CFI- How Does Their Home Time Banking Policy Work?

Greetings,

I'm trying to figure out how CFI's home time banking policy works but I'm having trouble finding someone who can explain certain specifics.

I understand that CFI allows a driver to bank days of home time based on how many days get used per number of weeks spent out.

For instance if I'm out for 5 weeks, I've got 5 days of home time. I can take 3 off and still have 2 left.. or 4 off and have one remaining, etc. I can then add the remaining day(s) the next time I'm out for 3 weeks and have those extra days off if I choose.

But is there a maximum number of days I can bank? And if so, is there a maximum number of days I can take off at once?

I've gotten conflicting information from different recruiters. One told me I could theoretically be out on the road for 10 weeks and then go home for 10 days. However, the next recruiter said the company's policy is a maximum of 5 weeks out with no more than 5 consecutive days of home time taken on a single home visit. When I asked about the banking policy, they couldn't provide much info. At this point I'm a bit confused about how this would work since my house is in Puerto Rico and getting home isn't as easy as if it were in say Boston or Wichita.

If I'm not mistaken, CFI drivers have access to (or can at least park at) any Heartland Express terminal , so I could theoretically park my truck in Jacksonville, FL and jump on a 2 1/2-3 hour flight to San Juan and be back in under 5 days. If not Jacksonville, then the CFI terminal in Atlanta with a 3 1/2 hour flight.

That's a bit of a crunch either way but doable I suppose. It would be a lot more advantageous for me if I could have more than 5 days since my house is 1000 miles from the nearest place I would be able to park.

Any advice? Also, I have a dog which means I can eliminate at least half of any other employment options in the industry.

Big Scott is on his way to home time. He may get on here to answer your question. If not fairly soon, I will send him a text to come answer it.

As for a dog, many companies now allow them with a cleaning deposit, but may have breed or size restrictions. You just have to ask when you call.

Laura

You earn one day of home time for every 7 days you are out. Let's say you stay out 6 weeks and go home for 4 days. You will have banked 2 days. Unused home time days don't disappear. In most cases they won't care of you need to take an extra day or two. If you get home before the day you put in for you are not "charged" for that day.

In addition as you drive you earn PTO days. You can use them or save them. You can bank up to 21 days of PTO time.

Hope that helps.

Thanks Laura and Big Scott!

I understand that part of how banking days at CFI works.. and its good to know I won't be penalized for a day or two. However, my more specific questions regarding the policy are:

1) How many weeks will the company allow a driver to be out on the road?

2)How many days of home time can I use when I go home?

So let's say I've been out for 8 weeks (assuming the company will let me stay out that long). At the end of that 8 weeks I will have saved 8 days of home time. Can I use all 8 days at once or would I have to bank some of those and use them later?

Also, how often do you earn PTO days?

As far as my dog goes, I have a lot of questions regarding how to care for her while on the road (where does she need to be when I'm at the terminal , when driving, during hot or cold weather, when the truck is being serviced, when loading or unloading, etc) but I'm thinking I'll need to save that for another thread.

You don't ever have to go home. You can take up to 2 weeks. If more than that are needed, check with your fleet manager to make sure you can keep your truck. They are very flexible. I usually stay out 6 to 8 weeks at a time. Depending on when I need to be home will be my deciding factors as to how long I stay out. You can also take home time wherever you want, as long as you have a place to park your truck and trailer. The amount of PTO you get per year changes the longer you're with the company. They break the total down. You earn a fraction of a day per week.

As far as your pet is concerned, there is a $500.00 pet deposit. I don't know if that is refundable. It can be payroll deducted. When at the terminal , pets are not allowed inside the buildings. You can keep them on the truck. You will need to keep the vet records with you. The dog needs to be up to date on all shots. You will have to trip plan with potty breaks for the dog. Many of the truck stops have fenced in areas for the dogs to run. I do not have a pet on the truck, so others can offer more tips and tricks for that.

How this helps.

Yes it does! Thanks!

You're welcome.