Trucking Company Requires Driver To Drop Truck Off At Terminal

This is something I'll need to look into then. Ideally I'd be able to park close to home.

Hey Uncle Rake, that stinks!

Is that a company policy for all their drivers?

It may be everywhere.

I was set to go driving at Marten until I was informed I would be required to park the truck at their Colonial Heights, VA terminal for days off. My drive would have been at least 120 miles from there, depending on which house I was heading to. That was the deal breaker for me.

I've been driving for Marten Transport for a year. They do not allow me to park my truck at home. I must park it at the terminal in the Dallas area, and then drive 350 miles home to Lubbock. This is not something I watched on Youtube, this is my current reality, despite the fact that a manager recently said I am one of the best drivers in the terminal.

Raif

Sure is good to see you around, Raif !!!!! Wow, long time~!

We were 'looking at' Marten's WM/dedicated out of Columbus home daily...that'll leave them down on the list for us, then. Tom's company of 6 years for him and almost 40 in operations, FAB Express, is selling out and we don't care for the buyers.

Even for some of us 'local guys' .. it's a nice option.

Hey Uncle Rake, that stinks!

Is that a company policy for all their drivers?

It may be everywhere.

I was set to go driving at Marten until I was informed I would be required to park the truck at their Colonial Heights, VA terminal for days off. My drive would have been at least 120 miles from there, depending on which house I was heading to. That was the deal breaker for me.

Wish you would've told me THAT sooner, haha!

Be safe always, y'all ~

~ Anne ~

I'm not allowed to park at home either but I'm one of the few who cant here at Millis. I do live on the south side of chicago between chicago and gary indiana so I get it. I have to drive all the way to the North side of Milwaukee to my terminal. But with Smith Transport joining the family I might be able to park at their Remington Indiana warehouse/terminal. The only downside is having to get my services done while on the road as opposed to hometime like I'm doing now.

Michael drives a dedicated account for Marten, working 12 on and 2 off and has parked his truck at home during home time ever since he started in March 2021. He had to take pictures of where it would be parked, etc. and send them to his manager at the time (who was the regional manager). They wanted to make sure it was a secure location. I'm only guessing it may be different for day cab drivers as I've been to the local terminal 2 or 3 times and saw a lot more day cabs there than sleepers.

I imagine that will become more common as time goes on. One of those Ivy League c-suite types will look at a policy like taking trucks home, and just see an opportunity to cut costs in the short term so they can get a promotion. Same thing happened at car dealerships. Employees used to be assigned vehicles from the lot as an employee perk, now only managers get them - and some have even stopped giving them to management.

At CRST, my last co-driver and I lived like 30+ miles apart, and I was allowed to take the truck home.I'd drop him at his house, and go home. I didn't take a trailer, since getting into my buddys yard from the dirt road was not feasable. Incline to gate plus not enough room to turn. Besides him having a bunch of trees scattered all over his 2.25 acre yard lol. My 5th wheel & shed was in the back corner of the yard. And it didn't matter how long we were off, since my co got sick and was off 2 weeks, and I couldn't run solo....

Now when I was with Legends, I took the truck, and or a trailer home, I just parked outside the fence on the dirt road, if I had a trailer (loaded or empty) was no problem.

Besides, with google maps earth view, they can see my address, and the size of buds yard, where all the homes were 2.25 acres+

Regional or dedicated accounts can make a difference. For example one of our members was on a Northeast regional and she lived in VA. She CHOSE to park her car at the terminal and drive back to VA because to take a load out of the region greatly reduced her pay. The first time she went home with the truck she was livid cause the week going home then the week returning to the region paid her half of normal. The way the pay worked out it ruined 2 weeks. But she knew this from the start.

QC also had a policy trucks and trailers had to be parked at a terminal. I had a 90 mile one way commute when I was a company driver. It was inconvient for sure.

Totally depends on the company and the fleet you’re on within that company. Always gotta ask the recruiter and then later your driver manager/dispatcher after being hired.

I’m a local driver with a yard less than 15 minutes from my house and I still park at home sometimes. In fact just last night I was really tired and knew I didn’t need my car so I parked at home.

Thanks for the info. Do you normally just park your personal vehicle at the yard and then take that home?

Totally depends on the company and the fleet you’re on within that company. Always gotta ask the recruiter and then later your driver manager/dispatcher after being hired.

I’m a local driver with a yard less than 15 minutes from my house and I still park at home sometimes. In fact just last night I was really tired and knew I didn’t need my car so I parked at home.