Home Time Versus Days Out

OS, Congrats!! Just have one question regarding your "10 weeks out and 5 days home time". From what I have read on this forum as well as from company websites you earn 1 day off out of every week you are out. You were home for only 5 days which means you still have another 5 days home time, is this correct? Will you be able to take the remaining 5 days off at a future date (or combine with other future off days), or will you forfeit them?

Serah, while it is true that most companies allow one day home for every week you are on the road, they don't usually like you to stay home for more than five days at a time. So, if you are the type that likes to stay out for 6 - 8 weeks, or more, you will be sacrificing some of your days off by doing that. They make money by having those wheels turning, and each truck is a huge investment that they make in anticipation of moving freight. It is understandable that they don't like having their trucks sitting around doing nothing. I find that I can maximize my income by running the highways for 6 - 8 weeks at a time. I realize that is not for everybody, but you will find that the top producers will often have this habit.

I don't think any of the companies will allow you to accumulate time off so that you can stay home for an excess amount of days. If you wanted to stay home for two weeks and then come back to work you would need to turn in your truck and explain to them that you will be back in two weeks. That would be something you would need to discuss with your DM and then if they approved it you would have to have a different truck issued to you upon your return.

I completely agree with Old School. The top producers(best checks and take home) stay out 6 to 8 weeks at a time.

Our home time at Werner works most the same except for thing. If you are out 8 weeks you get 8 days off. Now I don't know if that is because we are a team truck and do twice the amount of miles as a solo with the same type of truck or what but we have never been turned down when we needed to be home 1 day for every week we were out.

My company only allows you to accrue up to 5 days. Should you stay out longer you dont get extra days. Well at least your not supposed to but I have.

I can confirm what the one driver said about Werner - in my conversations with them, you can bank your time beyond 5 days... has nothing to do with just running teams. now i just dont' know if it would be a hassle to actually get it or not beyond a certain number like 5-6 without pulling some teeth

Thanks for your replies. Looks like I have quite abit of research to do!!!

I got on the greyhound for Prime Salt Lake City April 19 and have had one day at home since. Although it's my choice to stay out I have my girlfriend and my doggie on the truck for a month now. So really everyday is home time for me.