty much make decisions independently without their permission.

Take a hell of a lot of pictures of the truck, clean it as clean as you can get it, even wipe down the mats and polish it all up, protect yourself from these scum owners,

You being ordered to stay put makes you an employee, so when that truck is parked and your junk is out of it, the first call you need to make is to the IRS and state of Illinois to file a complaint against that owner, they are liable for the taxes that they didn't collect from you and paying their share.

Be prepared to see them act childish.


Oh and you may have to sue them to get the escrow back.

And please please never work as a 1099 driver again.