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If you're a considering a career behind the wheel, one of the first questions you may have is, "How often are truck drivers home?”
Below, we'll explore the frequency in which truckers get home and the various factors that influence this aspect of their jobs.
How often are truck drivers home?
The frequency that truck drivers get home varies depending on several factors. Generally, over-the-road (OTR) truck drivers spend weeks on the road before returning home. On the other hand, local and regional drivers might be home daily or weekly.
What impacts how often truck drivers get home?
1. The type of driving job you have.
Having a variety of job options to pick from is one of the main benefits of becoming a truck driver.
Some of the common types of truck drivers, and their respective home time, include:
2. The company you work for.
If you work for a company that only offers OTR driving jobs, you will not get home as often as you would if you worked for a company that only hires local drivers.
The size of the company you choose can also influence your home time options. Companies like Schneider have a huge variety of driving style options that each offer a different home time.
3. The experience you have.
Having truck driving experience can open the door to more home time opportunities. This is because some driving jobs may require previous driving experience. This is seen most often in intermodal jobs or dedicated jobs. These driving styles often provide consistent and often frequent home time.
Plus, how much experience you have can determine how much paid time off (PTO) you receive. When you are applying for jobs at different trucking companies, make sure to check out the benefits package so you know how much paid time off you will be receiving.
4. If you drive team or solo.
Since team drivers often deliver freight from one side of the country to the other, they get home less often than solo drivers do. If you choose a team driving job, you can expect to be on the road for at least a week at a time, though it is often more.
On the other hand, as a solo driver, you’ll be able to pick from the full range of local, regional and OTR jobs.
5. The area you live in.
The driving jobs available to you also depend on where you live. Living near a major transportation hub, for example, can offer more opportunities with frequent home time than if you live in a more remote area.
Do truck drivers get days off?
Yes, truck drivers do get days off. However, the frequency and duration of these breaks can vary based on many factors:
1. Type of driving job.
Drivers working in local or regional roles may have weekends or specific days off each week, providing them with a regular break from work.
OTR truck drivers, while spending longer stretches on the road, also receive days off. This could mean having several consecutive days off after a two-week period on the road, for example.
2. Federal regulations.
All truck drivers must follow federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, which determine how many hours they can drive in a given period. One of these regulations is the 60/70 limit, which states that truck drivers cannot continue driving after they’ve reached 60 hours of on-duty time in a seven-day.
To reset their 60/70-hour clock, drivers must spend 34 consecutive hours off duty. Often, drivers’ days off will be centered around resetting their hours this way.
3. Amount of paid time off.
Some trucking companies provide drivers with PTO, which they can use to take days off. The amount of PTO drivers receive often increases with their experience and tenure at a company.
