May I please have your input?

Nik81, you've already started another thread about this topic and posted it within an existing thread in the Swift forum. I think there's been plenty of discussion generated about it already.

 

I agree, you have.

Is not what you've heard to your liking?

There are realities that you and your husband have to face.

 

Well, I recommended she ask her question on the "Experienced Truckers" thread. Hopefully, she will get more input than from the Swift thread. Put the heat on me for that! It would help to know his city/state location though.

 

As an owner of a number of trucks with my husband it has a lot to do with the driver. In most cases we like our drivers to take at least 2 days twice a month or every 2 weeks if you prefer. It is up to them however as we broker our trucks to different companies. Some driver like to run all the time and just take sat holidays off others like a couple weekends every month. Myself I drive where I want when I want. I just have to call and let them know where I would like to go.

 

I've never driven for any of the big carriers but I can't imagine a scenario where he gets to make his own schedule. Nobody makes any money of he isn't driving so they will keep him driving. He might be home 2 weekends a month.

Driving a truck is alot like being in prison.

 

With Swift you place a "home call" on the Qualcomm at least 5 days in advance of when you want to be there. They try to get you there on the date you request but there are no promises, it is really up to available loads and schedules to get you from wherever you are when you place the home call to get you home.

So, in effect an OTR Swift driver has some ability to schedule home time. I know some OTR Swift drivers that try to get home every 2-3 weeks, others stay out for months at a time.

Bear in mind that when you do take home time your next paycheck will reflect the fact you weren't working. More home time means less money, so you have to have a balancing act, especially early in your career when you aren't making as much money per mile.

Also bear in mind that if you schedule more than 2 days home time they may require you to remove all your personal effects from your truck, turn in the truck, then take a different truck when you get back to work. That will especially be the case if you have less than 3 months solo experience. After 3 months they can be more lenient, especially if you have shown you are a good driver that likes to run miles.

 

Sorry to be a killjoy here , but shouldn't you have considered this before your husband started an OTR job. Being gone for long periods of time comes with that decision.

 

For your sake I hope your milkman is good looking. Oh, that's right we buy milk at Walmart these days!