Home Time is #1 Priority

[TwinPack]

Everything else is #2, except I want to run anywhere but the east coast. Prefer every weekend home with an actual weekend, (Friday until Monday AM) off. Every other weekend would be ok, (12-13 out, off until Monday or Tuesday AM) Live in the Milwaukee, WI area. I have 14 months OTR and have not driven in 13 months. Any companies fit the bill? Thanks for your honest opinion(s)

[kilog55]

well you could look local, you may have to take a refresher course since it has been more than 3 months since you were OTR. most weekends are from friday night to sunday night/monday morning usually late sunday night.


you could look into flatbed.

[Trapper]

I take it you didn't find out anything you liked from Gordon, HO Wolding, DeBoer or Roehl? Anything local around that area?

[Sealord]

"Any companies fit the bill?" How 'bout your own. BTW, you may want to stay off the halucinogenics for awhile. BOL

[Uturn2001]

You might try Knight.

No forced dispatch. Home most weekends for at least 36 hours, or stay out longer and take more time off.

Don't know if they hire out of WI or not, but you could talk to PTL also.

[BigWheels]

TwinPack,

The Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel Paper this past Sunday listed 12 OTR companies looking to hire. They are:
- Kreilkamp
- Swift
- Roehl Transport
- Summitt Trucking
- Gainey Transportation
- Schneider
- Meridian/IQ (Regional & Local)
- KLLM
- Ecklund Carriers
- Milan Express (Dedicated Linehaul)
- Transport America
- Us Express

Perhaps some drivers who are familiar with these carriers could fill in some details as far as the hometime is concerned--especially for someone getting back into the industry after being away for 1-year.

BTW, I worked for Roehl Transport (national fleet) and I didn't get home as often as I wanted (even though a Roehl drop lot was behind the flying J in Oak Creek). Perhaps the regional fleet would get you home more--but less miles/per/week.

One thing you may want to do is call each of the above carriers and ask a recruiter flat out: "What do you have available considering my time off the road"(explain your situation) and "Would your company get me home on weekends for a full 48-hours--if not every week then every other week." Some recruiters will of course tell you anything just to get a butt into a seat. However, there are recruiters who will tell you flat out whether they can accomodate your needs/wants or not. So calling the carriers would be a starting point followed by additional information by drivers on this forum.

[terrylamar]

If home time is #1, then you need to find a job where you can work from home.

If home time is #1, then you need to find a job where you can work from home.

Or buy your own truck.

I have the best boss I've ever had in the 14 years of working... me!

[terrylamar]

If home time is #1, then you need to find a job where you can work from home.

Or buy your own truck.

I have the best boss I've ever had in the 14 years of working... [b]me![b]

Ahh, but you are not home all the time, you are out driving your truck. His #1 priority is home time.

[kilog55]

well with swift they would probly 30-90 day train you with a trainer so home time is next to none.

try concrete mixers home daily off most weekends (ocasional saturday pours) and they typically start out at $13/hr

[TwinPack]

kilog55 wrote

you may have to take a refresher course since it has been more than 3 months since you were OTR

I am taking a refresher next week at Fox Valley Technical College. I'm taking vacation to get it done

I come on this board looking for suggestions from the people who have actually, "been there, done that". Recruiters, and even company web sites are not exactly 100% accurate. The reason I ask is one company in particular stands out to me on this board, in that their web site states home "46 out of 52 weekends", their recruiters back up that statement, yet a driver left their employ because he "never saw the house". Who am I supposed to believe? They are not the only company with "contradictions", which is why I am here

terrylamar wrote:

If home time is #1, then you need to find a job where you can work from home.

I come on here looking for information from the horses mouth, not the horses ass. If you can't be informative, keep your juvenile comments to yourself. I'm taking this very seriously, please do the same. Home time is a priority because I have a 24 year marriage, two high school age kids, one son in college, two mortgages, a dog, fish, you get my point. I don't think I would be the only one driving with these kinds of responsibilities. I know there is a company out there that will meet my expectations, if you can help me in my quest, I welcome your suggestions.

Thank you and be safe.

[GTR SILVER]

boyd bros. seems to be a "sleeper" co. .....if you dont' mind flatbedding..........they say home weekly............here is the link..
http://www.driveforboyd.com/opp-cd.html ..........BOL!!!! :wink: 8)

[SwervynMervyn]

www.ggbarnett.com

www.skinnertransfer.com

www.stoughton-trucking.com

These are Wisconsin based companies that say home weekends.

Good Luck

[Rawlco]

The reason I ask is one company in particular stands out to me on this board, in that their web site states home "46 out of 52 weekends", their recruiters back up that statement, yet a driver left their employ because he "never saw the house". Who am I supposed to believe?

Based on the 46 out of 52 weekends line I presume you are talking about TMC. I guess I missed the "never saw the house" post but I'll take your word for it. TMC home time for the line haul division isn't always any more than 34 hours at home. You pick up a load on Friday, and deliver on Monday, generally needing to leave Sunday afternoon from home in order to be rested on Monday morning. Sometimes you will get more time at home, but don't count on it. In the long haul division you get two complete days at home, I usually get home every other Friday and leave on Monday, in order to get all of Monday at home you need to be out three weeks.

[motman68]

well i drive for Swift i run on a northeast dedicated regional i usaully leave out on sunday morning and get home normally by friday afternoon this wekk i got home late on friday night but i dont deliver until late on tuesday but since i've been with them i havent missed a weekend home

[TwinPack]

Rawlco wrote:

Based on the 46 out of 52 weekends line I presume you are talking about TMC

Nope, Transport America

[geeshock]

well with swift they would probly 30-90 day train you with a trainer so home time is next to none.

try concrete mixers home daily off most weekends (ocasional saturday pours) and they typically start out at $13/hr

Not to mention I usualy ended up out for 3 weeks at a time.

[TwinPack]

Right here:

http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/...r=asc&start=15

[Trapper]

Have you looked at Valley Express out Oshkosh? They run some local and regional and say home every weekend. Also Monson Trucking, they have a terminal in Mauston.

[duck]

I would also look at WEL Companies based out of Green Bay.

Their driver's seem to be a happy lot and I can't say I have heard a bad thing about them.