Need some clarity of the "ride along" process

passengers don't have to pay the insurance fee.... The driver does!

A lot of shippers & consignee's won't allow trucks on their property if there is a passenger in the truck. So, you'll either have to ditch them somewhere then go back to pick them up later. Or just don't accept that load.... Kinda difficult when a lot of companies are forced dispatch.

Time limits are set either by the insurance company or the trucking company.

YEP! You'll have to wait until you get a load heading back to their direction to drop them off or dump them off on the Greyhound.

 

couldnt they just hide in the sleeper

 

And if a crane drops a 50000 lbs coil on it?

 

Then they will be hiding under the truck.

Trust me, hiding in the sleeper isn't anything you want a passenger to do. Most places have the right to search your vehicle upon entering & exiting their property... And it is 100% legal for them to do so. Sea ports have security who take a good glance in your truck as your checking in & Military base personal are up in your truck checking your closets, cubby holes, & I've even had one base go thru my dirty underwear!

 

All companies have different rules as far as ride along passangers. The one thing is for sure is that your company MUST know about any passanger you have in your truck....this is a DOT rule, you and your company can be fined if they do not.

If your company has a rider policy they should work with you on customers and getting back home as long as your request is within reason. Do not expect to take a run to California and then 1/2 way thru the run want to go home because your passanger dosn't like it.

 

Most companies won't let you have a passenger in the winter time.

 

You're going to get so many different answers to this question it won't be funny!
Heres mine after 32 years :
Get the ride along form your company "should" have filled out for you.
The

I really wouldn't worry about it if you have the rider policy form you should have. NOW they might not want or allow a passenger to be on the dock or ground but there are way too many husband and wives out there that have no problem with a legal passenger in the truck! It's the illegals they worry about. Man does this sound familiar? LOL

Getting them home could be a problem when they find out that trucking ain't for them! Have either bus or air fare in pocket for in case your company can't route you through there and that passenger wants to go NOW!

Yes companies can have a minimum age, some have a seasonal limit, and having a CDL in pocket I've never heard of that stopping them from being a passenger. That's a new one on me! Some do have a minimum amount of experience deal that if you were just turned loose from a trainer you might have to wait a while to have that rider and I would say that's a good policy! You don't want a screaming kid in the truck until you're able to handle just the daily pressures of trucking! Or a lover! You don't want to endanger their lives as you're still a rookie and need that experience for their safety too.

Or when you do your phone interview ask about their rider policy and go from there.

This is one of those questions where every company is different hence all the different answers you'll get. Just like asking 5 drivers what color that shade of red is!

 

I've never seen one actually craned over the top of the tractor, but good point none-the-less.