need opinion

[rfrogger120]

For contract purposes, when a vehicle breaks down, what would be a reasonable and fair amount of time a driver should wait before a owner should put the driver in a hotel/motel at owners expense, and what would be the maximum fair amount that a owner should pay. (example) should he pay the first $50.00 then i pay the rest or should he pay all of it?

 

[davekc]

Other owners may do it differently but I pay the whole cost. One can't predict where a truck will break down. Motel rates might be 50 bucks in OK, and several hundred on either coast.
If the break down is going to take a week for example, I may consider renting a car so they can go home.
There is a couple of variables depending on location and the nature of the repair.






Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[late for dinner]

If the truck broke down through no fault of the driver, I believe the owner should pick up the tab from the first night, however there should be a maximum amount. If not some drivers would live very high on the hog. If however the owner should find out that the driver told the shop to take there time because he wanted a vacation then the owner should not pay at all. This was a very good point to bring up in a contract and I don't believe anyone has mentioned it before.

 

[rfrogger120]

Late for dinner, I'm sure there are some drivers out there that would take advantage of any oppurtunity, If i were the owner i would weigh the cost of the hotel stay or , like dave said, renting a car, a very small inexpensive one-way trip car or grey hound, which ever would be the cheapest. Depending on how long it would take to fix.

 

[davekc]

That is the tricky part. We had a truck blow a radiator hose at the first of the year, and the truck was down for days because Freightliner didn't have the hose. We eventually found one in Bridgeport, CT. 1500 miles from where the truck broke down.
Between the tow,parts shipment, motel bill, and repair, it was $2500.
If you own one or several trucks, make sure your pennies are saved.
Weird things can happen when Murphy visits.






Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[rfrogger120]

thank god for write offs.

 

[rfrogger120]

Have 1 more question, what does it cost per week to do laundry and showers on the road?

 

[jaminjim]

I have seen (and smelled) some that did not buget more than $3.00 a month. Showers are free if you buy 50 gallons of fuel. can't say on the laundry.

 

[rfrogger120]

I"m asumming your driving a truck , I'm refering to a cargo van.

 

[jaminjim]

There was a topic awhile back on van drivers getting a half shower credit each time they fueled.

 

[late for dinner]

If you get a frequent fueler card from flying j and purchase 20 gallons of gas or diesel you will get 1/2 shower and 1/2 drink credit. So everytime you fuel 2 times you get a free shower. The big trucks must purchase 25 gallons and 50 gallons at a time but the j lets people who fuel out front do it with 20 gallons

 

[rfrogger120]

OK I see what you mean, If I dont get aload for 2 or 3 days, i wont be fueling, so I'm guessing no more than $20.00 a week for showers, does that sound about right.

 

[late for dinner]

Well, you don't have to use the showers right away. They are just a credit on your card. Kinda like a savings account. They are good for I think 7 days then they expire. Then if you get a co-drivers card, that card earns showers also. If you don't have a co-driver or they are not with you, then just use their showers. Sometimes you may run into a friend who has extra showers on their card and they will give you one. Just don't accept a shower ticket, say from some stranger in the drivers lounge because he might have written down the access code, and then you might get a visit while you are in the shower, "understand"!?

 

[ATeam]

I can understand why fleet owners might be reluctant to pledge a hotel stay in writing. I once heard of a team who used to sabatoge their truck just so they could put it in the shop and get a free hotel stay on the fleet owner.

 

[Jefferson3000]

I am assuming that a diabolical team might do that if the sleeper on their truck was sub-standard for a team? Maybe too small? No amenities?

 

[late for dinner]

You would be surprised what some people do. I once gave a brand new van to a driver who as I found out later didn't have any intention of hauling freight in it. She only needed a truck so she could load up all of her stuff so she could leave her husband. Revovering the van was a real problem too. I found out that I could not report it stolen because I gave it to her.. She would not respond to messages sent to her by FECC or take any calls from me. I finally found an officer in the Grand Rapids Police Dept that on his own time went to where the van was and asked if she would return it. I got it but I was lucky.