Swift and hometime...can you take your hometime anywhere with enough advance notice?

My terminal is also Lewiston, and I live east of Columbus, OH. 99% of the time I am always taking a mt home with me, even if for 1 week. I split my home time all over the 48 states, just depends on my mood and how long I am out. If out about 5 weeks, then I will take a 48 hour home time somewhere on the road, and many times, it is PHX.

 

So what I have read so far is either you need to park at a terminal or drop yard (that has space) or if you have room at home to park when taking your home time. Is there any place else (like Walmart) you can park when taking home time?

 

A lot of storage unit places let you rent secure lots to park. Walmart will probably have your truck towed. Also what's stopping anyone from breakin in the windows and ransacking your belongings at aplace likeWalmart? I believe most places want their truck located in a secure place when parked for periods of time.

 

We have a Love's 5 miles from our neighborhood and for a quick lunch why not park there and come home. Our neighborhood is restricted but for awhile we could get away parking here, that said when we buy we are looking into an non restrictive neighborhood with large lots and RV gates so he can park at home, no issues.

 

If there is a truckstop close by just park there. Don't drop a trailer without their permission though.


By the way, when you park truck and trailer, lock the trailer brakes and pull up to tighten the connection on your kingpin. It makes it difficult to pull the release handle if someone wants to mess with you.

 

You know alot of your questions are going to be explained and answered by your mentor/trainer, plus you'll have thousands of opportunities to discuss anything you like while waiting in terminals with other drivers.

Home time is limited to a degree. Swift has an extended home time program that lets you take an extended period of time off, 10 or 12 days I think for staying out 12 days. But yes you'll have to slip seat or turn in your truck and then wait for another to be assigned to you when you return. I think the new policy is a 'family' home time program or something, if they still have it.

Other wise, its a day for every 6 (I think, I can't remember, sorry) that your out. Up to a total of 3 days for 3 weeks of being out. Now then, lets say your out for 6 weeks or even 6 months, you still can only take the 3 day limit and keep the same truck your in. You can take an extended amount of time over that, but your DM will insist that you clean out your truck and turn it in. And when your ready to return, you'll be issued another truck.

Yes you can and usually do bobtail home. Unless its over a certain distence but I am not sure what it is. If lets say, you request your home time in other places around the country, then its on you to deal with what to do with your trl and where to park and how to get around.

And yes, your truck can be towed and ticketed if parked in a wrong spot, and even broken into. so be careful where you leave it.

good luck

 

Hmm I always thought if you take your truck home rather than to a terminal you didnt have to clean it out if you where home for more than 3 days. bummer.

Anyway I stay out just long enough to want to kill my co-driver(brother) but make it home before I make the news then its any where from a week or a month at home depending on the harvest season.

 

well your situation may be different than what mine used to be. I would park my trk at the term, then get into my car and drive home. Its all up to the relationship you have with your DM I suppose.