Am I Expected To Not Plan or Schedule ANYTHING At Home

Stalone has a movie called Fist(I think, been awhile) he unites, might get you all moto. I'm just a wannabe so I can't speak from the trucker point of view. But I think your best bet would be to make a career change. I recently hit EAS with the Marines. I no what it's like to think you get paid #### for a tuff job, never home, gf cheating on you. Blah blah blah, only difference with me is I had to avoid getting shot and blown up(mostly by 0341s, young dumb in shape your an 0311, dumb and fat go 0341). I guess the truckers over there that can't carry prob had it the worst, I could put lead down range.

I agree a strike would not work. Way to many bodies to fill seats. If the more exp drivers left I would be the 1st to cross the line. I can survive in the #### did for 4years. I think I could make it for my family.

 

Bottom line,you work for the man and he pulls the strings and it doesn't matter local or otr....
Like my wife said,it don't matter if your 10 miles or 1,000 miles away.
Not home is not home....
Unless you can find a great company,you need to be your own boss to control your home time........But that brings it's own set of problems...

 

If they did allow truckers to be home when they wanted, they would probably only pay $12 an hour then. I worked a lot of different jobs thinking that I would fine one that pays well and is easy, but every single job has its huge flaws even if they seem fixable they just remain broken.

I had a cozy job at UPS once and I only got that job since my best friend was the office manager. I was a supervisor and all I had to do was audit to make sure everything was done correctly. However my boss got fired and a new a-hole took his place and his goal was obvious to make me quit since he would mess with me all of the time even though I was considered a great worker.

It was obvious that he wanted me to quit since I suppose he wanted to hire a buddy of his to take my job or something. Or perhaps he was jealous that I was happy at my job and he wanted me to suffer like everyone else in other job positions.

 

You can take almost anyone and qualify them to move freight in 3 weeks. You can't have a strike if you can be replaced that easily. Many people, me included, are in this industry because it was so easy to get into it. That feature is very important, not only because I have ahabit of eating food and living indoors, but it helps other employees and industries because their employees have the option of trucking, so their boss needs to worry about losing them.

Freight needs to move, somebody needs to move it, so it will be moved by you and me or someone else. I've supported most every escalation of driver qualification, not just because some of them might have a safety beenfit but it can also shrink the pool of people to take my job. But, that can only last a little while or it will cause freight to shift to means that don't need so many drivers.

It's probably best to view trucking, for many drivers, as a short to medium length transition into another job. No matter how hard everyone tries it will still be necessary to move freight and I want my freight on time just like my customers want theirs on time. It's easier to change our attitude than change the industry.

 

Probably.

Each company is different but I can't imagine many would not get you home for a family funeral. Other family events like graduations, reunions, and the like, along with concerts and stuff shouldn't be a problem either unless they happen too frequently. It's really no different than most jobs as far as being accommodated a reasonable amount of times with sufficient notice. If you want to go to every concert or some event every week otr probably isn't going to work for you. It's not a 'normal' job but shouldn't keep you from the things that really matter.

I hate when people say that. It's good to take pride in what you do but the over reaching self importance of that statement is just silly. Yes, if all the trucks stopped it wouldn't be good. What if all the grocery stores shutdown, or all the first responders, or all the power plants or whatever else.

 

Now let's just hold on here a minute. You want home time for concerts and conventions? How about when your dog has puppies too.

Listen up folks, your company has a whole load of trucks and drivers out there. They maybe handle several hundred loads per week. Those loads and trucks are scattered from here to hell and gone. Those loads have to move in order for the company to stay in business. That they try to accomodate things like death in the family, etc is them being courteous to you. But when you start whining about frivolous crap you are really pushing it.

You were hired to do a job, you understood that when you signed on. You understood the wage structure and the conditions. Outside of that contract you are owed nothing. And look here, every time you "take time" some other driver has to cover for you, do the job you are supposed to be doing. Now I don't know anyone who would not cover for funerals and emergencys, but they're gonna kick your butt over the social life crap.

So yeah, I think you need to find a different job. You got some growing up to do before you fit in this one.

 

If trucks stop the grocery store shelves will be empty within a week. First responders will not be able to respond without that tanker delivering fuel. No paper product shipments anywhere (just think how much paper gets used in this country). Power plants...well I guess they may run for a while until they need parts. If you use it, a truck is directly responsible for it's existance somehow.

Me and another driver had a conversation about this. We figured while the rest of the country descends into anarchy the amish will be doing fine.

EDIT: to answer the OP I found I'm going to plan my hometime 1-2 days early because it seems that's how long it takes to get me there. I'm missing my weekend event today, but I get to t-call my load in the morning and should be home by 8am so the whole weekend isn't shot.

 

I haven't been driving that long but I have to respectfully disagree with you. This job does not pay near enough to be an indentured servant which is what you describe. Most companies dictate 1 day home for every 6 days out, that is owed. With 2 weeks notice it can't be that hard to get someone who has been out 3, 4, 5+ weeks home when they want unless that person can't give an accurate PTA for a pre plan. The more loads a company has the easier it should be to get home, not the other way around.

As for covering someone elses loads? I have never received a load assignment with the message I'm doing someone elses job. It's all our jobs. We work all the time and I know myself I hate waiting for a load and will happily take someone who wants home times load assignment.

I'm sure dispatch, trip planners, even the mechanics get their home time when it's scheduled. Keep in mind probably 90% of the responsibility for every load falls on the driver. If theres a problem who gets blamed. The driver. That should be worth something.

Not that I'm complaining. I love my job, it's better than my last one. At this point I really don't want to do anything else.

 

from what i have read across the forums here. Getting home time for whatever reason is possible but to get it exactly the dates you want them is nearly impossible. Now Funerals most companies will allow you to go to them. But kind of hard to say hey im in Washington State and my Grandfather just died his funeral will be in 2 days. Dont expect to dead head or bobtail all the way there as soon as you tell them. They will plan loads to get you there and their loads there.

Its more of you scratch my back ill scratch yours. Social life is pretty much dead also while trucking. What little you keep it alive through emails, phone calls, video messages with your family though. If your looking for a trucking job and home when you want. Drive Local. thats the only way youll get what you want In my own opinion. I could be wrong though. and will not bash anyone to correct me.

But personally i have to agree with Kittyfoot. it does sound like this industry is not for you. now Wysrob has struck it lucky to find a company that allows him to attend his season tickets to sporting events. and you might find very few that are that lucky.