How late for home time are you?

I'm usually day early or right on time. Last time I was day late because issues at receiver, but every other time im right on time. I request usually 3 weeks out and always request for a day earlier than I want/need to be home.

 

Now I will say too I had 3 funerals for cousins all within 25 days, 1st one 2 days back from hometime. Company offered to get me home, but needed the money, I said no.

 

Always.

They have 8 days to get you home when you hit the button. Thing is you can't hit the button under a load. So that usual 15 days it takes could turn into 16-20.

Its almost like they punish you and run regional freight or a free subservice (under the same stock) for a week.

How dare you go home!

 

There's really no reason why companies should get drivers home later then the day they requested unless their load got cancelled or the customer changed the delivery appt.Companies should start routing drivers towards home when the hometime date gets close and keep them close to home.I don't see why they cant get drivers home a day or 2 before hometime rather then the exact date or later.

 

Having worked a few decades on the shipping and receiving end of things, I'd kindly say that your point of view doesn't take into account the reality that trucking companies can't just pull ideal loads out of their ###.

There's PLENTY of REASONS why a company can't get a driver home within 24 hours of their requested home time date. First of all customers have to place orders with shippers. Then shippers need to have product ready on time. Then YOU need to be in place to pick up that load and deliver on time.

I've been a shipper that's had many a trucker delayed due to issues with production, customs clearance delays, etc. etc. STUFF happens.

You might get stuck in an area of the country where YOUR company doesn't have a lot of loads. Maybe they have more drivers waiting for a load than there are loads available. Or you may be in an area where they have more loads available than drivers that can take them. This is a good reason to sometimes listen to your dispatcher and planner. Often when trying to get home I'll run a shorter load AWAY from home in order to grab a long haul all the way back.

Realistically allow about 2-3 days on either side of a requested date to get home. If you have an appointment or critical event to get to, then put in your home time for 2-3 days in advance of that date. If you get home early, then plan on spending more time at home OR ask if they can run you on local deliveries for a couple days to stay busy.

 

I'm a L/O running up and down the I-5 corridor WA/CA. I get home 3 to 4 nights every week on average.

 

My previous employer gave me a 1,000 mile deadhead home with only three days notice on my behalf. Other times I had been in New Jersey, Philly, Vermont and been given the green light to drive home just by asking. I think I had a pretty good thing at my old job. Small family owned business with only a few trucks. To give three weeks notice and still miss the date requested, that's absurd to me. I get that maybe it's industry standard or whatever, but I wouldn't put up with that.

 

If you want to pull a flatbed you should try to get on with Central Oregon. I haven't talked to any of their drivers who have complaints about this company. From my conversations they pay well, have good equipment, get you home when you want to go home and pay you $100 if you sit longer than an hour waiting for your next load. I believe they're located in Redmond.