KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Deciding to leave a carrier is never easy. Whatever your reasoning — pay, home time, or simply not feeling valued and respected — the choice to walk away can be as emotional as it is financial and logistical.
Your relationship with your carrier is just that — a relationship — and once you’ve made the choice to end things, it’s only natural that you might crave a clean break. But even after you’ve accepted a position with another trucking company, it’s not as simple as heading to orientation and leaving the past in your rearview mirror.
Whether you’ve already secured your next position or are just starting to think about a change, it’s important to understand the value of leaving a truck driving job on good terms.
Not only does it leave a positive impression on those around you, but it can also directly impact your chances of getting hired or rehired in the future. At Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), we can (and do!) rehire drivers that left on good terms and meet our criteria.
Quitting on bad terms — or worse, abandoning your truck or a load — is a surefire way to ensure you get a bad work verification on your Drive-A-Check (DAC) report and lose your chance of working with your top-choice trucking carrier.
If it’s time to leave your current carrier, this article will teach you everything you need to know about quitting on good terms, including turning in your truck, getting your finances in order, and walking away with no bridges burned. Let’s get started!
Time and money are two of your most valuable resources as a truck driver. If you don’t have your finances in order, it’s probably not time to put in your notice just yet.
Here are some basic financial dos and don’ts as you prepare to quit your trucking job:
You should always give two weeks’ notice. Some drivers will even give three weeks’ notice if they’re especially close with their dispatcher.
It’s common courtesy to give notice, but it will also help ensure you get a good review from your employer when you’re applying to other jobs in the future.
Here are some best practices for giving your notice as a truck driver:
Ultimately, giving an appropriate notice will make for a smoother transition from one job to the next — which will help get you back on the road and earning money as soon as possible.
If you’re in good standing, the day you give your notice to your dispatcher is unlikely to be your last day with that carrier. (Though, as discussed above, it can happen.) You will choose the date of your last day when you give your notice.
In general, most drivers choose to have their last day on a Friday so they can start new driver orientation on Monday. While you can certainly decide to do otherwise, this is the most common approach.
On your last day, ask your dispatcher to route you back to the terminal, headquarters, or authorized drop-off spot. This will allow you to drop off your truck and head straight to your new driver orientation.
Okay, new driver orientation is so close, you can practically taste it — but you don’t want to be hauling a fridge, microwave, television, and weeks of clothing to your orientation. It’s a lot of baggage (literally) to lug around!
That’s why part of your strategic plan when you quit should include home time, so you can offload your nonessential gear.
During your home time before new driver orientation, pack the basics and leave the rest. A few weeks’ clothes, your sheets, and your iPad or computer should be fine for the duration.
Ideally, you’ll be routed home fairly quickly after orientation, so you can pick up the rest of your stuff then.
Before you drop your truck off, take some time to clean it out. Here’s a quick checklist:
If your leased truck is extremely dirty, you could be fined. Be considerate and take care of your truck — remember, someone will be coming into that truck behind you to clean and detail it. Be responsible and don’t leave them with a mess.
If you’ve been leasing your truck, take care of any final maintenance work. Carriers will spend thousands of dollars to get your truck back in top shape for its next driver.
If your truck needs repairs, you’ll need to cover the costs. Your carrier will pull from your escrow and maintenance accounts for this. If it requires extensive repairs that haven’t already been handled, your reserve from your escrow and maintenance accounts may not cover it.
In that case, you’ll have to spend money out-of-pocket — so don’t forget to factor these costs in as you consider your finances before finalizing your decision to leave.
If you drop off your truck in an unauthorized location, like on the side of the road or in a parking lot, it’s considered truck abandonment. We can’t stress this enough: do not abandon your truck and do not abandon any loads.
Abandoned trucks costs carriers thousands of dollars to collect, and it will land you in hot water. Abandoning your truck with a load is considered even more severe.
If you abandon your truck as a lease operator, you may be fined or have your last check withheld. A truck abandonment will also go on your DAC report, so it could cost you opportunities at future carriers when they look at your work verification.
You will need to return your truck to the exact location specified by either your trucking carrier or the leasing company. Anywhere else is considered abandonment.
Park your truck in a spot where you can see the trucking company’s logo or building and the truck number. Take a picture for your records and send it to your dispatcher, along with a note describing when and where you dropped off your truck. This proves that you didn’t abandon your truck and leaves no ambiguity about where it is.
Leaving a carrier is a big move — financially, professionally, and emotionally. But with the right strategy, you can make a smooth exit that sets you up for success with your next job. From getting your finances in order and giving proper notice to planning your last day, cleaning out your truck, and turning it in the right way, every step matters.
When you take the time to leave on good terms, you protect your reputation, preserve future opportunities, and keep your DAC report clean. That’s not just good practice — it’s smart trucking.
So, if you’re gearing up for a change, keep these best practices in mind. A little planning now can pay off big down the road — and help you start your next chapter with confidence, clarity, and no loose ends in your rearview mirror.
If you live in one of our hiring/contracting areas and are considering switching trucking carriers, ATS is proud to have a driver-centric culture that puts you first. You’ll be treated with respect and given the tools you need to succeed and feel supported.
Still not sure if you’re ready to make a change? Read our article on 4 key things to consider before switching trucking companies. It’s full of helpful tips for organizing your thoughts and priorities as you weigh your options and make the best decision for you.