Proper etiquette, quitting one company, starting with another?

Last time I quit an OTR job, I waited until I was on hometime then I put in a weeks notice and cleaned out the truck while I was home.

Of course I returned the truck to the main terminal but by then all I had in there was a duffle bag with a couple days clothes. I ran a load for them back to the area of the terminal, but if that load had a destination anywhere else I would not have accepted the load.

 

Don't even worry about it.
They've been through it 20,000 times.
This is all normal everyday trucking stuff.

They all react differently when you're leaving.
Just make sure you empty your truck out first
Before you tell them.
That way your not stuck somewhere with all
Your stuff trying to get home.

Either have the other job lined up before you leave,
Or you better have 3 to 4 grand in the bank.
You might be out of work for a month, then have to
Wait a couple weeks to get paid.

The good jobs aren't like mega's, there in no rush
To heard them in like cattle.
They can take their time doing all the background
Stuff, especially now with this covid 19.

Don't just quit if you don't have any money in the bank.
Then you'll be stuck having to take the first thing available.
You won't be able to wait for the job you really
Want to go through their hiring process.

I've been OTR most of my 25 years.
Love every minute of it.
From my experience, it cost me about 5 thousand
Dollars to change jobs.

That's the exit time from one job,
The weeks in between applying and waiting
For the next job,
Then the hiring process of that job including orientation,
Then the 2 weeks to wait to get paid.

During all that time without pay, you still have
To pay all your normal bills.

 

I am going to quote a former boss I drove for for 4 years, all accident free, when I told him I was giving 2 weeks notice.

“I don’t need your ####### notice, get your #### outta my truck before I have you escorted off my property!!”

That’s when I learned in trucking, you’re only as important as the last load you hauled.

 

If you have decided to leave your current employer, do not say anything until you are on the yard. After arriving at the yard and cleared up your paperwork, send your notice via the ELD. That way they can't say you quit under a load, even tho you are on the yard. If they try to send a load to you, your notice will be there before the load assignment and don't acknowledge the load. If they then want you out of the truck, you can clean it out and have it inspected and signed off by yard personnel.

 

It's ridiculous what we have to go through
Just for wanting a better life.
The people in the real world have no idea
The what we have to deal with.

No way this should be that complicated.

 

be prepared, a long time ago i told a company i was leaving and was gonna clean out my truck when i was home on the weekend, they never routed me home, routed me right back to the terminal with all my stuff. if im working for decent people i usually give notice if i know im leaving, but ive also drove back to the terminal and dropped off the truck a few times lol i give the same respect that ive been given from a company.

 

What is you relationship with your current employer?
If it's good, give the notice. If you are just a number (mega) they will have someone in the truck before you are off the property.

 

If you didn't mess anything you should be good . I just had one driver left and he didn't even give me 2 weeks notice , 1 week ( i dont have any dedicated loads etc ) , after all i dont have any bad feelings about him and would be honest with his new perspective employer giving good reference . We left friends and i said if you ever decide to come back i will be glad to . But he went to other co who helped him buy the truck , leased trailer .

 

I am sure he will give good reference about me as employer as well