Just Got My CDl But A Big Question Please

So I am single 52,no family,nothing holding me back. To me "home time" does not really apply. I am wondering if we can take our days off on the road but resting somewhere other than the truck. For example if my last load ended up in some small town USA,can I just take a couple days off right there ? Maybe I get a little hotel room, maybe check out the place a little.I will most likely end up running part time after I pay all my dues in training,and I dont need to make a hell of a lot of money because I already have military retirement pay which will cover my little home spot. I would rather find a way to relax some place rather than fight for home time.

Is this possible, or practical, or am I just dreaming a little ?

Thanks Rick M

Hi! Yep, you can take home time anywhere in the country you want at my company. But there is no "fighting for home time". I say " home on Aug 10th, and that's it. I'm home. They asked which holiday we wanted off, Thanksgiving Christmas or both.

No fighting.

My FM preplan me constantly so I tend to give him a week or two notice. I often get rooms and rent a car to see the sights. ;)

Taking home time somewhere other than home is usually no problem. But "part time" could be tricky. You may not need to make a lot of money, but you need to be productive enough that it's worth the company's investment in a truck for your schedule.

A guy told me today he was thinking of switching companies for more "home time." Then he told me; "if I get home Thursday I go out Monday. If they don't get me home until Friday, they know I'm not going back out until Tuesday." Hmm, so three days off out of seven wasn't enough for this guy. And yes, he wants this every week.

When you talk to recruiters, see what they tell you. Schneider let me take my home time anywhere in the country. AND they have secure lots around the country to leave the truck for a few days. I'm sure others do as well.

I hope this helps.

With my company, each day the truck sits is about $1,000 in lost profits, some of which coming directly out of my dispatchers pocket. That's why you sometimes hear stories about companies being bad about getting people home or being skimpy when they do.

But perhaps a suggestion here, talk to the recruiter about slip seating. It'll limit where you can take home time to terminals, but if the company allows it you should be able to do that as more of a part time thing as it would eliminate the problem of the company needing to keep the truck moving, while allowing you at least some freedom on where you take your time off.

Thank You for those who took the time to reply Rick

First off - THANKS FOR YOU SERVICE. My biggest regret in life was being a dumbazz stoner kid in '82, and not staying in. I could have been retired full-boat, over a decade ago.

As others have mentioned, OTR isn't a "part time job".

So the notion of "doing a drop, then taking a couple of days off", isn't likely to happen. Hometime (such as it is for the homeless trucker), still has to be scheduled in advance.

BUT - the flipside, and the REAL BENEFIT of the hometime thing (especially for the homeless trucker) is that you can take your "days off", pretty much ANYWHERE YOU WANT (within reason, and close to your company's freight lanes).

Want 3 days in VEGAS? Put in a hometime request for Las Vegas (a couple of weeks in advance). While you may not get there, the EXACT DAY you want (typically +/- a day). Gives you a great opportunity to make mini-vacations all over the country (again, within reason and in a places where the company runs).

And I (personally) wouldn't want a slip-seat gig for OTR. I'd want my truck setup the way I like, and not have to deal a different truck when I come off hometime.

Best of luck to you - keep us posted.

Rick