I drive for JB Hunt. Been with them for almost 2 years now. Never been late and I rarely complain to them even though I sometimes feel like I should do it more.

Anyway, I've been out 28 days now. I bought a house last month and was originally due to sign closing papers on the house today. When I requested today off, I was told they had too many drivers taking off that day and I'd need to move it back to Tuesday. I said ok, called my mortgage company and had them move the closing back to Tuesday at noon (tomorrow). I sent in a message reminding them I need to be home tomorrow at noon 7 days ago, 5 days ago, 2 days ago, and this morning.

I'm currently in Mt. Sterling, Illinois, 400 miles from where I need to be to sign closing papers in Dayton, OH tomorrow. That's 7 hours. It's currently 1400. So I have 22 hours to get to Dayton by noon. I was unloaded at this receiver at 0700 this morning and have been waiting on a load back to Ohio since then. They just preplanned me to pick up in Iowa at 2300 tonight (3 hours in the wrong direction) and take it 2 hours east of Dayton. I told them this would be tight and I could only do it if I could pick the load up before 2300. They pulled that preplan.

So here I sit, still waiting.

At what point do I just tell them I'm going to deadhead back to Dayton? How will they react? This is the biggest decision (buying a home) I've ever had to make in my life and they can't get me home when given a month notice? I'm getting sick of this.

 

Wait until you have just enough time to get home in time. WITH time to shower and get your stuff together, etc. If they cancelled that load they offered, it shows they are trying. Most would say, yea just go you can load before 2300... but really theyd have no idea and be lying through their teeth.

If you like your job give them some time, they may come around and eventually dead head you. You'll still have a job and it'll be on them

LN

 

I'd personally throw the qualcom out the window and speak to somebody one on one over the phone. You needing to be home is not an option. It is required of you to be home.
For something like this, I'd be damned if I'd sit around staring at a qualcom with anxiety waiting for a good message to come through.

 

Same here. They've had more than enough notice to get you home. If they can't get you home, then I'd go home anyway, empty the truck and then take it to whatever yard they want (after your hometime). Then, find a company to drive for that DOES actually care if you have a life or not.

 

I would go find a job at another company that doesn't expect you to stay out for 28 days.

 

You need to set the precedent for yourself and not give them any slack.Dispatch are like vampires,once they know they can push you around and you wont put your foot down,there will always be that "one more load",that they need you to run before you go home.Been out a month,and still cant get home on time,I would Vamoose!

 

If your dispatcher can't get you home, then I would start up the ladder. I would also do it by phone. Sometimes talking to an actual person can make a difference. A qualcomm is different than having a conversation one on one. You may offer to pay for the fuel if you can take the truck home.

 

Ha, I learned while I was with swift real quick that the phone is more powerful then the qualcomm . If my DM didn't give me a satisfactory answer, I just talked to someone else. Especially waiting for a load, I would QC and call every 30 minutes .

 

OMG GMAN are you kidding me! THEY HAVE HAD 28 DAYS TO GET HIM HOME! They obviously dont give a dam about their employees. This guy's been a loyal employee for 2 yrs and willing to stay out for weeks at a time! I would tell them they can take their truck and their job and shove it up their azz!

 

Its risky to just bail out like that...

A driver could very easily end up with an abandonment on his or her record
if things got out of sorts.

Best to put in a notice and ease out gracefully and then

connect with some one better than JB