Do I have to live near the terminal?

Out of the ordinary? Absolutely not. It all depends on the company and their policies. Many companies allow you to take the truck home on the drivers home time.

 

Most companies will allow the truck to go home with the driver, they will get you a load close to home often times just so you can get your home time in.....the rest of the time you may never see your "home state" again, til its time for another home time visit.

Hubby leaves and only comes back here when its time for hometime, never been a problem.

 

Well general maintenance is usually done at your companies shop to cut down on cost. typically between 20,000-30,000 (this depends on the companies maintenance program) they will send you a message over the QUALCOMM (if it has one) telling you that you need to have a PM done.
Basically they will give you a load to come to the term with time on it or to relay it. This will allow them to PM the truck.

Break down is break down and they try to get the truck fixed ASAP (even then it can take along time) and have it repaired by an outside vendor or dealership.

 

TruckerJo hit the nail on the head. When I drove for Covenant (Chattanooga) I would bring the truck home on weekends. If I needed a PM, the company would have me get it done at their Columbus,OH shop (Or any of their other terminals with a shop).
And if I had problems on the road (which I did) then breakdown would help to resolve it.

 

No

It makes it convenient to live near a terminal so when your home you can get the PM done. If not you will have to hang around the term all day till they get it done. If it takes a while I usually grab a hotel room.

 

I'm not a driver yet, but what I have found out is, as far as home time is concerned, you do not have to live near one of the companies terminals. Just be sure you choose a company whose freight lanes run through or near your home, and you have a safe and secure place to park the truck. Someone correct me if i'm wrong, but I also believe that you need approval, from some if not all companies, where you are going to park your truck during hometime, in the event you are under a load.