Capt._Chaos
August 22nd, 2005, 00:44
It's something that none of us really enjoy thinking about, but a reality we must face as people: Family Emergencies.
As a driver, you may find yourself thousands of miles away from home when something very serious happens (like a death of someone in your family, or a close friend). It's one of those times when you pick up a cell phone and hear the bad news.
Working with your company: Most of the better trucking companies out there, if alerted immediately of your situation by you once you get the phone call yourself, can & will get you a load going home. Be sure they know what is taking place & when so the proper arrangements can be made to where you can handle your situation, and that the load is delivered.
If your dispatcher doesn't seem too concerned about getting you where you need to be, then take it a step further and politely & calmly explain your situation to the company's Operations Manager. If it doesn't seem that any progress is being made, then this works well to "light a fire under them" to help you- ask them "Where can I park the truck in the area I'm in? I NEED to catch a plane & get home!".
Working with your family: Be sure that those close to you understand that your job will have you far away from home, and that if a family emergency does take place, that they know to contact you IMMEDIATELY so you have enough time to work with your company & get back home safely, and in a timely manner.
Your own preparedness: It's up to YOU to be prepared financially so you can do whatever is necessary to get home if you are too far away to get there quickly by driving. For example, if you're living in Miami, FL and you're up in Seattle, WA when you get word of a loved one's passing from home, then there's probably not going to be enough time for you to get a load and drive home for the funeral. This is when being prepared to buy a plane ticket will benefit you.
Find out if your company could route you to a terminal in a major city within a reasonable distance, and if not, come to an agreement with them on a safe & legal place to park the truck before you catch a cab to the airport. Make it clear that you do intend to fly back out & return to pick up the truck. Not actually doing so will look bad on your DAC report.
It's a great idea to have "emergency money" in the bank, or a credit card that's paid off & only used for emergencies. After the death of two people close to me last year, I can't stress it enough how important this is.
Be safe out there!
As a driver, you may find yourself thousands of miles away from home when something very serious happens (like a death of someone in your family, or a close friend). It's one of those times when you pick up a cell phone and hear the bad news.
Working with your company: Most of the better trucking companies out there, if alerted immediately of your situation by you once you get the phone call yourself, can & will get you a load going home. Be sure they know what is taking place & when so the proper arrangements can be made to where you can handle your situation, and that the load is delivered.
If your dispatcher doesn't seem too concerned about getting you where you need to be, then take it a step further and politely & calmly explain your situation to the company's Operations Manager. If it doesn't seem that any progress is being made, then this works well to "light a fire under them" to help you- ask them "Where can I park the truck in the area I'm in? I NEED to catch a plane & get home!".
Working with your family: Be sure that those close to you understand that your job will have you far away from home, and that if a family emergency does take place, that they know to contact you IMMEDIATELY so you have enough time to work with your company & get back home safely, and in a timely manner.
Your own preparedness: It's up to YOU to be prepared financially so you can do whatever is necessary to get home if you are too far away to get there quickly by driving. For example, if you're living in Miami, FL and you're up in Seattle, WA when you get word of a loved one's passing from home, then there's probably not going to be enough time for you to get a load and drive home for the funeral. This is when being prepared to buy a plane ticket will benefit you.
Find out if your company could route you to a terminal in a major city within a reasonable distance, and if not, come to an agreement with them on a safe & legal place to park the truck before you catch a cab to the airport. Make it clear that you do intend to fly back out & return to pick up the truck. Not actually doing so will look bad on your DAC report.
It's a great idea to have "emergency money" in the bank, or a credit card that's paid off & only used for emergencies. After the death of two people close to me last year, I can't stress it enough how important this is.
Be safe out there!