Two Weeks Notice Or No?

Put it this way.... If you take the professional, high road, no one can say anything to the contrary.

But I'd you don't, then you run the risk of someone smearing you.

Just my feelings on it. You only have your reputation, and that is built on your actions.

Reputation is everything in my book. Might as well keep a good one ya know? If it were me, again soley just me, I would do the two weeks just because I hate burning bridges and I would much rather leave on good terms in case I ever needed to come back for what ever reason! Hope it all works out for ya!

Put it this way.... If you take the professional, high road, no one can say anything to the contrary.

But I'd you don't, then you run the risk of someone smearing you.

Just my feelings on it. You only have your reputation, and that is built on your actions.

I think you already know the right answer, Paul W.. Don't second guess your instinct. You're a professional driver; so be professional. There's really no reason for a company to screw over a good, professional driver that has done right by them. And good luck in your future endeavors!

Wow, thanks for the advice everyone. Sambo summed up why I was nervous about it. I gave two weeks notice at my last job and they let me go the next day, even though my supervisor fought to keep me on for a couple more weeks. I'll give two weeks notice here if at all possible.

Not leaving yet. Just been struggling to keep up lately and would like to keep my options open and have a plan. I've been having some issues at home and am dealing with them, but finding a local job is my Plan B. I really want to stay with Swift for at least a year, though. They've treated me very well, I really like my dispatcher and the account I'm on, and I want the sense of accomplishment that comes with achieving one of my goals.

I apologized to my dispatcher this week for my lower level of performance lately and let him know I was dealing with stuff at home. I haven't had any service failures and still turned over 2500 miles a week the last couple weeks, but I've been just barely on time lately and it's causing him extra work. He's awesome--just said to let him know if there was anything he could do to help. I might try taking a little more time between loads for a while, or taking one day off during the week and one on the weekend and running recaps instead of taking a 34 each week.

I'll keep y'all posted. Thanks for your help with all my little problems lately lol

I don't know if I was listening to Road Dog or I read it here, but is it possible that you can give a 2 week notice and then be routed near your home, and told you can quit now and go home, only to have a truck abandonment on your DAC? Is that a possibility?

I don't know if I was listening to Road Dog or I read it here, but is it possible that you can give a 2 week notice and then be routed near your home, and told you can quit now and go home, only to have a truck abandonment on your DAC? Is that a possibility?

Your not going to be told anything that is against company policy. Rather than fight the situation, just plan to end up at a terminal , no matter how far the closest one is from your home.

This is a tip for everyone - if you do plan on quitting your job you already know you have to turn the truck in at the proper terminal. But go the extra mile to protect yourself in case there's any sort of confusion about where you turned your truck in or whether or not there was damage to it. Make sure you take pictures of the truck inside and out. Also make sure there are buildings or signs or something in the background of at least a couple of them that verifies the truck is at a terminal. Finally, make sure you get something signed that states the truck was turned in properly at the terminal and make sure any damages are noted or the lack of damages verified.

That will give you proof that you followed the proper procedures and turned the truck in with any damages noted.

Also - when you've given notice, is when you want to start serious planning how to get your PERSONAL STUFF off the truck.

If you've been living onboard OTR , odds are you've accumulated a fair amount of crap over and above the duffle bag you showed up at orientation with.

What you can live without for the next 2 weeks (after giving notice), should go in a box and be shipped home (via UPS store, etc.). Larger items (coffee makers, microwaves, large inverters, etc.), are going to be a little bulky to carry off the premises when you drop your truck off - get rid of them BEFOREHAND, or get used to the idea of giving them away at the terminal. Company is probably not going to be amenable to letting you back onto the property after you've been checked off - so getting your personal items into the motel room, rental car, etc., BEFORE you go to turn the truck in (versus packing up AS you're turning it in, and dragging it with you as you leave) is probably a good idea.

Keep in mind, as others have mentioned - that YOU GIVING a 2 week notice is the professional way to do things (especially if it's in the employee handbook). But their priorities and routing doesn't mean you have to be kept out there for the 2 weeks - so be prepared (mentally) to leave earlier than that (vis a vis - getting your stuff packed out, etc.).

Another thing is - what is your plan on transporting YOURSELF after you've checked out? Even if there's no animosity when you leave - once you turn in your badge and are walked off the property, yer 100% ON YOUR OWN. So get your transportation arrangements in order AHEAD OF TIME.

You going home from there - or onto your next orientation? You already have something set up for your next adventure?

Quitting a trucking job (unless you live where your terminal is) isn't the same as quitting a local office gig. You have to consider your logistics also, for when you walk away with your personal property, getting home, etc.

Best of luck. Keep us posted...

Rick

Very solid advice Rick! That is what sets this Site far above the rest!

Rick laid out important considerations.

I did not give two weeks notice. I took home time and cleaned out my truck. The day before I was scheduled to go back out, I sent a message I had cleaned out the truck and I was ready to turn it in to the company. Now since I was unsure if I would be out a day or a week, I did leave enough on the truck to get by until I was routed to a terminal on their time. They had me pick up a load and I was routed straight to a terminal, about an eight hours drive. It took me ten hours to pick up a loaded trailer at the shipper. Not the best experience for my last run with them. I believe the company was pleased that I just didn't leave it at some truck stop. I would have preferred to give more notice, but I was worried about getting everything off the truck and the new company was renting me a car to get to their terminal. I believe that two weeks is excessive. I do not believe the larger trucking companies can look two weeks out for planning of routes and drivers. If the company only has a few trucks then the owner might need time to line up a new driver.

Just my thoughts.