How to ask for a personal day off/ not quit while going out of state for a test

This close to the day you need off I'd stay home. If you go back in that truck they will send you to the east coast for 5 weeks and you'll miss it for sure. Trucking isn't going anywhere. How do you expect to have a life working for a company that doesn't like it when you go home for a bit more than your required 34 hours? Heck with that.

 

Where I worked one time a driver called and said his car caught on fire and by the time the fire department got there it had burned to the ground beside the interstate. The next day he showed up for work driving the car. It was so bizarre the terminal manager didn't say anything to him.

 

I'm going to have to remember this one the next time I want a day off. Lol

 

Are you a man or a mouse?

Tell them you are required to be somewhere on a date. If your company cannot accomodate then you know where you stand.

It will be soon enough if your lineman test is successful and you are hired on as one and quit the training company... If you are not successful there and your training company discards you for taking excessive time off.. eh... find another company.

At some point you are going to have to decide. Trucking or Electric Work? You cannot have both.

Your Trainer's ragequit problems should be filed away as a potential conflict in the future with your current company. Generally when I have a truck that needs fixing, it goes into a TA and the bill is presented to the company shop to be paid via comcheck or some such. They have to pay it. They don't like it. But there has been times that TA got to work on the truck.

If you cannot work without lying or making excuses then I cannot help you.

 

Since your new to the industry, I'll give you a heads up. The DM has no power to make decisions. He can only relay messages. You may request a day off for personal reason and most likely if it is not a family emergency or you are too -ill to drive, it would and could be denied. The company is relying on you to show up according to your designated return to duty, even if there is no load, you are under what is called forced dispatch. They want and need you to be on standby waiting to run hard. Now unless this a local driving job, and you are home every day....( some guys run at night locally ) then there is a slim chance you can take that test, correct? So basically lies to a company is considered a direct violation and they can fire you without notice immediately, up to 90 days or more as a company policy. Now there is the question if you do quit, how much will they take out of your last check....( orientation cost - food and lodging and bus trip etc...) All this for a potential job that requires you to pass a test. ( what if you don't?) then its back to square one.....looking for some cash to pay bills.....

The way I see it you the choice to lie to the company, Quit and pursue other interest, Or, Stay committed to working through the training period and getting assigned a solo or team truck, got out on the road for a year or two....then when you would have seen the lifestyle of being a road dog.....you can start the application process at the electric company and when testing comes up you request (dispatch )you need a week off for vacation so you can relax and do it the right way....then give you employer a written two week notice as this info will go on your driving / employment record.

 

The way I see it, you need to take the time to try and get the job you really want, that would offer you a better life. It does come under a personal issue. If they ask you to expand on your reason, decline. A personal reason is just that, personal. It is also very important to you and your family and needs to be taken care of. Really, its not costing them anything except a little bit of time. Remember, personal and important are the words you need to emphasize. You're not lying or being deceitful. I know that its not often that the test/qualification chances come up for being a lineman. This is your opportunity and your as close as you're going to get. You're not ditching a load or leaving a truck to do what you need to do. Personal and important

 

This advice will get this kid royally screwed. Among other things, you never, ever, never give a trucking company 2 weeks notice. Never (unless you want your final check stolen).

The dutiful employee routine gets you nowhere in this business. Do what's in your best interest and to hell with the company's interests. Otherwise, you might as well change your first name to Door and your last name to Mat.

 

I worked for ### 8 years, saw a lot of guys happy to walk out.
And not eligible for rehire on the DAC.

Im not that stupid, l would suggest taking their truck to their yard and have them inspect it and give me a copy of the release form before leaving. Also the relationship a driver has with the company is often better if you stay in the top group of drivers as to being considered the bottom group.

But thats me....amigo!