Is A Close Terminal Important?

I'm still looking into all my different options with the different trucking companies and I'm just curious how important is it to pick a company with a terminal close by? I am really looking into Werner Enterprises but they don't have a terminal here in Tennessee. When I would get my 2-3 days of home time I really wouldn't like to drive any more than 3 to 4 hours to get back home. I'm new to trucking so any advice helps but is it a deal breaker if there is no terminal close by? You guys have helped me a lot so far so thanks to the people that take the time to reply.

Not really if they can route you home and they allow the truck to go home with you but if not and you have to drive to and from a Terminal then I would say very important. I worked for Marten Transport and that was the number reason why I quit and went to my current company. When I had my Child and took a week off. I had to take the Truck to our Portland/Wilsonville, OR. yard and then I had to find my way back home. That's over 480 miles from my hometown so as you can see I didn't return. I current Terminal is 3 miles away from my house and its very convenient because as soon as I roll into that yard I'm pretty much home.

Bilbo, it normally makes no difference at all where the company's terminals are located. I drove for 15 years and never had a company terminal or drop yard in the same state I lived in. In fact, I rarely had one within 500 miles of where I lived. As long as a company hires from your area then they know they can get you home when the time comes. Companies hire based upon where their main freight lanes are. As long as they run through your area regularly they'll have no problems getting you home.

When I had my Child and took a week off. I had to take the Truck to our Portland/Wilsonville, OR. yard and then I had to find my way back home. That's over 480 miles from my hometown so as you can see I didn't return

That happened only because he wanted to take a full week off. He could have taken probably four days off and kept his truck but a full week is more than any company is normally going to allow. If you want to do that you have to turn in your truck at the nearest terminal and get assigned a new one when you return. But I wouldn't worry about that kind of thing. That's quite uncommon and you don't want to limit yourself to companies that are located nearby just in case you want to take a week off at some point. You're eliminating a huge percentage of the companies in the nation by doing that.

Now that being said you might get home a little more often if you live near a terminal simply by dumb luck. You might get a few more loads that go near the house which would allow you to stop in for a few hours if you're lucky. But again, I wouldn't worry about that. It's far more important to pick a company based on pay & benefits, home time, equipment, types of freight, and various opportunities in different divisions. If the company that suits you best happens to have a terminal near the house then consider it a bonus. But don't go looking for it specifically.

Thanks for the reply guys. There was an ad in the local newspaper about them and that's why I really looked into it. At first I just overlooked it because there wasn't a terminal in state but if they are hiring in Tennessee then surely they wouldn't make you drive so far. Does anyone know the drop yards for Werner in Tennessee? I'm going to call a recruiter soon but I would like to get my ducks in a row first.

Werner has several drop yards in Tennessee. The main one is in West Memphis Ark. Basically Memphis. There is one in Nashville. Now both of these are drop yards and not terminals. But driver Park their trucks there while on hometime.

Werner has several drop yards in Tennessee. The main one is in West Memphis Ark. Basically Memphis. There is one in Nashville. Now both of these are drop yards and not terminals. But driver Park their trucks there while on hometime.

I'm exactly 3 hours away from Nashville. I don't guess that would be too bad considering you wouldn't come home but a few times a month. Thanks Guy.

Companies normally will let you take the truck home if you live more than 50 miles from any terminal or drop yard. That number can vary, but they understand that nobody wants to drive for a living and then spend 1/3 of their home time commuting back and forth to the terminal.

I'm exactly 3 hours away from Nashville. I don't guess that would be too bad considering you wouldn't come home but a few times a month. Thanks Guy.

Do you have somewhere nearby home that you can park your tractor-trailer during hometime?

Yeah I could almost park it at the old home place. There is a mom and pops gas station down the road a bit and there's always trucks parked there for a few days then they are gone. I assume I would be pulling an empty trailer?

Companies normally will let you take the truck home if you live more than 50 miles from any terminal or drop yard. That number can vary, but they understand that nobody wants to drive for a living and then spend 1/3 of their home time commuting back and forth to the terminal.

That would be so perfect! It will definitely be a question I ask the recruiter. Thanks Brett!