RE: It's the Owner - Operator RE: Dead heading hom
Stranded,
I know this is stressing you out, but these drivers are trying to help you, they were just trying to get more specifics as to exactly what your situation was before giving half an answer.
Now that you identified your carrier, that gives more of an idea. The smaller companies, in general, seem to do more deadheading back to the home location. Any of the larger companies should be able to get more runs back to your home. It's really hard for me to believe a company would not have freight going TO that area, as even with FedEx's deadhead, seems like I always went to that area at least once a week.
I hate to recommend jumping ship to anyone, but perhaps you should check with one of the larger carriers such as Conway, or Tristate, someone that has good business for singles. FedEx seems to be getting more team oriented right now, but I'm sure some of the others would love a Michigan based D-Unir, and could get you runs back that way.
Understand, the reason you're probably not getting direct answers on this is that most drivers have never seen that problem, so they don't know how to answer.. but they're TRYING
I personally always have had more trouble getting OUT of that area, than getting back to it! I usually went over to Jackson MI, or came down to Toledo to get runs out.
And, the question about the brother in law thing was directed, I'm sure, at why you would agree to drive miles for free, to help out the owner. A truck owner is supposed to be paying you, not you giving up your pay to help him... therefore, they were thinking perhaps it was family.
EVERYONE is going to deadhead some. NOONE should be deadheading 50% of the time. That's what people are trying to tell you. They may not be able to tell you a specific amount for each company, but most are around 20-30% from what I've seen, and read. So, therefore MOST companies would give you less deadhead.. AND you'd get paid for it.
Dreamer