Time Off/lifestyle

Need a new career. No wife, no kids. What I value is chunks of time off. My wish to to drive 8-10-12 weeks straight and then get 8-10-12 days off. No house, no ties, so I want that time off to travel/visit/ride my motorcycle. Is this a realistic hope after I get through my first year? (Traditional 2 weeks off at "regular" jobs just doesn't cut it.)

Bob, I think a company like Roehl Transportation might have some home time packages you'll like:

7-On/7-Off Fleet

Exclusively from Roehl, our 7-On/7-Off Fleet drivers drive seven days and then they are home for seven days at a time. If you choose a 7-On/7-Off Fleet, you’ll have 26 weeks a year off. You must be fully rested prior to dispatch. Space in the 7-On/7-Off Fleets may be limited in some areas of the country.

7/4-7/3 Fleet

Getting more miles is a key feature of our 7/4-7/3 Fleets. When you join a 7/4-7/3 Fleet, you’ll drive seven days, then be home four days, then you’ll drive seven days followed by three days of home time. That’s an average of 120 days off and mileage goals between 95,000 and 105,000 per year. You must be fully rested prior to dispatch, and space in the 7/4–7/3 Fleets may be limited in some areas of the country.

14/7 Fleet

Roehl’s 14/7 Fleets are unique options that combine the mileage goals of a 7/4-7/3 Fleet (between 95,000 and 105,000 per year) with the extended home time of a 7/7 Fleet. You’ll drive fourteen days and then be home seven days. Space in our 14/7 Fleets is available in limited areas, and you must be fully rested prior to dispatch.

I'm not sure you'll find many other companies that will let you take big blocks of time off at once. The only way they can do that is if you're rotating trucks. So when you come in for time off someone else has to take your truck to keep the revenues coming in and the payments made. So normally you'll either get home every night, get home on weekends for 36-48 hours at a time, or stay out for several weeks at a time and get up to about four days off.

I think Roehl is probably your best bet and they hire students straight out of school. I don't know of any other companies will similar home time options. If anyone else knows of any let me know!

Schneider National has a 6 day per month hometime schedule that's unique to just their tanker division. Going with tanker as a rookie driver can be another topic of discussion - some here think it's not advisable, other rookie drivers have been successful jumping right into tankers. According to Schneider, you can choose to take your 6 days as you please, all together, or spaced apart. You will need to have a CDL A prior to hire - yes, they do hire student grads. You'll also need to be in their hire area specifically for tanker.

Another thing to consider with tankers is that you'll earn more than just pulling a dry van , or probably reefer for that matter. Tanks and flatbeds pay higher because of the extra responsibility / work involved.

Roehl national fleet you get 3 days off for every 2 weeks your out and and you can take up to 7 days off at a time

Thanks for the information. However, I wasn't clear on what I'd like to do. See, I don't want to own a home or rent an apartment any more. (Single/no family-it doesn't make sense to spend that much.) I'd like to drive 46 or so weeks a year, and then use the money I save from not having a home to travel when I take a week off, about six times a year. So being out three or four months, with no "home" time, in exchange for a week off is my dream. Is this at all possible or do I have to maintain a place to live?

Thanks for the information. However, I wasn't clear on what I'd like to do. See, I don't want to own a home or rent an apartment any more. (Single/no family-it doesn't make sense to spend that much.) I'd like to drive 46 or so weeks a year, and then use the money I save from not having a home to travel when I take a week off, about six times a year. So being out three or four months, with no "home" time, in exchange for a week off is my dream. Is this at all possible or do I have to maintain a place to live?

The only requirement that I am aware of is that you have a physical address listed on your CDL (cannot be a PO Box). So if you list a family member's address as your permanent address that fulfills the requirement. Nothing says you have to take your home time at your listed home of record when you take home time.

Ernie