Home Time And Rookie Driver

Another question I had was is my expectation to be home once every month-6 weeks unrealistic as a rookie driver? I am going into this eyes wide open knowing that in order to get experience you gotta be working. I had thought in my reading that during training one might be gone for up to seven weeks before home time can be had and that was acceptable. Then after that I was unsure if it was feasible to be home once a month or six weeks?

Thanks, Country T

Depending on which comoany you work for you could be gone as much as 8 weeks during training.

Once you go solo most companies offer 1 day off for every week worked. Say you work 3 weeks straight you get 3 days off.

It varies by company and division but you should have no problem getting at least 1 day off every 6 weeks.

Home time every 3 weeks or so is the norm. As you build a solid relationship with your dispatcher , flexibility in home time options will come. An opportunity may arise for an unplanned stop by the house, or you may choose to stay out longer than usual. It'll largely be up to you as long as you're getting it done.

You'll find what works best for you. It may be 3 weeks out and 3 days at home, or 6 weeks out and 6 days at home.

Monthly home time is almost the "regular" schedule. In my rookie year at Swift, I explained to my DM that I needed to be home every other weekend. Wasn't a problem. Well, it was, in a way: I never got any really long runs so that I could be routed back through Memphis every 14 days.

I was talking to a TMC driver about a year ago. He told me he lives in his truck and his parents house is his mailing address. He works non-stop because he lives in his truck.

The cool part was when he told me that when wants to take a break, he'll take home time somewhere he wants to visit. He would rent a car and an air bnb and that was his home time.

Makes me want to kick the kids out today and get to it.

No company will mind you staying out longer. I don't know other companies, but CFI will get you home on the day you request as long as you give them at least 8 days notice. You don't lose the days you earn. I usually stayed out 6 to 8 weeks at a time. I took home time at my home and also on Long Island, NY, to visit family. Good luck.

Do whatever works out for you. If you think it’s best to stay out long then go for it. When I started I worked my way up to longer times. I started with 14 days and 2 at home. Did that a few times then kept staying out longer up to 6 weeks. I didn’t want to get burned out.