Taking a week or two off in trucking?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by hopeful eyes, Dec 12, 2020.

  1. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Actually, when I had my company jobs, we did get vacation time, like w eek paid after a year, 2 weeks after 2 years, 2 weeks was about the most, when I bought my truck, naturally, that all went out the window, to the chagrin of my ex-wife, and to get time off, I had to fake a repair. Trouble with that, the company was a bit leery when a real repair came around. Being an O/O, I said, "don't like it, buy your own trucks". That usually shut them up.
     
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  2. Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

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    Most Trucking Companies will direct deposit a "weeks pay" (whatever their definition of that is), on your 1 year anniversary. You don't need to take the vacation to get the pay. When I started at Swift several years ago, their definition of a "weeks pay" was $100.00 per day for 5 days! Lol
     
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  3. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

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    Schneider bulk used to give you 6 days off a month.
     
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  4. Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

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    In a row?
     
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  5. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

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    If you wanted.
     
  6. Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

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    25 on 6 off. Pretty sweet deal for a family man especially. If it was 4 34's, not so much.
     
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  7. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

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    Better than some 1 day per week.
    Most months don’t have 31 days.
     
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  8. Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

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    7 out of 12 do!
     
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  9. Hammer166

    Hammer166 Crusty Information Officer

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    This is one of the tricks used in recruiting by the bigger companies. "Get a day off for every week out!"

    But as someone mentioned, try to take more than a weekend and you'll normally be expected to clean out your truck. And then comes thr lottery of what kind of shape your next tractor will be in. Screw that noise.
     
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  10. Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

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    Swift would give you a maximum of 4 days in a row even if you stayed out for 10 weeks. The Company I am with now doesn't play that game. I stay out for 10-11 weeks and take 2 weeks off. Park my truck at my home terminal, leave all of my stuff in it. Come back in 12-14 days and roll. 2-4 days off isn't even like time off. You end up sleeping for at least half of it.