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.
Approval for Deadhead Home?
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by EverywhereMan, Oct 15, 2013.
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if your getting layover pay its OK, not then a call might get some pay.
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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!
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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. -
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. -
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.
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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.
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pattyj Thanks this.
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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!
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