Juggling a company driving gig and being an O/O at the same time?

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by khauls, Sep 1, 2020.

  1. khauls

    khauls Bobtail Member

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    I'm a company driver. I don't enjoy the job, but I'm well paid, have good benefits, and a great schedule. I've also been here for over a decade. I plan to keep this job for as long as it makes sense, be that one year or ten.

    In addition to that, I'm starting my own trucking business. I'll be running power only at first (until I figure out what I want to haul) but I plan to build a small fleet eventually.

    The goal is to fill my tractor's seat with a full-time driver. At first though, I'm not going to have steady work available for an employee. I have a brand new authority so a lot of brokers won't work with me, I don't have a network, and I don't know the business. So, I'm going to have to run the truck myself, to learn the ropes and to establish my authority, for at least a little while. I have about 30 HOS available after running my day job so the plan is to find short runs, about once/week, to cover costs if possible.

    As far as I can tell, there's no legal reason why I can't run on my days off as long as I stay within my HOS - correct? Also, short of me getting a violation, is there any way my employer could tell that I'm running on my days off? I'd rather be up front about it, but it's a big national company and I wouldn't be surprised if there's some language in my employment contract regarding splitting my time elsewhere.

    How would you suggest I anonymously get answers about my company's policy?

    Or maybe I'm being paranoid..?

    Thanks in advance!
     
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  3. LtlAnonymous

    LtlAnonymous Road Train Member

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    The only way it could be an issue is if it impedes your 34-hour restart, if that's a requirement of your company job.

    Otherwise? There's no reason you couldn't legally do it.

    But your company may not like you doing it, so you may want to...weigh your options regarding telling them.
     
  4. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    When you get your Trucking Authority you have to fill out an application for yourself and you have to contact all your previous employers. I can't remember if that's for the last 3 years or 10 years.

    So you will have to contact them and let them know.

    I am not sure what the rules are on driving for two motor carriers, but you may need to disclose all of your hours to your primary job so that you are not over. I am not sure about that or how that rule works or if it exists.

    You need to check your insurance rate and see what that would be.

    Power only generally does not pay very well and with the cost of insurance even running on your time off it may be an expensive endeavor.

    I do not run power only but it may not be easy to always find short Freight that is power only near you that gets you home.

    Having a driver, record-keeping, calling on load board loads I would not think it would be an easy Endeavor at all if you are employed someplace else.

    What would you do if the driver abandoned the truck five states away? How can you call on Loads when you have another job? What if there are problems and you need to go back and forth between the driver and the broker? Who's going to fill out all the carrier packets? Who is going to negotiate the loads? Who is going to do all the paperwork? Who is going to do payroll? Who is going to grease and service and repair the truck?

    Drivers are difficult to find and difficult to hire and it is difficult to compete with established companies. Companies are hiring all over the place. Why should someone work for you? What can you offer them they can't get someplace else?

    What if you can't find a driver at all and the truck just sits and you pay insurance? And possibly payments.

    I understand the idea behind what you are thinking, but generally speaking most people drive their truck, develop their customer base, then they buy one or two additional trucks and continue running their truck until they get to a point that they can just be in the office.

    If I remember correctly the rule of thumb is for you to be able to make what you make running one truck yourself, you would have to have three trucks with drivers in them.

    If it were me and it's a good job and you make good money I would just buy real estate and forget about trucks.

    I'm not being negative but there's a lot to think about.

    If you seriously want to have a trucking company my own opinion is you need to do it full time.
     
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  5. Eddiec

    Eddiec Road Train Member

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    As long as you can stay legal on both gigs...then go for it. If they don't ask, there is nothing to tell. If it comes up...then be up front and matter of fact about it

    There is no law against building wealth and prosperity for yourself.
    There will come a time when you will have to choose. Good luck.
     
  6. Wasted Thyme

    Wasted Thyme Road Train Member

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    You might also be under a no compete clause in your contract. So you would be in violation of that operating your own truck. Could possibly be sued.
     
  7. roshea

    roshea Road Train Member

    You are required to report all work hours to the company you work for now, and to your own company. Copies of all logs or via timesheets if not required to log. Logs for both your company (your authority) and the one that you are a company driver for must reflect the total hours worked at each place.
     
  8. Atlaw4u

    Atlaw4u Heavy Load Member

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    The logs are the biggest headache. I work a fulltime non-driving job and I am a "part-time" owner/operator. I am required to log the time I am sitting at my desk at my non-driving job even though it is non-driving work.
    Your employer may be worried about the risk of trying to keep track of your other driving jobs.
     
  9. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    As said, you have to legally report all of your hours that you work or drive to your employer.

    Not true. There is an exception, if he goes after the company’s customers for his own and using the information he has from his work to do so.

    But this is rarely applied to workers, mostly sales staff.
     
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