Home time OTR

I never allow someone else to take the tractor.

Why?

Every time someone has used the tractor other than myself, I am confronted with issues that require in some cases big time shop work and towing. Every. Time. That tractor comes back with something broken, abused, out of spec or otherwise hurting.

That's one of the things I check with a given prospective employer. IF the company says you keep the truck regardless of time off earned then great. If they say you have to give it back for slip seating then they are not going to be employers.

I tend to my assigned truck very much. Everything on it down to the last bolt is working properly as far as I can humanely do it or it is fixed until 100% ready for battle in the mountains.

 

Any OTR company will be more than happy to hire you, with your commitment to staying out on the road for months at a time. You can take as much time off as you want when you get home, with the larger companies. However, at least with Swift, if you took more than 2-3 days off you would need to clean out your truck and get reassigned a new truck when you get back.

The key is communication with your dispatcher. There were times I took 4-5 days off and didn't have to clean out my truck. During orientation they stated that a driver that took 6 days off was considered as no longer employed and would have to go through orientation again. Again, communication is the key.

One thing about taking extended days off is you end up with a week with no or low income. If you have saved money this isn't a big deal. Be sure to bank some of every paycheck.

 

NEW QUESTION FROM NEW POSTER: Do mega carriers allow you to NOT take home time, if you would like? I know that’s probably an odd question. Also, can you take a few days off somewhere else that’s not your ”home”? I live in California, could I take home time (not a 34hr reset) in Seattle or Dallas or whatever. I understand companies have different policies but I’m just trying to get a feel for it.

 

Well when I was with Knight I had 0 problem to take few days off in different city. For example I wanted visit Las Vegas, asked dispatcher to find me load when he have a chance, 3 week later I was sleeping in MGM
Same was with Denver and it's gorgeous mountains.
About home time . I was running for 3 montg straight before I saw my home terminal.( But again I had days off at different places)

 

Where I work we have a driver work about 6 months straight. He finally was made to take some time off. He got a load to somewhere in Florida and took a week off at the beach.

 

Companies don't care where you take time off. Time off doesn't have to be the same place as the address on your cdl.

 

Ah man. My first post was answered by CHINATOWN!!! I feel lucky. According to all the other forums I’ve read, you’re the go to.

 

When I was with Swift, home time was requested by Qualcomm by a "Macro" (essentially a form request as a text or email through the Quallcom system). This request required a zip code. You could put in any zip code you want.

I gamed the system. For example, if I had little freight to haul on the west coast and knew that freight was hot in Atlanta, I would put in a home time request for Atlanta. As soon as I got a long haul for Atlanta, I would cancel my home time request.

Most mega OTR companies have similar policies. Use it for your advantage.

 

You need to look at Roehl, Fed Ex, Schneider, or Walmart.

And it will depend on where home is.

 

There are several that will allow you to run weeks, even months on end. And many allow you to take home time anywhere you want. Just so long as the truck is parked in a safe and secure place.

They may require signed documents for each place. But that’s easy to get.