I’m from California, I put in my two week notice while in Colorado my DM got me a load back to my home terminal and when my teammate and I asked for another load he said “ Angel quit? “ I was like bruh I put in my two week never once said quitting.. won’t say what company but was a mega carrier
Great advice. The trucking world is different, they don’t want a driver out on the road who has announced his plans to quit. Bring the truck back to the yard, then go in and quit.
Had good relations with my driver manager and let me go when I put my 2 week notice with them. As of right now drivers are plentiful so yeah they can drop u like a stone without a care for you.
Yes.. back in the old days.. it wasn't like it is now.. I even was warned not to take the truck to a drop lot.. but return the equipment back to HQ.. And he was very helpful in that regard.. my next job was in the same town as them, so it worked out perfect.. The last job I had.. I didn't trust them.. so when I had my 2 days off.. my truck was being serviced, and they dispatched me on a trip that was out of my region.. and I had no desire to run back east.. So I went to the yard and emptied it out.. no notice until afterwards.. gone in 60 seconds baby!! lol
I never give a notice when quitting. They don't give notice when they fire you. When I quit my last company i had them route me to the closest terminal to my house. Used their employee discount to rent me a car and I cleaned out the truck and went home. I called them and told them I quit sitting from my couch in my own home. Told them where their truck was at and the keys are in it. I took pictures of everything and made sure I got a photo of the truck in their company lot jic they pulled some bs. Never give notice in an industry where they can leave you stranded thousands of miles from home.
I have quit a few companies, fortunately I never had a problem with it. One of the companies even called me years later wanting to know if I wanted to come back.
no no and heck no. you give your 2 minutes notice, not your 2wk notice. go to the yard, clean out your truck, and THEN tell em its not working out. they go bankrupt without giving you notice. give em the same respect.
I worked for a couple companies that wouldn't accept a 2 week notice and they were not particularly a large company and was before computers. You quit you quit period. Likewise they would fire you at a truckstop and drive you home .
I always say never quit broke make sure you got enough savings to cover the bills and your flight home until you get another job. Also if you’re a rookie make sure you at least have 6 months or 12 months experience before quitting your company before being able to open other new doors.
Family emergency, after a fuel stop with a full tank. Clean truck out, bring to terminal. Be professional. Don’t volunteer any information. Hand them their keys and tablet. Try to bring it back on Friday afternoon if possible. Leave and don’t look back. Do not trust them.
I refused a load that would have put me in the middle of a hurricane once while working at Calhoun Plastics and Chemical's of Calhoun Ga. Was fired on the spot and had my earned vacation and safety bonus stolen from me. Had I driven into the hurricane and wrecked the truck I would have been fired for being an idiot, trucking is a joke.
Yeah that’s for sure. I refused one wants because I knew it was going into a big snowstorm and they sent the truck down there anyways and he was stranded for three days.
I put in my 2 weeks notice when my sons mom was sick. My fleet manager was great. Gave me a load home to clean out my truck. And loads to get me back to Missouri.
I took 6 weeks to ride my bike to Alaska. The company thought it was BS until I sent them a selfie at the welcome sign in company hoodie.. didn't skip a beat upon my return.
I agree with you. I’m knocking on the door of being 70’years young. I’ve been around the mountain several times in none trucking jobs and trucking jobs . I worked most of my life as a union worker , heavy duty equipment diesel mechanic and OTR truck driver , shop steward, and contract negotiator, I’ve seen a lot . Now with onboard computer systems with satellite communications with the truck. The company can disable the truck at anytime. Formulate a plan to get home then tell them. If you are not in a union bargaining unit as a truck driver you are on your own. You as a worker union or none union to give 2 weeks notice of leaving. And if you look at the fine print on an employment application the company can fire you at anytime without reason so why give them 2 weeks. 2 weeks notice is a common courtesy in leaving on good terms. If the company is a bunch of A-holes generally if you submit your 2 weeks notice they will let you go on the spot; I’ll bet on it. I was given 4 hours notice, twice in my life and fired on Friday the 13th🤪😂😂😂. Get your ass home, even if you need to come up with an excuse like your wife or child is sick , a parent is in the hospital. Whatever it takes. Then there’s the issue of the company firing you out on the road at a moments notice and you’re 1,000 miles away from home. As a truck mechanic for a major trucking company at the shop I worked in I had to clean out several tractors of the drivers belongings, put everything on a pallet so the company could ship it back to them. So that’s some of my stories of working. Thank the Lord I’m retired now😃😃😃👍. And what’s worse for a diesel mechanic when changing jobs we need to move and transport our tool box rollaways that’s a bitch and a pain in the ass. And I forgot when leaving serve the company notice that you want a copy of your personal file. When writing the notice give them 7 business days to give it to you. Your personal file is actually your property like your medical files . In doing this ; this locks your file and they cannot put any derogatory statements in it , but they might try. I’ve done it. But I will say I’m not an attorney and I’m not dispensing legal advice. Always contact an attorney on matters like this. So if down the road if you want to file some type of complaint with your state workmsns labor board or federal government agency you already have your copy of your personal file in hand . Plus it gives you the opportunity to see what’s in your file right away. If you need to file legal complaints there are lead lines by which to file. So happy trucking everyone of you gear jammers out there on the super slab.
My instincts say dont quit a job before Christmas but i am not a trucker. One time i put in 3 week notice, trained a new guy the whole time, he quit the following Tuesday after i left
when I worked for miller truck lines in tulsa, ok. I got a local job in tulsa, ok, I asked them that I am putting in my quitting notice, they took me off a load and told me to turn in the truck the same day that I sent them my quitting notice. That was over 1 year ago, today I enjoy being home everyday and will never go back to doing OTR, fuck OTR.
Man I was just thinking about this last week. I was going to clear the truck out during my Xmas break, so everything I have fits in my backpack & duffel bag. Cause I had this small feeling of what if they don't want to be as professional as I'm trying to be. Last thing I want to be is that guy at a truck stop with more than I can carry. Great advice!
I quit my job last week on the spot for disrespect from management, and they were completely honest with me and paid me in full. They realized that their manager was a moron and that they lost a good driver.
Before i was a trucker, i worked as a welder. I NEVER have seen some the immoral practices they pull on truckers. It would be cheaper to let the driver quit and drive route the truck back to the yard instead of paying someone to fly out and retrieve it. Also playing with someone's paycheck is a good way to get messed up. Yet these trucking companies still play these game's. When i quite, i already had my truck at the terminal and cleaned out. Never ever let them know you are quitting. They WILL do what they can to screw you over. Trucking is a f#cked up industry.
I would never give a 2 weeks notice when my travel home is in their control. Unfortunately they can (and will) do as they please at that moment. I have emptied my truck out before then got home, asked where they want their truck, then flew home with a backpack for $180. There are tons of ways to get home. Just set it up right 4:16
that's why u never put in your two weeks for truck companies... just tell them you're driving the truck near where you live, clean out the truck and drive home. never give them the upper hand. I made sure I had enough money to leave them w/o any headaches
Get a new trucking job and then leave. Don't tell them nothing EVER. Selfishly think of you and YOUR family. Your loyalty is to them only and not a company.
Look I don't care what anyone says there no loyalty in this business There so many ways these companies will try to screw you There no legal law that prevents them from stranding you on the road
I just left my company after a week and made sure I was at a terminal. Was hoping to be back home first but didn't want to get stranded somewhere farther away.
You are 100 percent right give your notice when you get to your shop the company doesn't care about you u are just a number nothing else an we are all replaceable so be smart about it an tack a lot of pictures an make sure you have them sing for your keys an fuel card an sign for the condition of your truck reamber cover your own ass
I put in 2 week notice with werner 15 years ago. They got mad and put a few things on my dac that wasn't true. Luckily it didn't mess up my job transfer
I'll request for home time and once at home unload the truck then when back in the truck I'll give them my two weeks notice. alot of time they will just send you back to the yard and have you quit before the two weeks and if they disable the truck and send someone to get it then thats awesome you are already home.
Retired trucker here, Giving a notice didn't work for me. They always have to come out on top. Gave 2 weeks one time and Aholes let me work only 1 week. Then let me go. After that experience, I never gave a notice. Here is what you do to quit on company. Accumulate like 2 weeks vacation, then take the vacation, clean out the truck. Make sure you really have the truck clean and in great shape. Take the truck to the yard of the company and deliver the last load you where dispatched under etc. I stayed with a company for the last 14 years of my career. DONT TRUST A TRUCKING COMPANY.
Right they can’t say anything bad about you but…they’re allowed to say good things about you. there’s a difference between yes he worked here from this year to this year as to yes he was one of our best drivers. Just throwing that out there
I just checked to make sure, they are allowed to disclose your work performance. So if you’re good worker they’re more that allowed. Just nothing false or misleading, they have to be careful. I know for a fact my past employers gave me really good employment reviews. I’m good with my dispatcher if I ever left I would ask him to be a reference and I could almost guarantee he would say yes.. But I don’t fault any driver for not giving 2 weeks. There’s definitely more then enough good reasons out here not to. But I would in my situation for sure
@ Yeah it all depends on your situation. At my current employer I would, but I have a really good working relationship with them. I don’t know I remembered in CA it’s harsher for an employer to talk bad about you, but like I said I could be wrong. I HATE CA politicians, but the employment laws in CA are pretty good.
My last company did pay for my flight to SC from Chicago for my new job, but only because I actually worked a 6 week notice. When I put in my 2 week notice the owner said he was leaving the country for a month on the week I would be turning the truck in and wanted to be there whenever I turned the truck in. He asked if I could possibly wait until he returned? I checked with the new company I was going to work with, and they said that was fine because they prefer the same courtesy. I was told that normally when a driver leaves, then they have to find their own way home. Iron Way Transportation in Oak Brook, Illinois. Good company to work for, but if you leave, then you're SOL as far as getting home.
When schneider put out their new pay package, which paid them more and me less, I put in my 2 week notice and asked if I could use my vacation time to finish off my two weeks. No problem, they still tell me about new jobs in my area 2-3 times a week trying to get me back 😂
I will never give any trucking company a 2 weeks notice. I will tell them that I am quitting when I get home or take their truck back to their own yard and take lots of pictures and video.
i would never do 2 week notice not even 1 day notice; “i quit here’s your keys” i quit prime with no notice, best feeling in the world, by the time i quit it was too late for them to do something and their truck was parked in their terminal
This is my situation last week first time in 22 years. I gave a notice because I really liked these dispatchers. They were great to me. My buddy called me and asked if I would come and help out his company so of course I said yes so I gave my notice. I told these guys I said corporates not gonna let me stay for two weeks so I’ll prepare to leave tomorrow. Next morning they had my route ready for the next day the following day and through next week. I was super surprised. Last Friday came and I let him know I’m going to part-ways it was the first time I ever felt bad for leaving a company. Those guys were so great to me. Good luck all truckers and stay safe Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.
I quit one company they were calling me almost 2 weeks offering brand new truck TVs in the truck all that maybe some drivers that means something to them doesn’t me watch TV at home.
Before you put a notice in be sure you’ve got enough money to get yourself home, assuming they’ll shut the truck off. If they do then you’re getting home either way and I would just clear my stuff out, leave the keys in the cup holder and lock the truck. I had a friend do that. They shut off his truck at a stop in Blair county Pa. Fortunately for him I was just ending my vacation in Raystown not too far away and was able to swing by and pick him up.
The trucking industry is so cutthroat that the last trucking company I've worked at let one of their own mechanics go the moment he gave his 2 weeks notice. No b.s.!
Unfortunately I have to agree with the comments abouts not giving notice. Their are some companies that won't F u over as long as u treated them well (i worked for 1), but not many.
I never did give my 2 weeks notice 20 years ago when I got out of OTR and went to drive tankers locally, I parked and cleaned out the the truck and left the keys in the office at a local yard not far from home and gave them a call to say I quit and no questions asked.
I parked and was going to bring the truck to them the next morning because i was out of hours and i left the truck where i park for my 34 hr by the house and they towed it less than a hour after parking. All my stuff was still in it then They then tried to get me or abandonment. I didnt even tell them i was going to quit. I put in for my vacation and the other company called and asked for my info and they went nutts.
I take my lead from G-718. If push comes to shove. I'll quit. Just ask where to drop the truck. Then take pics, for proof of delivery. I keep money in savings. I'd be fine either way. But at this job, My D.m. is clear months ahead of time on when I'll quit. I refuse to train the new guy. But, I'll work till my last day. Mutual respect. We leave on good terms. But, no matter where you work. Have that nest egg.
4:42 I got done just like that after I got a force Dispatch, I was work from 2 am to 1 pm and totally mess with my sleep schedule and I was doing them a favor because the driver had an emergency... I quit on the spot!
I put in a 2 week notice when I was at the home terminal and the manager said “you can leave today if you want “. Only give notice when you are at home and you don’t end up stranded.
21 years with my company. Seen the people in my yards office come and go. There is no professional courtesy in a large company like mine. When I retire, I'll let them know when I'm at the yard just in case they say "Turn in your truck now."
Take your next home time break. Then unload your truck. After you have completed these task don't tell the company you have guit just inform the company of your two week notice.
Put in the two weeks and documented it. Don’t give them a reason to put anything on your dac report. Also smaller companies love those type of actions. They know you will give them time to looks for another driver.
It might work with the smaller companies but with mega carriers they already have your replacement waiting on your truck. They have no problem routing you to a terminal where a driver needs a truck no matter how far from home you are. The turnover rate is so high they don't bother to know your name.
День назад+4
Well that was dumb…😂Next time put in your 2 week notice from home….And then just stay home😂 you’ll learn …🤓
Secodly never give a two week notice. When they fire you do you get a two week notice. They will strand you if they know you quit. Or the one i luv. No direct to terminal. You will do 3 t9 4 runs before they bring you in.
I have only put in a 2 week notice 2 or 3 times in 22 years. I wait till I'm close to my house and then my house and just quit. I had a company shut my fuel card off because I told them i was quitting, luckily I had just filled both tanks on my truck and I had enough fuel to make it to the house because they also tried to leave me in Houston TX from Thursday to Monday while they "looked" for a load. I turned the truck towards Ohio and started driving. I was on paper logs so I could do what I wanted on the way home. I made it home Friday. I told them I was at my house, they sent someone to pick my truck up Saturday and that was the last I heard from them. DON'T EVER TURN IN A 2 WEEK'S NOTICE. FILL THE TRUCK UP, TELL THE COMPANY YOU HAVE A FAMILY EMERGENCY AT HOME. TURN THE TRUCK TOWARDS THE HOUSE AND HAMMER DOWN.
I mean I’ve done it when I worked for big carriers in the past and never had a problem. Now I did this to PAM w/ a load I was on that dropped off at a yard w/ the truck attached to it w/ only a days notice. They tried messaging me on the Qualcomm 110 when it was new, and then I kept getting phone calls. After receiving a paycheck of $116 for over 2000 miles in a full week I said **** this, now when I got back into trucking I had to bite the bullet w/ pay much worse than that until I did my time. Today after getting 7 years in if I were to lose my driving job for the retail company and had to try another trucking company and gives me any kind of BS, the truck is going straight back to the terminal, emptying it out, inspecting everything w/ the phone corder, and I’m gone. But w/ the job I have, I think I am done trucking after this, too much BS it’s no longer worth it.
That's why I don't give notice to any company, ever! They don't give you notice when you get fired. Some don't give notice when they tell you they're closing down and sometimes they don't give you notice when they tell you they're moving and relocating someplace else. My notice comes down to two words. "I'm done!"
Take all your stuff out the truck prior, make sure you have enough money to take a flight home just in case they do shady things,bgive 1 week notice, film and record truck safely parked at company terminal to assure they can't hit u with truck abandonment.....gotta cover your ass on all ends
Don’t ever give a trucking company a two week notice. They would definitely not give you a two week notice before firing you. Remember, they have millions of dollars so if you quit the same day, they will recover just fine by that next orientation day. If you decide to quit, wait until you get home to empty out that truck and then let them know you quit if you can’t get a plane ticket or a bus ticket back home after dropping their truck back off at their terminal. But if you are able to drive the truck back to the terminal and get yourself back home then do it that way so you won’t have abandonment on your record.
I put my two weeks in thinking this mindset. I had no prior issues with this company which was my start into trucking. I don’t regret them. After I put two weeks notice in. They routed me for a pick up and go to their nearest terminal. Just one day. I had to park it clean out the truck. 8 hours from my home. I managed to make it happen. The company told me since I’m moving on they have drivers that want to be there and need a truck. Lesson for me next. I’m putting two weeks in from home. In my situation they’ll most likely send a recovery driver to come get it.
DO NOT put a notice in, you are not in an office job. Companies have ZERO loyalty anymore and would cut your throat if they thought they could get by with it. Anyone that gives a notice these days is only asking for trouble.
I put my two weeks notice one time they let me go 6 days later with no way to get home , I recommend to get your things out of the truck first and get your self ready before mentioning anything to the company
I drove for Heartland Express twice and gave them a 2 weeks notice both times when I quit. I told them that I appreciated the opportunities to work with them, but that I wasn’t happy with the job. They were very understanding, and both times they allowed me to finish my 2 weeks and leave on good terms.
ill do you one better. A company in Missouri reported the truck Stolen!!! The trooper was nice and new it was BS and followed me to the truckstop watched me clean the truck out while my daughter drove 3 hours to come get me.
Yes ,I put in my 2 weeks notice and after that,the truck broke down.I they say they where going to pay me.And once I left the city of North Carolina,I did not get my week and a half pay.They still owe me 3200.00 and now they don't want to answer my call or text message..
I have given my notice several times. Each time my truck was cleaned out and i was at home. They always gave me a load and worked me to the terminal they wanted the truck at and bought me a plain ticket home.
I've always put in my two week notice out of respect and not wanting to burn any bridges. I've only done so, however, with the mindset that they will let me go immediately. I have run my own business for 15 years (just sold it though), and anyone who had not given notice and asked to come back wasn't given a second thought. There are people that I didn't trust to keep around for two weeks, and there are others I was completely fine with. It's a variable situation, but I will always give notice, but strategically done in preparation for them letting me go immediately.
I agree with you 💯 don't put in your notice. (1) Go home for your time off, (2) Off load your personal things, (3) Apply with who you want to drive for, (4) Return to duty and drive until you get the call that you're hired, (5) Take the truck and trailer to the company yard, and then (6) Head on over to the new company. The only thing that's important is that the company get their equipment back in the same condition as when it was issued to you. OTR trucking isn't the same as a regular 9 to 5, home everyday career.
I worked for a mega carrier and did the right thing 2 week notice and was pulled into the terminal after I finished a route ready to finish my last week then was trying to PC to Walmart and told I couldn't leave because I was disqualified. I was over 1300 miles from home, I had to clean out my truck and all they were going to do was a bus ride home which meant only one carry on and one checked bag. It was going to be over 24 hrs on a bus ride, I had to shell out for a 3hr flight instead. Either way I lost a lot of cooking, bedding, fridge/freezer and TV/gaming console. DON'T DO IT BRO!
In the trucking industry, a truck driver should never put in a 2 week notice. Every company I quit, I made sure me quitting worked out in my favor. If a driver puts in a 2 week notice with a trucking company, that driver is risking being stranded on the road by the trucking company.
Might be ok for a local job where your working home daily and company only has 2 or 3 trucks and needs runs covered. But really when you reapply for a job they don’t care about this they want to use drivers to make money. Accidents and tickets more important to them. I would get a load home for home time clean out the truck and ask dispatch to get me a load right back to company yard from that point. Tell them on the way or if they ask why the load to yard then tell them. That is fine way to get it done. A suitcase full of stuff to travel home with. That’s just how I would go about it
I was fired because "company needs to make changes" not because I was a bad driver. That same company callede a few months later and asked if i wanted to come back. F no i told him. I'll never give a 2 week notice. I quit the day I'm leaving.
Have you put in your 2 weeks??? What happened? See you in New Mexico on the 13th & 14th at sky city travel center
They send you home! Period! They do not care about your two week notice. Two week notice doesn’t matter to them.
I’m from California, I put in my two week notice while in Colorado my DM got me a load back to my home terminal and when my teammate and I asked for another load he said “ Angel quit? “ I was like bruh I put in my two week never once said quitting.. won’t say what company but was a mega carrier
Great advice. The trucking world is different, they don’t want a driver out on the road who has announced his plans to quit. Bring the truck back to the yard, then go in and quit.
Had good relations with my driver manager and let me go when I put my 2 week notice with them. As of right now drivers are plentiful so yeah they can drop u like a stone without a care for you.
Yes.. back in the old days.. it wasn't like it is now.. I even was warned not to take the truck to a drop lot.. but return the equipment back to HQ.. And he was very helpful in that regard.. my next job was in the same town as them, so it worked out perfect.. The last job I had.. I didn't trust them.. so when I had my 2 days off.. my truck was being serviced, and they dispatched me on a trip that was out of my region.. and I had no desire to run back east.. So I went to the yard and emptied it out.. no notice until afterwards.. gone in 60 seconds baby!! lol
I never give a notice when quitting. They don't give notice when they fire you. When I quit my last company i had them route me to the closest terminal to my house. Used their employee discount to rent me a car and I cleaned out the truck and went home. I called them and told them I quit sitting from my couch in my own home. Told them where their truck was at and the keys are in it. I took pictures of everything and made sure I got a photo of the truck in their company lot jic they pulled some bs. Never give notice in an industry where they can leave you stranded thousands of miles from home.
Agreed
I have quit a few companies, fortunately I never had a problem with it. One of the companies even called me years later wanting to know if I wanted to come back.
Don't give notice .companies say we can be replaced..lol guess what, buddy, so can they ..plenty of companies now a days ..
Thats about right brother....😂
With over 30 years of trucking experience here, I see no wrong in how you've handled it. 👍🏼
no no and heck no. you give your 2 minutes notice, not your 2wk notice. go to the yard, clean out your truck, and THEN tell em its not working out. they go bankrupt without giving you notice. give em the same respect.
When you let them know ahead of time thats when they start playing with your checks 😂😂😂
I’m a veterans Drive 28 years otr I would never put in a two week notice, I will put my notice in when I’m at home or on the yard
Good advice
I worked for a couple companies that wouldn't accept a 2 week notice and they were not particularly a large company and was before computers. You quit you quit period. Likewise they would fire you at a truckstop and drive you home .
I always say never quit broke make sure you got enough savings to cover the bills and your flight home until you get another job. Also if you’re a rookie make sure you at least have 6 months or 12 months experience before quitting your company before being able to open other new doors.
Family emergency, after a fuel stop with a full tank. Clean truck out, bring to terminal. Be professional. Don’t volunteer any information. Hand them their keys and tablet. Try to bring it back on Friday afternoon if possible. Leave and don’t look back. Do not trust them.
I refused a load that would have put me in the middle of a hurricane once while working at Calhoun Plastics and Chemical's of Calhoun Ga. Was fired on the spot and had my earned vacation and safety bonus stolen from me. Had I driven into the hurricane and wrecked the truck I would have been fired for being an idiot, trucking is a joke.
Yeah that’s for sure. I refused one wants because I knew it was going into a big snowstorm and they sent the truck down there anyways and he was stranded for three days.
If you place your 2 week notice OTR, THEY WILL LET U GO NOW.
lock in that new job first
I put in my 2 weeks notice when my sons mom was sick. My fleet manager was great. Gave me a load home to clean out my truck. And loads to get me back to Missouri.
I told my company I was gonna quit trucking altogether, so they let me have 3 weeks off instead in order to keep me. I'm still trucking.
Wow!!!
Shit that real we have the power frfr
I took 6 weeks to ride my bike to Alaska. The company thought it was BS until I sent them a selfie at the welcome sign in company hoodie.. didn't skip a beat upon my return.
I would never quit while you're on the road, because you can't trust any of these trucking companies!!!
I agree with you. I’m knocking on the door of being 70’years young. I’ve been around the mountain several times in none trucking jobs and trucking jobs . I worked most of my life as a union worker , heavy duty equipment diesel mechanic and OTR truck driver , shop steward, and contract negotiator, I’ve seen a lot . Now with onboard computer systems with satellite communications with the truck. The company can disable the truck at anytime. Formulate a plan to get home then tell them. If you are not in a union bargaining unit as a truck driver you are on your own. You as a worker union or none union to give 2 weeks notice of leaving. And if you look at the fine print on an employment application the company can fire you at anytime without reason so why give them 2 weeks. 2 weeks notice is a common courtesy in leaving on good terms. If the company is a bunch of A-holes generally if you submit your 2 weeks notice they will let you go on the spot; I’ll bet on it. I was given 4 hours notice, twice in my life and fired on Friday the 13th🤪😂😂😂. Get your ass home, even if you need to come up with an excuse like your wife or child is sick , a parent is in the hospital. Whatever it takes. Then there’s the issue of the company firing you out on the road at a moments notice and you’re 1,000 miles away from home. As a truck mechanic for a major trucking company at the shop I worked in I had to clean out several tractors of the drivers belongings, put everything on a pallet so the company could ship it back to them. So that’s some of my stories of working. Thank the Lord I’m retired now😃😃😃👍. And what’s worse for a diesel mechanic when changing jobs we need to move and transport our tool box rollaways that’s a bitch and a pain in the ass. And I forgot when leaving serve the company notice that you want a copy of your personal file. When writing the notice give them 7 business days to give it to you. Your personal file is actually your property like your medical files . In doing this ; this locks your file and they cannot put any derogatory statements in it , but they might try. I’ve done it. But I will say I’m not an attorney and I’m not dispensing legal advice. Always contact an attorney on matters like this. So if down the road if you want to file some type of complaint with your state workmsns labor board or federal government agency you already have your copy of your personal file in hand . Plus it gives you the opportunity to see what’s in your file right away. If you need to file legal complaints there are lead lines by which to file. So happy trucking everyone of you gear jammers out there on the super slab.
My instincts say dont quit a job before Christmas but i am not a trucker. One time i put in 3 week notice, trained a new guy the whole time, he quit the following Tuesday after i left
Wow!!!
when I worked for miller truck lines in tulsa, ok. I got a local job in tulsa, ok, I asked them that I am putting in my quitting notice, they took me off a load and told me to turn in the truck the same day that I sent them my quitting notice. That was over 1 year ago, today I enjoy being home everyday and will never go back to doing OTR, fuck OTR.
Never tell a company you're quitting until you have another job lined up. Common sense 😜
Tell them you need to go home, clean the truck out at the terminal, and quit , i did at knight transportation and went to Landstar
That's good advice
Man I was just thinking about this last week. I was going to clear the truck out during my Xmas break, so everything I have fits in my backpack & duffel bag. Cause I had this small feeling of what if they don't want to be as professional as I'm trying to be. Last thing I want to be is that guy at a truck stop with more than I can carry. Great advice!
In our line of work NO NOTICE because a trucking will do the same if it's not working out with them, CYA don't get stranded.
I quit my job last week on the spot for disrespect from management, and they were completely honest with me and paid me in full. They realized that their manager was a moron and that they lost a good driver.
Where is the WEBSITE where you can RATE a company!
Before i was a trucker, i worked as a welder. I NEVER have seen some the immoral practices they pull on truckers. It would be cheaper to let the driver quit and drive route the truck back to the yard instead of paying someone to fly out and retrieve it. Also playing with someone's paycheck is a good way to get messed up. Yet these trucking companies still play these game's. When i quite, i already had my truck at the terminal and cleaned out. Never ever let them know you are quitting. They WILL do what they can to screw you over. Trucking is a f#cked up industry.
I would never give a 2 weeks notice when my travel home is in their control. Unfortunately they can (and will) do as they please at that moment. I have emptied my truck out before then got home, asked where they want their truck, then flew home with a backpack for $180. There are tons of ways to get home. Just set it up right 4:16
that's why u never put in your two weeks for truck companies... just tell them you're driving the truck near where you live, clean out the truck and drive home. never give them the upper hand. I made sure I had enough money to leave them w/o any headaches
Always quit on home time
Get a new trucking job and then leave. Don't tell them nothing EVER. Selfishly think of you and YOUR family. Your loyalty is to them only and not a company.
🏆🥇
Look I don't care what anyone says there no loyalty in this business
There so many ways these companies will try to screw you
There no legal law that prevents them from stranding you on the road
I just left my company after a week and made sure I was at a terminal. Was hoping to be back home first but didn't want to get stranded somewhere farther away.
NEVER LEAVE TELL YOU HAVE ANOTHER JOB
You are 100 percent right give your notice when you get to your shop the company doesn't care about you u are just a number nothing else an we are all replaceable so be smart about it an tack a lot of pictures an make sure you have them sing for your keys an fuel card an sign for the condition of your truck reamber cover your own ass
Too close to Christmas , you won't get home!
I retired they made it almost impossible to retire
The company keeper charging me for health insurance making me not eligible for Medicare 21 years no accidents
I put in 2 week notice with werner 15 years ago. They got mad and put a few things on my dac that wasn't true. Luckily it didn't mess up my job transfer
Collect your paycheck then take time offso you have all the money they owe u . Forget giving a notice. After home time just take their truck back
Don't tell them your leaving just be full of fuel an go home
Only quit when you are at a company facility nearest your home,or at the house proper.
They don’t give you any notice when they fire you…
Walk in set keys on the counter walk out.
I'll request for home time and once at home unload the truck then when back in the truck I'll give them my two weeks notice. alot of time they will just send you back to the yard and have you quit before the two weeks and if they disable the truck and send someone to get it then thats awesome you are already home.
Just quit, go to a yard and tell them that you quitting after you clean out your truck.
Yup
Retired trucker here, Giving a notice didn't work for me. They always have to come out on top. Gave 2 weeks one time and Aholes let me work only 1 week. Then let me go. After that experience, I never gave a notice. Here is what you do to quit on company. Accumulate like 2 weeks vacation, then take the vacation, clean out the truck. Make sure you really have the truck clean and in great shape. Take the truck to the yard of the company and deliver the last load you where dispatched under etc. I stayed with a company for the last 14 years of my career. DONT TRUST A TRUCKING COMPANY.
2 weeks don’t matter. It’s illegal for other companies to trash talk about you to other employers
Right they can’t say anything bad about you but…they’re allowed to say good things about you. there’s a difference between yes he worked here from this year to this year as to yes he was one of our best drivers. Just throwing that out there
@ Last I checked the only thing they can say is “yes he worked here” and for how long.
I just checked to make sure, they are allowed to disclose your work performance. So if you’re good worker they’re more that allowed. Just nothing false or misleading, they have to be careful. I know for a fact my past employers gave me really good employment reviews. I’m good with my dispatcher if I ever left I would ask him to be a reference and I could almost guarantee he would say yes.. But I don’t fault any driver for not giving 2 weeks. There’s definitely more then enough good reasons out here not to. But I would in my situation for sure
@ Yeah it all depends on your situation. At my current employer I would, but I have a really good working relationship with them. I don’t know I remembered in CA it’s harsher for an employer to talk bad about you, but like I said I could be wrong. I HATE CA politicians, but the employment laws in CA are pretty good.
Never 2 weeks in trucking. Hand the keys in then go home. No trucking company will hold that agent you
Ya anytime i have ever left i always drop it and get my stuff out before i inform them
My last company did pay for my flight to SC from Chicago for my new job, but only because I actually worked a 6 week notice. When I put in my 2 week notice the owner said he was leaving the country for a month on the week I would be turning the truck in and wanted to be there whenever I turned the truck in. He asked if I could possibly wait until he returned? I checked with the new company I was going to work with, and they said that was fine because they prefer the same courtesy. I was told that normally when a driver leaves, then they have to find their own way home. Iron Way Transportation in Oak Brook, Illinois. Good company to work for, but if you leave, then you're SOL as far as getting home.
Wow! That is So sad what they did to the Driver. .Hoped he made it's home safe ans And Sound.....
Drop all your stuff off at home and while at home call them on home time and put in 2 weeks
Clean out your truck. Turn it in.
When I quit my first trucking job,I drove the truck back to the terminal, handed my keys in and said I quit.Walked out and that was it.
When schneider put out their new pay package, which paid them more and me less, I put in my 2 week notice and asked if I could use my vacation time to finish off my two weeks. No problem, they still tell me about new jobs in my area 2-3 times a week trying to get me back 😂
I will never give any trucking company a 2 weeks notice. I will tell them that I am quitting when I get home or take their truck back to their own yard and take lots of pictures and video.
i would never do 2 week notice not even 1 day notice; “i quit here’s your keys”
i quit prime with no notice, best feeling in the world, by the time i quit it was too late for them to do something and their truck was parked in their terminal
This is my situation last week first time in 22 years. I gave a notice because I really liked these dispatchers. They were great to me. My buddy called me and asked if I would come and help out his company so of course I said yes so I gave my notice. I told these guys I said corporates not gonna let me stay for two weeks so I’ll prepare to leave tomorrow. Next morning they had my route ready for the next day the following day and through next week. I was super surprised. Last Friday came and I let him know I’m going to part-ways it was the first time I ever felt bad for leaving a company. Those guys were so great to me. Good luck all truckers and stay safe Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.
What company was that?
@ I worked SCP Pool corp.
I always put in a notice, but I’m in good terms with my company and they know me well.
I was in TX and lived in GA but wasn't worth trying to get a load back home. No two weeks because ain't no telling where they would have put me.
That’s great advice and I will consider it for the future.
I quit one company they were calling me almost 2 weeks offering brand new truck TVs in the truck all that maybe some drivers that means something to them doesn’t me watch TV at home.
Before you put a notice in be sure you’ve got enough money to get yourself home, assuming they’ll shut the truck off. If they do then you’re getting home either way and I would just clear my stuff out, leave the keys in the cup holder and lock the truck. I had a friend do that. They shut off his truck at a stop in Blair county Pa. Fortunately for him I was just ending my vacation in Raystown not too far away and was able to swing by and pick him up.
The trucking industry is so cutthroat that the last trucking company I've worked at let one of their own mechanics go the moment he gave his 2 weeks notice.
No b.s.!
Unfortunately I have to agree with the comments abouts not giving notice. Their are some companies that won't F u over as long as u treated them well (i worked for 1), but not many.
I never did give my 2 weeks notice 20 years ago when I got out of OTR and went to drive tankers locally, I parked and cleaned out the the truck and left the keys in the office at a local yard not far from home and gave them a call to say I quit and no questions asked.
I parked and was going to bring the truck to them the next morning because i was out of hours and i left the truck where i park for my 34 hr by the house and they towed it less than a hour after parking. All my stuff was still in it then They then tried to get me or abandonment. I didnt even tell them i was going to quit. I put in for my vacation and the other company called and asked for my info and they went nutts.
I take my lead from G-718.
If push comes to shove.
I'll quit.
Just ask where to drop the truck.
Then take pics, for proof of delivery.
I keep money in savings.
I'd be fine either way.
But at this job, My D.m. is clear months ahead of time on when I'll quit.
I refuse to train the new guy.
But, I'll work till my last day.
Mutual respect.
We leave on good terms.
But, no matter where you work.
Have that nest egg.
4:42 I got done just like that after I got a force Dispatch, I was work from 2 am to 1 pm and totally mess with my sleep schedule and I was doing them a favor because the driver had an emergency... I quit on the spot!
I put in a 2 week notice when I was at the home terminal and the manager said “you can leave today if you want “. Only give notice when you are at home and you don’t end up stranded.
This avoids the you were under a load keeping your last pay check BS. Come back a day before your hometime ends.to hand them the key.
These companies better be careful! They didn’t see what someone did to that CEO when he was pushed!
21 years with my company. Seen the people in my yards office come and go. There is no professional courtesy in a large company like mine. When I retire, I'll let them know when I'm at the yard just in case they say "Turn in your truck now."
Take your next home time break. Then unload your truck. After you have completed these task don't tell the company you have guit just inform the company of your two week notice.
Don't forget free buffet if get 75 gallons
Yup!!!
Can't tell anyone else what to do but I'd be tempted to start selling parts off the truck to get the money for my ride home and get my last check.
Put in the two weeks and documented it. Don’t give them a reason to put anything on your dac report. Also smaller companies love those type of actions. They know you will give them time to looks for another driver.
It might work with the smaller companies but with mega carriers they already have your replacement waiting on your truck. They have no problem routing you to a terminal where a driver needs a truck no matter how far from home you are. The turnover rate is so high they don't bother to know your name.
Well that was dumb…😂Next time put in your 2 week notice from home….And then just stay home😂 you’ll learn …🤓
Yup!!!
I finished my load took my truck to the terminal. Put in my notice was let go and then collected unemployment while I looked for another job.😂
Secodly never give a two week notice. When they fire you do you get a two week notice. They will strand you if they know you quit. Or the one i luv. No direct to terminal. You will do 3 t9 4 runs before they bring you in.
I have only put in a 2 week notice 2 or 3 times in 22 years. I wait till I'm close to my house and then my house and just quit. I had a company shut my fuel card off because I told them i was quitting, luckily I had just filled both tanks on my truck and I had enough fuel to make it to the house because they also tried to leave me in Houston TX from Thursday to Monday while they "looked" for a load. I turned the truck towards Ohio and started driving. I was on paper logs so I could do what I wanted on the way home. I made it home Friday. I told them I was at my house, they sent someone to pick my truck up Saturday and that was the last I heard from them. DON'T EVER TURN IN A 2 WEEK'S NOTICE. FILL THE TRUCK UP, TELL THE COMPANY YOU HAVE A FAMILY EMERGENCY AT HOME. TURN THE TRUCK TOWARDS THE HOUSE AND HAMMER DOWN.
They don’t give a shit ! Never give two weeks in trucking !
I mean I’ve done it when I worked for big carriers in the past and never had a problem. Now I did this to PAM w/ a load I was on that dropped off at a yard w/ the truck attached to it w/ only a days notice. They tried messaging me on the Qualcomm 110 when it was new, and then I kept getting phone calls. After receiving a paycheck of $116 for over 2000 miles in a full week I said **** this, now when I got back into trucking I had to bite the bullet w/ pay much worse than that until I did my time.
Today after getting 7 years in if I were to lose my driving job for the retail company and had to try another trucking company and gives me any kind of BS, the truck is going straight back to the terminal, emptying it out, inspecting everything w/ the phone corder, and I’m gone. But w/ the job I have, I think I am done trucking after this, too much BS it’s no longer worth it.
That's why I don't give notice to any company, ever! They don't give you notice when you get fired. Some don't give notice when they tell you they're closing down and sometimes they don't give you notice when they tell you they're moving and relocating someplace else. My notice comes down to two words. "I'm done!"
Take all your stuff out the truck prior, make sure you have enough money to take a flight home just in case they do shady things,bgive 1 week notice, film and record truck safely parked at company terminal to assure they can't hit u with truck abandonment.....gotta cover your ass on all ends
I usually tell them i have a family emergency. They usually understand. It makes it alot easier.
Don’t ever give a trucking company a two week notice. They would definitely not give you a two week notice before firing you. Remember, they have millions of dollars so if you quit the same day, they will recover just fine by that next orientation day. If you decide to quit, wait until you get home to empty out that truck and then let them know you quit if you can’t get a plane ticket or a bus ticket back home after dropping their truck back off at their terminal. But if you are able to drive the truck back to the terminal and get yourself back home then do it that way so you won’t have abandonment on your record.
I put my two weeks in thinking this mindset. I had no prior issues with this company which was my start into trucking. I don’t regret them. After I put two weeks notice in. They routed me for a pick up and go to their nearest terminal. Just one day. I had to park it clean out the truck. 8 hours from my home. I managed to make it happen. The company told me since I’m moving on they have drivers that want to be there and need a truck.
Lesson for me next. I’m putting two weeks in from home. In my situation they’ll most likely send a recovery driver to come get it.
DO NOT put a notice in, you are not in an office job. Companies have ZERO loyalty anymore and would cut your throat if they thought they could get by with it. Anyone that gives a notice these days is only asking for trouble.
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS go home first empty your truck!’ From home ask for load to yard!!! NEVER give a notice!!!!!
It depends on the company I wouldn’t
I unloaded my truck at my house & then messaged my dispatcher that I needed to get routed through their terminal to turn the truck in.
I put my two weeks notice one time they let me go 6 days later with no way to get home , I recommend to get your things out of the truck first and get your self ready before mentioning anything to the company
Trucking companies in the US are out of control.
I drove for Heartland Express twice and gave them a 2 weeks notice both times when I quit. I told them that I appreciated the opportunities to work with them, but that I wasn’t happy with the job. They were very understanding, and both times they allowed me to finish my 2 weeks and leave on good terms.
ill do you one better. A company in Missouri reported the truck Stolen!!! The trooper was nice and new it was BS and followed me to the truckstop watched me clean the truck out while my daughter drove 3 hours to come get me.
Yes ,I put in my 2 weeks notice and after that,the truck broke down.I they say they where going to pay me.And once I left the city of North Carolina,I did not get my week and a half pay.They still owe me 3200.00 and now they don't want to answer my call or text message..
I have given my notice several times. Each time my truck was cleaned out and i was at home. They always gave me a load and worked me to the terminal they wanted the truck at and bought me a plain ticket home.
I've always put in my two week notice out of respect and not wanting to burn any bridges. I've only done so, however, with the mindset that they will let me go immediately. I have run my own business for 15 years (just sold it though), and anyone who had not given notice and asked to come back wasn't given a second thought. There are people that I didn't trust to keep around for two weeks, and there are others I was completely fine with. It's a variable situation, but I will always give notice, but strategically done in preparation for them letting me go immediately.
I agree with you 💯 don't put in your notice. (1) Go home for your time off, (2) Off load your personal things, (3) Apply with who you want to drive for, (4) Return to duty and drive until you get the call that you're hired, (5) Take the truck and trailer to the company yard, and then (6) Head on over to the new company. The only thing that's important is that the company get their equipment back in the same condition as when it was issued to you. OTR trucking isn't the same as a regular 9 to 5, home everyday career.
I worked for a mega carrier and did the right thing 2 week notice and was pulled into the terminal after I finished a route ready to finish my last week then was trying to PC to Walmart and told I couldn't leave because I was disqualified. I was over 1300 miles from home, I had to clean out my truck and all they were going to do was a bus ride home which meant only one carry on and one checked bag. It was going to be over 24 hrs on a bus ride, I had to shell out for a 3hr flight instead. Either way I lost a lot of cooking, bedding, fridge/freezer and TV/gaming console.
DON'T DO IT BRO!
In the trucking industry, a truck driver should never put in a 2 week notice. Every company I quit, I made sure me quitting worked out in my favor. If a driver puts in a 2 week notice with a trucking company, that driver is risking being stranded on the road by the trucking company.
To add to this I wonder what happens to these guys that get in accidents in the middle of nowhere. These shady companies step in and help?
I have had trucking companies tell me up front don't give your 2 week notice just get home and clean out the truck and get sit up to come in
Might be ok for a local job where your working home daily and company only has 2 or 3 trucks and needs runs covered. But really when you reapply for a job they don’t care about this they want to use drivers to make money. Accidents and tickets more important to them. I would get a load home for home time clean out the truck and ask dispatch to get me a load right back to company yard from that point. Tell them on the way or if they ask why the load to yard then tell them. That is fine way to get it done. A suitcase full of stuff to travel home with.
That’s just how I would go about it
I was fired because "company needs to make changes" not because I was a bad driver. That same company callede a few months later and asked if i wanted to come back. F no i told him. I'll never give a 2 week notice. I quit the day I'm leaving.