Swift and hometime...can you take your hometime anywhere with enough advance notice?

Unless you are in the "heavy haul" division (Sumner terminal) and you live in Tacoma, your actual home terminal will be Troutdale, OR. Troutdale is the OTR terminal for the PNW, Sumner is dedicated to Costco Heavy Haul.

 

Your "home terminal" is basically where your truck and DM (driver manager) are based. Once you get to solo status and have your regular assigned truck, when you want "home time" in Tacoma, you can always park your truck at the Sumner terminal....also the Sumner shop is available to you for your service work. It is best for both you and the company, if you can manage your PM services when you take time off. This can be done at any Swift terminal...not just your home terminal.

 

My home terminal is outta Lewiston, but live in Port Orchard. I get home every three weeks. If I need to be home on a certain day, I make sure I get home. Only had two days when I needed to be home, and I got their on time. Ill take that extra load that is slightly outta the way as long as I'm in a good freight lane.... It is unrealistic to be in Laredo and expect to make it home in three days to Sumner, in a solo truck. Don't set yourself up for failure, rather success.

 

Also you don't necessarily have to park at a terminal for your home time. When I was OTR I took the truck home with me, most times the empty trailer as well.

 

yes Swift will work to get you home where ever you want is what people are trying to say. But remember you get treated the way you treat them especially your DM. Mine new he could count on me to get the load there and not call unless there was a real reason. so when you get set free get in the truck and take off and don't look back, put your Home time request in a couple of weeks in advance and your set. me I would put my request in the day I leave from current home time and never had a problem.Mine even offered me time in Al to see the Nascar race at Taladega

 

Steve's Home Terminal is Lewiston.. best DM around... but we live in Buckeye and he keeps a car at Phx.. that said if he wants to visit family in WA, IA, WY... he request hometime in those areas.. If I want a vaca he gets hometime in Fontana or some other destination. Know your yards! I have been told certain yards are quiet small and you can't leave a truck there for any length of time, and sometimes there is no yard anywhere near where you want to be.

 

Motorcycle batteries are small, light and easily removed.
Take it with you on the truck.

Even if it loses some charge, a small trickle charger or jumper cables would remedy it.