Hotels?

You are driving your hotel. That is the companies position. Most will put you in one for a break down but otherwise you are driving it. If you want a room you will be paying for it out of your own pocket. You can claim it on taxes in addition to per diem.

 

Some ltl companies like YRC(Yellow/Roadway) have runs where their drivers do a 2 day round trip. 1st day drive the trailers to a location and either drop at a terminal or swap trailers with another driver. Then go to a company authorized hotel for their break, and then report back for their load back to their home terminal. When I stayed in a hotel in Carlisle PA when my Crete truck was in the shop, they used the same hotel as YRC, there were at least a half dozen YRC drivers waiting on the hotel shuttle.

 

A company will do 1 of 3 things. Either they'll have accounts with specific hotels they want you to use, or they'll reimburse you the cost (usually up to a certain dollar amount), or if it is a small enough company you'll have a company credit card to use.

The company will generally only pay for the hotel if you need it. For example, if you're in a day cab running a multiple-day trip, or if your truck breaks down. If you're in a sleeper truck, they expect you to use it...and if you choose not to, it's on you.

As far as finding a suitable hotel, you'll either be familiar with where they are and where to park, or you call ahead and ask. If calling ahead, make sure they are aware of the type of truck you're trying to park during your stay...because some of these desk clerks assume pickup/trailer or uhaul type straight truck when you ask if there is "truck parking".

Personally, I don't go out overnight unless it pays enough to justify a room at the Holiday Inn Express (or better). Last time I stayed at a Super 8, it was in a jacuzzi suite so I made an exception. Then again, it's my truck and there is no reimbursement, so I have more freedom to choose where I stay than I would if I were expecting somebody else to cover the cost. When it's time to park the truck for the night, I want to be comfortable...so I'm either home, or someplace else that is nice.

 

For otr guys, you only get a hotel if you break down. If you still want one, you have to pay for it.

One of my students needed a hotel each night, so I just trip plan each night for a hotel. I figure where I was going to be each night and find hotels there. Google map the place to see if I can bring in a truck there.

 

If your apu breaks and weather is too cold or hot then you can request hotel.
(Trucks that idle shutdown)

 

If you're an otr driver normally it's brkdown that the company will pay for hotel.some have accounts with cerain hotel chains.some companies will call the hotel and use their credit card and many hotels use a check you was given during orientation like efs,fleet one act.then you may have to pay and get reimbursed.a company I know lets their drivers stay at a hotel here if they re going to be down awhile like waiting for a load.or just wants to sleep in a normal bed and out of the trk even for a few hrs.

 

Most LTL companies will put you in a hotel. You will never sleep in a truck.