When working with truck drivers, there are two things we hear more than anything else:
- How much am I going to get paid?
- How often can I go home?
In this article, we’ll be addressing the latter.
Home time is a huge issue of contention for drivers. Being on the road can be tough on any driver. The hours are long and the job can be stressful. Eventually, you’re going to want to go home and sleep in your own bed — whether that’s weekly, twice per year, or every other weekend.
Every driver has their own preferences. Some drivers want to be home daily and some don't even have a home away from the truck; when they take a break, they stay with friends.
If you aren’t explicit with your driver manager (also called a dispatcher) about how often you want to go home or you don’t choose a carrier that prioritizes your home time, you’ll be stuck on the road for your kids’ birthdays, anniversaries, and doctor's appointments.
It’s up to you to effectively work with your driver manager and communicate how often you want to be home. It's also important to choose a carrier that can offer you the amount of home time you're looking for.
Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) is primarily an over-the-road (OTR) carrier, but we do offer some regional routes. Home time varies between each of these programs.
This article will help you understand how much home time truckers get and how various factors can influence it. Keep reading to learn more about your options.
How Much Home Time Do Truckers Get?
The answer is that it depends on what type of truck driver you are: Local, regional, or OTR. A local driver sticks to local routes, a regional driver sticks to one region, and an OTR driver travels across the country. As such, the home time varies.
For example, you can't very well go home every night if you live in Texas but you're delivering a load to New York. But, if you're going back and forth delivering loads in one area close to your home, you can go home daily.
Let's break it down further.
How Much Home Time Does a Local Driver Get?
Local truck drivers typically go home daily. Sometimes they might be away from home one night per week, but it's not common.
Local drivers may travel back and forth from one city all day, while others may follow a different route each day. It depends largely on the type of product they're hauling.
Going home daily is a major draw of local driving. Drivers often have two days off per week, too. Keep in mind though, that you may have to work long hours.
How Much Home Time Does a Regional Driver Get?
Regional truck drivers take weekly home time. Regional drivers usually spend four or five nights sleeping in their trucks each week.
Regional drivers typically drive in the states surrounding them, keeping it to a 1,000-mile radius or so.
How Much Home Time Does an OTR Driver Get?
OTR drivers typically stay on the road for two or three weeks at a time. For every week they're out on the road, they get 1 to 1.5 days of home time. Some carriers may vary, but this is the norm.
For example, an OTR driver who spends an average of two weeks on the road will get to spend three days at home. Many drivers choose to go home on a weekend if they can. Home time for an OTR driver can depend on several factors, so we'll dig into it further (below).
As an OTR driver, your driver manager will aim to get you home every other weekend.
OTR drivers haul freight across the country. Oftentimes, the longer they're out on the road, the more money they earn. A driver can still be successful in taking home time every few weeks, but, especially in a down market, staying out on the road longer can be more financially rewarding.
5 Factors That Influence OTR Driver Home Time
Home time for OTR truck drivers isn’t black or white. Drivers, on average, can go home for two or three days every two or three weeks, but several factors can influence home time frequency.
1. Driver Type
You may be able to go home more frequently depending on the type of driver you are: a company driver or an independent contractor.
As a company driver, your dispatcher will do their best to ensure you're home every other weekend. An independent contractor, on the other hand, can go home whenever they choose because they aren’t employed by the carrier. However, because drivers typically earn more the longer they're out on the road, many independent contractors stay out for at least two weeks at a time.
Independent contractors have a lot of expenses to think about, like truck payments, insurance, and the cost of fuel. They still have to make a weekly truck payment, even if they're at home. Their home time has to be a lot more strategic than a company driver's. They need to put aside money for home time or understand that they may need to make back payments on the truck when they get back on the road.
2. The Cost of Freight
If you’re in trucking for the money and you don’t care much about home time, great freight opportunities may keep you out on the road longer.
For instance, say you want to take advantage of a great freight opportunity for a load going from Alabama to Washington, but you live in Florida. If you’d planned on being home that weekend, you’d probably cancel your plans and instead take that load to earn a big payout.
Staying on the road longer can put you in better freight lanes with high earning potential, so there are times when you might prioritize your income versus your home time.
The cost of freight can also influence when you go home. If freight rates are down and you haven't gone home in a while, you might take advantage by going home for a few days without worrying about your income.
Similarly, if rates are high, you might stay out longer to get a big payout.
3. Freight Lanes
Your trucking carrier’s customer base can also dictate how often you go home. If you’re from the East Coast but the carrier’s customer base keeps you out west, you may not have the opportunity to go home as often as every other weekend.
Pay attention to hiring areas and ask your recruiter about freight lanes so you can see where your loads will take you. A company may hire drivers from all over the country even if its customer base doesn’t span the country.
If you value regular home time, be mindful of hiring areas and be honest with your recruiter about how often you want to go home.
4. Family Emergencies
It’s important to remember that, even as a driver, your family still comes first. Unforeseen circumstances may send you home to take care of your family.
If you experience a family emergency — even if you’ve just been home — your dispatcher may send you home if you’re not stable enough to drive. You should never risk your safety to deliver a load.
If you experience a family emergency, park in a safe spot and call your driver manager. If you need to get home immediately, they can work with you to ensure your truck is picked up by another driver or parked safely.
The more your driver manager knows the more they can help you.
5. Paid Time Off
Company drivers usually get paid time off as a company-sponsored benefit. You may take a week off here and there for a family vacation or to relax at home. Be sure you communicate the dates with your dispatcher well in advance so they can plan accordingly.
As an independent contractor, you’re free to go on vacations whenever you’d like, but you won’t be making any money in the meantime.
Communicating with Your Driver Manager
As a driver, it’s your job to be honest from day one with both your driver recruiter and your dispatcher. Give them the pieces of the puzzle they need to help you succeed as a driver.
One of the major causes of a driver’s unhappiness can be poor communication — whether they weren’t clear about their expectations from the start or they don’t communicate very well with their driver manager.
The more open you are with your recruiter and your driver manager. the better off you’ll be. As long as you tell your driver recruiter how often you want to go home, they’ll tell you if it’s feasible based on the company’s freight lanes.
Then, let your driver manager know when you want to go home ahead of time, and they’ll work to get you the best loads in the freight lanes that keep you close enough to go home every other weekend.
Failing to be honest means you may not go home nearly as often as you’d like. Before long, you may very well be looking for a new trucking carrier. Your expectations should align with your carrier’s.
Keep in mind that there are times you may be out on the road longer than expected. Your driver manager will do their best, but sometimes unforeseen circumstances out of your driver manager's control can prevent you from getting home on time.
Plan Your Home Time
Now that you know more about home time expectations, what are you going to do next?
You’re going to communicate your home time needs!
You’re going to be honest when you talk with your recruiter and dispatcher about your home time expectations!
Check out these tips for communicating effectively with your driver manager.