So I left Swift, lasted a whole 4 months with them. The main issue was the home time. Now when I set my hometime date I understand that it's not an exact science. I'm giving 4-5 days allowance. But these guys just flat out ignored my requests multiple times. The last day I worked for them I asked if they had any loads heading to south Alabama from Phoenix AZ after my truck had been broke down for 4 days. They try to pre-plan me to Minersville, PA. I explain that my son's birthday is coming up, they send me a preplan for somewhere in North Carolina. I send yet another message over the qualcomm: 'I am running out of medicine since I am 2 weeks past my home date and I want to be at my son's BD party. Do you have ANY loads heading towards my home?' They say 'take the NC run and we'll work it out from there. This is 800 miles from my house!
I'm not the type to scream and yell, I had my wife by me a bus ticket and checked out my truck with them. THEN they say I can t-call the load in Memphis TN and they will try to get me home from there.
*shakes head*. Is this standard in the trucking industry? I got two small kids, I can't go 30 days in between stretches of seeing them.

 

That's truck driving for you. Hometime sucks :lol:

 

I run for FFE, they say 3 weeks out is a minimum, for each week out you get one day off. you are allowed up to 5 days off at onne time, so after five weeks you earn nothing... out 3 weeks get 3 days off, out 9 weeks like they did to me get 5 days off... I tell them get me home in 3 weeks then and it takes them 2 weeks after that to get me home, so I average 5 weeks out and five days off, if I told them stay out 5 weeks then I will be out 8 or 9 so I says get me home every 3 weeks and I get an average of 5 weeks out everytime, so yeah I think its the norm for these large companies, they say ohh we have no frieght, yeah then why is truck ***** going right by my house then? and truck ***** going that way too and what about truck ***** then the company says ohhh uhhhh and makes up another excuse.... they make money keeping trucks moving, they do not like drivers to go home at all I think.... I say send me home every 3 weeks and its been workin out okay for the most part.......

 

Some companies are better than others valuing home time.

If home time was important -- My limited experience has taught me to check if a home time macro exist. The lack there of is an indicator of the companies feelings on the subject.

Gordon Trucking values home time. They have a macro and the measure how well the DM's fulfill requests. They might miss one or two .. but the company frowns on DM's missing home time requests.

Watkins Shepard does not have a home time macro, dispatches regionally, and in general is not enthusiastic about home time. However, they do not mind you taking your days off and I found that taking a couple of extra days did not incur any wrath.

I understand CRETE feels very strong about providing drivers home time.

 

thats not my experience with millis. I get home every other weekend fri afternoon to Monday morn and spend the weekend with my kids. one time I was 6 hours later than when I planned. couple times I stayed out for three weeks by my choice. I also often get loads that run me through the house with a little time on them. home time with millis is treated as a priority if you are dispatched past your home time you get paid 5 cents for every mile. you can imagine that doesnt happen much

 

Swift pulls that w/my husband all the time; he'll even stay out 4-5 weeks, and they still try to keep him out. He just turns down loads until they give him one closer to home.

 

Us xpress missed my hometime once in yr and half that i worked there and only by one day. marten is also good at home time. :lol:

 

I drive for swift and go home every 2 weeks 1 time to oh and the next to ga. And I have never missed a home time. I think that it has to do with your dispatcher. I am loosing my DM this week he is relocating to another area. So im hoping that I don't lose my hometime, that I have.... My DM has been very good to me, for the company that I work for.... But as I said that could all come to a halt. :cry:

 

Fatman, if you have 4 months exp, you should check into Knight transportation, they are good about getting you home and you will also be paid better.

 

try reverse psychology and tell them you want to stay out. Seems to work for me; actually too well cause for a while there I was sleeping in my own bed more than the truck.