Approval for Deadhead Home?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by EverywhereMan, Oct 15, 2013.

  1. EverywhereMan

    EverywhereMan Medium Load Member

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    I've been sitting in Pembroke, NY since yesterday morning at 11am. I had to take my 10hr break but the rest of the time has been waiting for a load. I live in Toronto, ON which is about 190kms or 100 something miles away. I don't want to be "that" guy who calls and complains to the company. I've never refused a load during my time here, I don't complain about issues and always give the best possible effort I can. I'm wondering whether or not I should call my dispatch and ask to be sent home. My reasoning is that it's better to sit at home getting no miles than sit 2 hours from home making no money. Usually after 6pm or so we hardly get dispatched a new load until the morning. Should I just tough it out and wait for the load or ask to drive the two hours home?

    Also, to make this relevant to you, the driver, what are your guidelines for handling a situation similar to this? Does your company have any sort of policy in place? Do you take matters in to your own hands? I will say that I get home on average about once every two weeks, so I realize some of you that are out 2-3 months might feel a little more urgency.
     
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  3. baha

    baha Road Train Member

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    if your getting layover pay its OK, not then a call might get some pay.
     
  4. EverywhereMan

    EverywhereMan Medium Load Member

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    Our "layover" pay is a whopping $25 per 24 hours. Lol. I can get a lot of 2 for 1 hot dogs at the Pilot for that! :biggrin_25523:
     
  5. Blu_Ogre

    Blu_Ogre Road Train Member

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    Are you more likely to get a load from home or where you are at now?

    Does it make more business sense for you to sit or cross over home?

    I just made the decision Monday to drive the extra 100 miles home. The dispatchers said deadhead from Reno, NV to Stockton/Manteca Calif. Home is Salinas, CA about 100 miles away. As a Lease op I pay for fuel so if I burn extra miles it comes out of my pocket.

    Salinas is still shipping so I just came home and told them to get me a load out Wed morning because my hours back @ midnight was ugly. Dispatch is cool with it because it was a good business decision for both of us. Also I get to sleep in the big bed with my wife so I am a much less grumpy driver now.
     
  6. Balakov100

    Balakov100 Road Train Member

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    If you're a Company Driver...
    It's up to them.
    Some don't like deadheading more than xxx miles for hometime.
    All depends on the company.
     
  7. EverywhereMan

    EverywhereMan Medium Load Member

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    Yeah, I'm a company driver. They're usually very good about getting me home, in fact I spent two days prior to leaving yesterday at home for Thanksgiving. My guess is there would be a lot more freight coming out of the GTA than anywhere around Buffalo, so I'm sure they'll take that into consideration. I'm not disgruntled by any means, I'm just getting a little bored. I was up at 9am and I've watched two movies, vacuummed the truck, did a thorough pre-trip, ate lunch and completed all my outstanding paperwork. Just another day in the life.
     
  8. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    Your dispatcher won't get mad if you ask if you can DH home,but don't be surprised if he says no.Unless you requested hometime doubt you'll be able to.Just have to sit patiently waiting for a load.But it wouldn't hurt if you ask your dispatcher do I have a load yet.Sometimes they either forget or get busy.Think they'll send you a load soon before dispatcher goes home to pick up tomorrow morning.
     
  9. EverywhereMan

    EverywhereMan Medium Load Member

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    Our company is very small with respect to others out there. We have two class B trucks, mine is the one on our company website (proud of that...it's neat), the rest are cargo/cube van fleet. We have maybe 16 total drivers. Our office staff consists of 8 people, 3 of whom do dispatch. It's a family oriented business. Usually when I request to go home, they'll allow it unless they have something lined up in the morning. There is constant communication between everyone and the process is transparent. I finally asked our dispatch to head home since we don't normally get new loads past 6pm anyway. We'll see what she has to say. My guess is I'll be leaving shortly lol
     
    pattyj Thanks this.
  10. Bikerboy

    Bikerboy Light Load Member

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    Only makes sense to head home if under 2 hours from home , sitting for free that close to home is just silly, if they were paying you hourly to sit, you can bet they would pay the two hours home and let you sit free at home!
     
  11. EverywhereMan

    EverywhereMan Medium Load Member

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    That's what I thought too. Lot more freight coming out of Toronto/Mississauga than the Buffalo/Rochester area. Anyway, I just got the green light to head back. See y'all on the flip side.
     
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