Quitting an OTR job and getting back home.

Been there, done that.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/Drivers Guide to HOS 2015_508.pdf

"Remember that you are allowed to do non-driving work after the 14-hour limit is reached, just
no more truck driving (but the additional on-duty time would count toward your weekly 60- or
70-hour limit)." page 15

 

I quit unexpectedly a few weeks ago, very similar situation to you. Company did me wrong. Quit on the spot, unexpectedly, with no plans. But I had a pile of cash to wipe the tears with and get me out of that tough spot. And guess what? No one cared that I quit. No one cared the company did me wrong. No one cared about anything except the truck getting back where they wanted to put the next meat sack in it.

 

You don't understand the Hours of Service. Nothing limits the number of on-duty hours you can burn in a week. The HOS limit how many hours you drive per day, per week, and how much off-duty time or sleeper time is required before you can drive. What limit of on-duty time are in the HOS? There isn't one. The limit is on driving, not on-duty.

 

Oh no, they're not going to cut ties, they're going to let him quit so they don't have to pay unemployment. Then put him down as "quit, not eligible for rehire" when other carriers inquire. If Swift won't rehire a driver, reputable carriers are going to think twice.

 

Now you’re thinking! Improvement already! Who ever said the government wants you to earn a living wage? If you make enough to retire, doesn’t that mean you don’t have to work anymore?

 

You can drive home right now. No one’s going to stop you. You can do it legally. 100% not bending or breaking any laws.

Your current employer, who owns the equipment you’d be driving home, will put things on your record if you choose to do that.

There’s right ways and wrong ways to go about things. You’re somewhere in the middle right now.

How bad do you need to get home? How likely are you to want to get another OTR job? How much are you going to miss that last pay check?

 

Fun fact, Schneider policy 'discourages' working past the end of the 14, for good reason. Yet no driver will hear word one from a Safety Critter about it unless connected with other issues. I'd guess that Swift is the same.

Funner Fact - we need to do something about ELDT and CDL testing because this is the type of driver it's creating. Click through some videos, use a cheat sheet to point to some stuff on the truck, take a 20 minute drive where you don't hit a curb or "impede" - here's your CDL.