Swift's current policy regarding bobtailing home in company truck

I live 90 or so miles from my terminal. I have never had an issue taking the truck home. Used to be that the planner would plan me on a post weekend load near here and dispatch me on Friday to get it. When there is not a preplan on me I just ask to be routed to where ever I wanted. Have not had a problem ever.

Edit...I have room for truck and trailer, just can't be hi value.

 

When I go home same deal, I take the whole rig. Usually they will get me close and I DH from my last drop. Then when its time to go out again I usually have a preplan to go to the nearby Lowes DC and get something from there. Probably helps that "home" is Rockford,IL and there is usually something that delivers nearby.

 

you put in a hometime request macro at least a week ahead of time. If the planners are not getting you there when you are supposed to, then talk to your DM. Whenever hometime comes up, well thats when they seem to want to give me big runs going the wrong way, if you want to go home, turn those down with hometime as the reason. Pretty much don't take a load you know will leave you 1500 miles from home with two days to go, unless your not picky about dates.

 

My trainer lives in Show Low AZ and we haven't had any problem taking the truck there. Granted, it's never by itself and on the way back from a load, but we've parked there for a day or more no issues.

 

I've done it both ways. Used to park whole rig in front of my house. Now I park at a gas station 7 minutes from my house. I can park the trailer and bobtail home even loaded or unloaded as long as both locks on trailer. For loading and unloading purposes. It doesn't seem to be a problem at the menasha terminal. My mentor used to drop his trailer at the terminal and bobtail 25 miles home

 

When I go home, I park at the terminal a few miles from home. The few times I have used hometime to visit out of state family, I was allowed to deadhead 80+ miles and park where I wished. I secured the trailer (empty) with both locks in a lot I had permission to leave it in for a few days and parked the truck in my family's driveway.

 

The drop yard would be your plus with Swift, it is the distance from the nearest (home) terminal. As you said you are 3 hours from Phoenix terminal...about 150-170 miles...

A load with high value limits the location of the trailer for off time...(unattended trailer)...but since there is a regular drop yard 30 minutes from your home....you check the trailer (loaded) at the drop yard and go home to get your truck "pimped" for your next runs. An empty trailer...dropped in the drop yard probably wouldn't be there when you return for your next load....so take it with you...when trailer is empty!