Yep been holding back a large turd since I left Cincinnati. My last home time was 5 days so maybe that's why they made me park it at a terminal and had to get someone to drive 4 hours to come pick me up and 4 hours back. Didn't know of that rule. So I'll try for just 3 days or something and just figure when they get me a load to the area, I'll drop it then head over to a truck stop. I always wanted to get the most out of my home times and use up as many days as I could. My terminal I'm dispatched out of is Jurupa Valley, but that's not where I live. Does that make a difference? That I don't live in that area? Or is that terminal anal about leaving the truck anywhere across the map in general? And what happens if you can't drop the trailer at your last load delivery? Do they let you keep the trailer attached to the truck at the truck stop you're parked at for the few days you're off? If you just don't say anything and do it anyways, you think you'll be chewed out when you get back to the truck?
Yes, 5 days is a bit much for a company driver to leave their truck at home. As far as IA to see the family, all that you need to do is put in a home request for that zip code and you will be routed there. We have a customer in that area that we pick up at a load, dog food. You can park up there at the Flying J on I-80 for a 34 without any problem. I seriously doubt that the DM would say anything. It does not matter what terminal you are out of. I live in Ohio, my terminal is MN and most of my home time is either El Paso or Phoenix. When I am in Ohio, I will get mt and my trailer always goes home with me, even if taking about 5-7 days off and not a word is said. Now Phoenix can be anal about having a trailer with me, but normally I just ignore them. Get a pplan for about 2 days later and then the trailer is attached to me and they leave me alone. There are ways to work the system. You just need to learn them.
Yes. Always best to stay one step ahead of the planners. And 3 days shouldn't be a problem at a truck stop, with or without a trailer. Just close the curtains so it looks like someone is home. No one inventories which trucks are there, after all.
Too bad that my DM has me figured out. Can not stay one step ahead of him, and yes, he is also my planner. He knows that as soon as I get a dispatch out of the home in Ohio, he just waits for the MAC 8 to come in for 12-13 days later with a zip code for the SW so now he has just gotten to the point, load out of home, just start to send me that way. Anything going North or the NW or NE he just knows that I am declining.
my home terminl is jurupa valley too. had stopped and spent the night t the pilot in hesperia(i-15/hwy 395) which was my fuelstop. had a bonehead from trailer security in pheonix call me at 2300 asking me to read a message on qc to prove i didnt go home. i use my moms address for for my residence and her place is about 20 miles north on hwy 395 lol. my dl lets me have 4 days max before he makes me lose the truck. so i dont go any further than 4.
Inver grove heights terminal (Minnesota) is pretty good. Gary is a good guy for their terminal manager. Easy to talk to, and will definitely scratch your back if you scratch his.
