Is it legitimate to charge people to back their trailer for them?

There's no exception for private property I don't know where you guys get this bs.
Lawfully speaking as soon as you release the breaks your driving, 1inch or 1mile doesn't matter.
Having said that why the he'll would you log driving a truck your not supposed to be in.

By the way backing in someone's truck is doing nothing but setting yourself and your company up for a massive liability issue.

 

Yeah but it's a great way to show off the superior backing skills one has developed after 3 weeks with a mentor.

 

How much would you charge?

 

If I was going to do it, I wouldn't charge a driver for doing them a favor.
That's just straight up scummy. SMH
But then again doing it for them ain't doing them any favors.
Just saying.

 

As long as you are on private property you can drive any vehicle as long as you want. There is NO rule anywhere that mandates you have a drivers license to drive on private property. If you are in a truck stop offering your services backing you can do it till you drop and not violate any laws.

 

I'll play. You'll have to log a pretrip, which is ODND, because you have to sign and certify that the vehicle you're about to operate is safe and compliant. You'll have to flag the change in vehicles, complete with truck and trailer numbers and company names (first, though, you should probably call the other driver's company for permission to operate their vehicle, permission a company driver or even some lease operators cannot give you). Of course, you'll have to flag and log the time spent backing. You'll have to provide written proof of insurance in duplicate for equipment, cargo, and personnel and accept all liability from shipper/receiver and the other driver, which is to say that you'll agree beforehand in writing to hold them harmless and indemnify and defend them should an accident or collision or injury or property damage occur and result in legal action. As posted a time or two above, private property has nothing to do with it -- you need to stay out of other drivers' trucks. For another answer call Swift at 1-800-800-2200 and ask for Richard Stocking.

 

There are two dynamics at play with this question. The first and to my way of thinking is the most important one is company policy. The other is the legality of doing something like this. Lets not get these two things mixed up. It is perfectly legal to drive another persons truck even on the road provided you have followed all the rules. It is just not going to be something that most company's will allow per their policys.

 

The more important question is why are you still at swift if you get stuck for days and days in a truckstop

 

Yup I am thinking the same thing magoo

 

Back in yhe dark ages (when I still dragged a dry van and generally hated life) I pulled an overnighter from Chicago to Boston. Yes, I was tired. (Yes, it was illegal. But these were the blessed days of paper logs).

I get to Boston, find the customer (after only getting lost ONCE. This was also pre GPS. It was truly a dark age) I find myself face to face with an Aw Hail No dock. Tight quarters, little to no turning room, and when you were done there was just over 9' between the end of your hood and a concrete wall. And did I mention the ENDLESS parade of idiot daycabbers racing through? Yeah.

Fortunately for me, there was another driver from my company there. Dedicated dude who also happened to be a dedicated driver on that customer's account. He also happened to close out his night $50 + dinner richer for backing my truck into the dock for me.

Almost had to knock his silly butt out to get him to accept the money, too. He saved my job that night, and deserved the appreciation and compensation gor his consummate skill.