bobtailing for hometime

used to be in the regs what was called the 10 ton taxi rule,,not sure if it is still in the regs but bobtailing a tractor to and from home from a terminal as long as the truck was not under dispatch could be logged off duty not driving,now there have been a few who abused this rule bob tailing from New York to Los Angeles ,, best to talk to your company rather than get you infor sitting on the toilet from the guy in the next stall.

 

With Swift, if you are a company driver, all driving time is logged as such. No line 5.
As has been mentioned, it depends on the terminal as to how far you can bobtail. 90 miles is generally the maximum. If it is going to be more than that you are best off finding a load that drops within the correct range.

I came across one terminal that did not want to let me out the gate because I was not under dispatch.
I argued that I needed supplies and I didn't intend on sitting at the terminal until they decided to dispatch me when there was a truck stop a couple miles away. After a few minutes they let me out. But I could tell the guy was not happy about it. He had mentioned that the truck stop was not safe, and I mentioned that if I was under a load I might be headed there anyway.

Personally, I don't intend to be held hostage or prisoner just because I am not dispatched on a load!
If they really try to enforce that kind of thing on me I'm just as likely to hand them the keys and walk out. And, at least for now, they can't afford to lose experienced drivers.

 

I btailed from Springfield ma to Boston which is like 90 miles no problems.

 

Sounds like Phoenix!!!!

 

I'm not sure why there are so many irrelevant replies from drivers who work for other companies with nothing helpful to contribute to the conversation as well as a reply from someone whose husband drives, but for another company.

Otterhalf and moosetek gave the most useful posts and moosetek's is the most current info.

To those who I may offend by this post: I am not trying to be spiteful or mean, but the op asked a specific question for a specific company and it makes it harder for him to get the answer if he has to sift through a bunch of garbage to decipher what is correct and what is incorrect/outdated info.

Moose has it right, it depends on the terminal but generally the rule is 90 miles.

 

I don't work for Swift (anymore)...and my wife says I'm usually irrelevant....so, do I qualify for the rebuke too?

 

I hadn't finished posting yet (accidentally hit post before I was done typing). You were included as one of the two useful posts in this thread. So no, you dodged the bullet (this time )

 

I've been with Swift three years out of the Houston terminal. Run OTR by choice so I've been to most of our terminals. Not once have I ever been challenged leaving bobtail to do what I want. What's been said is correct..no line 5 for Co drivers. If you're bobtailing you must have the duty hours and it counts against your 70.

At the Houston terminal you must live more than 50 miles away to take the truck home otherwise you park it at the terminal. I often take hometime at friends houses around the country and keep the truck and mty trailer at their house.

 

Perhaps the posts referred to as "garbage" may be helpful to the OP. This is a public forum, and any member is allowed to post an answer or comment on the original thread. I'm not really offended by your statement, but I am confused as to why you're attempting to play referee. I was just trying to help the OP. As a former Swift driver who's been to most terminals, I figured I had something to contribute to the conversation. Maybe I was wrong.

 

So you got your initial training at........ENGLAND.....???