Question About OTR Days Off

Maybe a question that is more appropriate to a specific company but I'm curious if anyone might know the answer.

Reading up on this forum it looks like the norm for days off for OTR drivers is one per week for home time, generally about every three to four weeks (equating to 3-4 days off after 3-4 weeks on the road).

Is it possible to use one of the days off on the road in between loads? Basically in a months time (4 weeks) could I use one of my days off at someplace that might be interesting that I've never been to before if my load takes me that way and then use my remaining three days off at home later? I know the 34 hour reset presents some opportunity but from other posts it looks like many companies frown on that so I'm assuming a steady 8.75 hr per day of driving 7 days a week.

I suppose the 34 hour thing might be different among the companies. My DM at Swift let me take one whenever I needed the time off. You might be able to simply ask for an extra day, but that's up to your DM. I've done that, also.

This is a good reason to stay on good terms with your DM. If you're going to be paranoid or want to second guess them (both of these things have been posted here) you won't have a fun ride in your career.

Personally, my FM has stated he's fine with whatever days I want to take off. But he needs notice. Quite often my next load is already planned even before ive picked up the prior load. So with communication, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Just don't surprise your FM with a sudden request for tomorrow off.

Taking resets or running recaps has mainly to do with 2 things. The freight and its demands and your relationship with your DM. Your DM will learn how you like to run. Would you rather shoot for 8-9 hrs every single day or are you the kind of person that rather run 10-12 hr days for 6 then go comatose for a day so you can do it all over.

Yes.

Thanks for the replies everyone, it really helps having so many willing to help and answer questions. You guys are a huge help to those of us who have no other insight into this profession.

As long as I'm not preplanned, my FM doesn't care. I can shoot him an "I'm tired" or "I need a 34 cause I'm under the weather". I took an unplanned 34 in Ft Lauderdale and met up with Rick from this forum. Normally even though I only had 2hrs on my 70 my FM would have found me something to pick up down the street lol so if I want a 34/I need to ask. If I want home time days added to that its no big deal.

If I told him "I wanna visit the corvette museum in KY sometime...can you get me a load that way" I'm sure he would. At least keep it in the background and one day it would pop up.

The key is.... Be early...don't hit anything...and try not to bother him with stupid crap. There are lots of departments in trucking. So if the reefer isn't working, message the road assist guys not the FM. He's just gonna tell you to message them anyway. He's very busy, and the more you are able to resolve on your own, the more time he has to keep his drivers rolling and make sure our payroll is right :). I know someone who calls my FM every single day and complains about something. I call him maybe once a month. I get 2800-3000 miles a week, the complainer gets 2000. Wonder why?

If you don't bother him, are early and are safe....you pretty much get what you want. Special treatment. Sometimes we get surprise perks. Went to the terminal this week and was given two embroidered jackets. One for one year of safety and the other a year of on time delivery. Pretty cool. Wearing them when going to visit him makes him look good too cause all the other workers can see he has awesome drivers.

So you darn well know he's gonna take care of drivers he can rely on.

Thanks for the great reply Rainy. I'm interested in Prime but it will be a while until my home situation resolves itself and I'm able to consider a driving career.

I read on another thread (that I didn't want to participate in) that Prime is pretty strict about prior employment. I have been self-employed for the last 20 years and will be unable to pursue this for a while given my wife's condition and care requirements. Do you know how strict Prime is in their hiring / prior employment criteria? Aside from the no employer issue I truly would be a good candidate (clean driving record, exceptional references, I present myself well in interviews).

Rainy,

PS - Who assigns the FM's at Prime and do you know if they accept bribes? Your FM sounds great to work with.

Hahah. As far as employment, provide W2 for the last three years and a couple weeks of pay stubs. The USPS wouldn't accept any phone calls so I provided w2s pay stubs and even copies of awards I received over the years.

FMs are assigned according to who your trainer was. If you have a company driver trainer, you will get his FM. If your trainer is a lease op, and you go company I'm not sure how they assign them. So find a company trainer with an awesome FM. Lol

IMHO, most of the FMs are great. They are paid on commission and get bonuses as we do. So keep us rolling and they make more money. Most complaints I hear are really from lazy drivers. It's obvious and easy to tell the difference.