How often do truck drivers go home?

The answer depends on the type of routes the truck driver typically drives. For truck drivers who travel across state or country lines, the answer may be every few days or weeks. For truck drivers who stick to routes closer to home, they may go home every night, just like an office worker on a typical 40-hour workweek might.

How many days off do truck drivers get?

That depends on a variety of factors, including the employer’s policy, the driver’s work experience and position, and how many days and hours a truck driver has worked. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration mandates hours-of-service regulations that require time off. In addition to industry regulations for taking time off, employers may also offer 1-2 weeks of vacation pay for each year of full-time work, or even more days off depending on experience. For drivers who drive more routine routes and have more consistent daily schedules, they might look forward to weekend time off or consistent days off each week.

Strategies for work-life balance in trucking

For truck drivers who do make long journeys and are on the road for days at a time, there are many ways to maintain a healthy work-life balance. These include:

Use technology to stay virtually connected. Use video calls to have face-to-face conversations with loved ones. Share updates on social media. Book TV watch parties or create an audio book club with friends. Send someone you love a gift through a delivery app.
Make at-home time special. Book date nights with a spouse or partner. Plan a low-cost family outing to a park or recreational area. Have one-on-one talk time with each family member. Show friends and family members photos of places you’ve visited on the road. Participate in a hobby with friends or family members, or take a class together.
Practice self-care on the road. Stay hydrated and eat healthy foods. Pursue solo passions, such as reading, taking virtual classes, or learning a language. Exercise with body weight exercises, such as squats and lunges.
Utilize the Home Time Team services. Swift Transportation has a Hometime Team that’s dedicated to helping drivers meet their home time needs. When you need to schedule home time, or a family emergency occurs where you need to get home quickly, talk with your driver leader to get help getting home.

Swift Transportation offers various scheduling options, so ideally, you can create the work schedule that works for you. Being on the road for longer stretches at a time could result in more days off in a row at a time, while shorter routes could help you create a more consistent schedule overall. Whatever you may be looking for, Swift Transportation has jobs that are in demand, and we’ll help you find an optimal schedule.

Hometime opportunities at Swift Transportation

As mentioned, Swift Transportation has an entire Hometime Team dedicated to helping our drivers achieve the home time they need. Talk with your driver leader to get in touch with the team and request the time off you need.

For drivers who are in their region, Swift Transportation policies request a 7-day notice. For drivers outside of their region, Swift Transportation policies request a 2-week notice. When emergencies happen, and someone needs to get home faster than usual, a driver should contact their driver leader for accommodations.

Regional and dedicated routes are also potential solutions for more time at home. A regional route stays within a certain area, so you know exactly where you’ll be driving and can look forward to a closer-to-home schedule. Dedicated routes offer predictability, since you’ll typically drive the same routes, on the same days, and around the same times. This makes it easier to plan home life around work.

How Often Are Truck Drivers Home?

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