Indian River

You can park at any terminal. “Dairy hub” just means there are a lot of dairy loads that are nearby, so it’s handy to have a company tank wash, dispatch office, etc. in the vicinity. You could call Winter Haven a “juice hub” if you wanted to, but it’s still a regular terminal where you can get a tire changed, service, wash out, park, etc.

 

I’m pretty sure that 90 mile thing isn’t enforced. It’s similar to the home time policy of 1 day off for each week out. A lot of us stay out as long as we want and schedule however many days off as needed as long as it isn’t abused. IRT doesn’t micromanage. A lot of Clovis drivers bobtail home, as well as others. I wouldn’t sweat that.

 

Same here. I’ve never live loaded at those either. It’s always been a drop/hook for me too.

 

I typically stay on the road for a few months at a time (by choice) and then take 5-6 days off. Sometimes I get routed into Texas a day or 2 early and receive a call telling me to “head on home a little early if you want to.” It all depends. In almost 6 years, I’ve never had a dispatcher make a comment to me about the 1 day/1 week handbook policy or tell me I’ve requested too many days off.

Regarding truck parking, I live in San Antonio. When they route me in for time off, a lot of times it will be a Waco, Irving, or Sulphur Springs load followed by a dead head to Misson (McAllen). I take home time along the way to Mission and pay to park at the truck stop. I took 9 days off last month and flew to Vegas for my 40th birthday. I had stayed on the road for 3 months and 2 weeks prior to that though. I Uber home then drive back in my personal vehicle to retrieve my belongings, laundry, etc. I used to park at HEB since it was a IRT regular customer, but the Clovis terminal called me a few years ago and asked that I park elsewhere if possible because my truck was taking up space along the curb and making it difficult for their milk haulers to go there and stage early. At one point I was parking near my house along a vacant lot with a flatbed and a few other trucks. After returning to work and finding a $500 parking ticket taped to the door by the SAPD for having a CMV in a residential zone I decided to just pay for reserved parking. I never turn in the receipt because I feel it’s fair since they don’t nickel and dime me for using the truck as a car when I need to do grocery runs, etc. on the road. They also let me choose my own routes and don’t hammer me about extra miles when it happens.

You’re right though. As far as any prospective drivers reading this, I would plan your employment based on what’s in the handbook that way you’re not disappointed if they ever decide to be picky about things. Once you’re onboard you can learn the system and what’s tolerated, what’s enforced, etc. If you’re looking for a place that doesn’t micromanage and trusts you to think for yourself, this is a good one to be at.