Do you use company terminals?

Wouldn't you rather take a reset at a truckstop with a bar next to it? Or a casino or movie theater. Or a church?
I'm at a terminal now, probably get in a reset because the truck needs some TLC. I could eat off the food truck, but this one kind of sucks, or I could walk over to the 5 star restaurant in the fancy hotel and spend $30 on a small meal .
But at least I got my laundry done here for free. Even washed the bed sheets, unlike JD

 

I'm with Tucker on that one. Unless you are worried about the security of the things inside the truck, why park at a terminal? If you are - find a better place to reset. Most companies will encourage that the equipment be kept either at a terminal or a truck stop (blends in), rather than in your neighborhood or the vacant lot down from your house. If you are going to reset at a terminal I would certainly inquire about either a company van or using the tractor for off-duty personal conveyance.

 

I avoid terminals whenever I can.
No supplies, no food, no decent showers, and most of all no good coffee.
I would NEVER choose to spend 34 hours at one - and that includes the very nicest of terminals.

 

It depends on the terminal. Our main office doesn't have a fancy drivers lounge, so I go to a truck stop. But our MN terminal has a full kitchen, laundry, showers, a tv room with a 60 inch flatscreen, coffee, vending. And we are allowed to use our trucks to head to the grocery store or for food(up to a certain point). If I am in the area of our MN terminal, I stay there (there is an Outback within walking distance)

My previous company didn't have terminals. We were the delivery division of a trash bag maker, so we had the general lunch room facilities at 2 plants, and the corporate office and plant had a dedicated drivers room with vending machines (one of the vending machines was referred to as the wheel of misfortune)and a small bathroom. None of the places had showers or laundry. And in order to leave 2 of the facilities, you had to be issued a bobtail trip number, and the office that issued them was only open 8 - 5 M-F...so I avoided them as much as I could.

 

Everyone who got that Stern reference raise your hand.

 

If its 50+ miles away ask ur DM if its less, then go for it. Whenever I'm delivering by my terminal i drop the truck and go home for a 34. Sometimes if I'm farther than 50 miles and my DM isn't there I call and ask for a load that can help me get to the terminal ..then go home and have a life for a day.

 

Home terminal I try to stay here. Too far to drive home, five plus hours, but at least my car is here so I am not stuck in the truck in the middle of nowhere As long as we are a reasonable distance they do not say anything regarding ten hour breaks spent here

 

Who's your employer, Lightside? Some terminals are better than others. I lease to Conway Truckload, (now XPO Truckload) and use their terminals all the time. I like it. I have food with me, there's places I can go to lighten my wallet, it's quiet, safe, and I know that. Kind of like the feeling being safe, being comfortable, and I stay in my truck anyway. I bet I've rented a room less than once/year. Plus, I can sit in the lounge or hang outside if I want second hand smoke and tell stories and hear stories with the other drivers to my full satisfaction. Conway Freight has terminals where Truckload drivers can hang out, but I don't really relax all that well at a freight terminal. Dang those guys are noisy, 24/7.

 

@supersnackbar you work for?