What Determines...

When you have the opportunity to go home for a couple of days, what determines if you are able to drive the truck home or leaving it at the company and drive your car home? Thanx

Mark, I've seen some companies that have a policy stating that if you live within fifty miles of the terminal they want you to park at the terminal and take a car home. I don't really understand the reasons behind it, but I'm sure they've got a reason for it.

The main thing that determines this for most people is if they have a place to park the truck. If you live in an average neighborhood it could be pretty tough just to get that monster in and out of there without tearing up something. Sometimes you just have to get creative with where you are going to park it on your home-time. I've seen people make special arrangements with local convenience stores, restaurants, warehouses, etc. that have large enough parking lots so that you could park an eighteen wheeler in the back where it's out of their way while you're at home. You can also park the truck at a local truck stop in your town if you've got one.

There's absolutely no reason that you have to live close to a terminal to have a job in trucking. I live several states away and about one thousand miles away from my companies main terminal. Fortunately I can park my truck at my house so I simply drive my truck home when I'm on home time. You'll notice that most of these trucking companies have what they call a hiring area map on their web sites, that means they are moving freight in and out of those states so therefore it is easy for them to route you home to those states when the time comes.

Centrals policy was that if you lived within 75 miles (or maybe 50) of a terminal you could take the truck home. But like Old School pointed out, if you live in the average neighborhood, maneuvering one of these monsters in a local neighborhood is interesting to say the least. And if you add a 53 footer, add to that the turning of the trailer as well. I live in a very tree lined area, and I got initiated when I brought my truck home. Well, the truck being 13 feet high didn't sink in until I got down some of those streets. Next thing I knew branches were falling down...ooops.

I think it's a rite of passage for new drivers to come home and show off their office on wheels the first time they get home time. Everyone can ooh and ahh over you're truck, and you have a major feeling of accomplishment. But after that, if you live in an area like I did, the hassle of bringing it home just didn't add up. I parked my truck where I thought no one would touch it, and on the 3rd day I got a ticket saying it needed to be moved. My city has a law stating you can't leave a vehicle unattended on the street for 72 hours. Got a couple of panicky calls from my dispatch about that as well. And if you can leave it at a terminal, it's much easier. You know where it is, it's safe (and if something happens at the terminal, it's not you're fault), and just lets you relax when you're at home. One less thing you have to worry about on you're day(s) off.

I was told with Roehl that I would be bringing the truck home under load during my home time. Luckily I'm on 2 acres, so I have plenty of room.

My company if you live within a 125 miles of a terminal you park it there. I luckily live 3 miles away:)

Am I the only one on TT that parks it at a Walmart? Haha!

Am I the only one on TT that parks it at a Walmart? Haha!

Your just "special" Daniel:)