Prespective? ...hometime And Receive A Call From Weekend Dispatch

My first sat home, enjoying just being w/ my wife. cooking pancakes for children, going to help w/ jobs that have been neglected while away for 25days. I get a phone call from weekend dispatch asking if I can help them out. I'm new and feel very uncomfortable with what they are asking me to do (swapping trailers and basically baby sitting a load that need to live unload on monday). I asked some questions and ended up saying NO I can't swing it. I'll talk to my regular dispatch person on Monday afternoon about it, but feel bad I wasn't going to "take one for the team" yet my family time is important to me. When i'm out I'll work hard - no doubt about. Is saying no going to come back to bite me?

I'd have said no as well. You deserve more than 1 day after 25 days out. That is time you will never get back to spend with your family

Don't sweat it. They knew you were on home time so don't feel bad about saying no. Chances are they already got someone else to cover that load and relieved they got it covered and completely forgot about you. Your home time is yours. Its something you earned. Weekend dm's are not nearly as important as they make themselves out to be. Lol. As long as you work hard while you are at work then it should not effect you in the least

I completely agree with Guyjax and I'll add this - they're testing you. You're brand new and they always test out new drivers to see what they can get away with. If they can use you to get out of every bind they get in, they will. But you stood your ground and basically said, "Listen, I've done my job and earned my home time with my family and I'm going to enjoy it. When my home time is up I'll be ready to roll."

You did the right thing. The most important thing you did was ask them to respect the fact that you did the dirty work and earned the home time you're enjoying. That's how you do it - especially as a rookie. You want to show them you're an awesome driver but that you expect fair treatment and respect at the same time.

This will not be an issue for you. Enjoy your family time

Yeah, happened to me all the time. I'd be on hometime for a day if that, I'd get a phone call from a Utah area code and it would be Central. They'd ask if I could start my hometime early, and I'd always reject them. Don't worry about it in the least. You did you're job, worked like crazy and you deserve every bit of home time. And like Guy said, weekend dispatch isn't THAT important haha. The ones who work during the week make all the "real" decisions. And while you're at it, I'll throw this in there. Make sure you get a load that keeps you driving during the weekend, you'll sit once all weekend at a truck stop without a load and you'll make sure you don't ever do that again. If you have a load that delivers on Friday, make sure you have a load that keeps you driving that entire weekend.