Does Living Near A Terminal Allow For More Hometime?
Topic 24561 | Page 1
Living near a terminal doesnt really affect home time some drivers do not see terminals for weeks or months at at time and are home when they want to be.
The biggest advantage will be for parking for your home time.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
A simple fact: the job location for an Over-The-Road driver is on a road. Truck companies make it easy for OTR drivers to not need a "home" location. Nearly all office business - training, HR, etc., can be handled at any terminal.
As Bobcat Bob points out, your best advantage for living near a terminal is guaranteed parking for your truck.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
The only adcantage I see at my company would be if i was a CDL instructor. Our students go OTR fot a week or two then come back to test. Therefore it is feasible a CDL instructor could spend a couple days at home every 2 weeks while teaching pad manuevers and picking up or dropping off students.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
I live 275 miles from what could be called our terminal. But, I’m only a mile from one of our customer locations, where I park my truck.
My hometime is often better than if I lived near the terminal. I.e. I sometimes get to stop at home during the week, in addition to weekends.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Some drivers who live near a terminal and own of personal vehicle will park their POV at said terminal, making it convenient to grab their car when at the terminal either for days off or just for a night.
But for the most part, it is irrelevant and needn't factor much into which company you pull for.
When I worked for a one-terminal company, I was seldom there...now I'm with a company with zillions of terminals and drop yards, and seldom go to any of them...haven't been to a terminal in months.
I live near a terminal with a carrier I am considering becoming a driver for. Does this give me the opportunity to make it home more often? If not, what are the advantages of living near the terminal?
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Exception...
There are Dedicated Accounts such as Walmart, Target, etc., that require living in reasonable proximity to your assigned DC (or service terminal).
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
I don't know if that will get you more home time with whatever company that is. It could possibly and then again it may not. It really depends on what lanes your company runs most often and where your home is.
One advantage to living near a terminal with a shop is that you can have work done to your truck while you sit at home.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Thanks for all the advice and feedback.
I live near a terminal with a carrier I am considering becoming a driver for. Does this give me the opportunity to make it home more often? If not, what are the advantages of living near the terminal?
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
I live 543 miles and three states away from my home terminal. I'm home every weekend, when I want to be. I do train new CDL holders, so when I have a trainee with me, I tend to stay out much longer, but that's my choice to do so.
As others have said, the only advantage to living near a terminal is decent parking for your personal vehicle and for your truck when you take home time... Unless the company you go with requires parking the truck at a terminal. Then, you'd definitely want to live within a reasonable distance.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
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I live near a terminal with a carrier I am considering becoming a driver for. Does this give me the opportunity to make it home more often? If not, what are the advantages of living near the terminal?
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.