Vias?

you went from NY to NJ via I-95....

In Latin, the word for "road" or "way" is "via." ...

 

went from Harrisburg to newburg via Parsippany, it's basically a stop enroute

 

No it's literal. You go this way to get there. Not another way. There is no hidden or secret meanings. If you failed to use the assigned route then they have cause to fire you and put someone else who will.

 

In the LTL world, a via is a shorthand term for a stop that is not one's home terminal. It's mostly used by linehaul drivers, in my experience.

For example the other day I went to a meet and turn in Franklin, Ky. My meet driver brought me an empty set, and I was dispatched back to Indianapolis via Cincinnati so I could pick up a load there.

 

that's right, get a breakdown, they WILL make you wait longer, maybe not until the next office shift takes over.

get into an accident, you can be cooked as well, as you were off route..

 

What you say can be true, but it is not the definition of a via.

 

Not at all companies. We are allowed to use our judgment to choose better routes based on wrecks, road conditions, construction hassles, etc. Most of us have phone numbers of drivers from other terminals and we try to spread the word when there's a problem. Getting the freight where it's going is encouraged at my company.

@Fishbait - You will notice some companies use certain terms that are unique and guys from other places don't know what it means. While "via" does usually refer to a route (the definition we all know), "a via" -- used as a noun -- has nothing to do with that. @p608 and @Naptown answered your question.