Tips on leaving a trucking company.

So just wanted to post some tips on how to safeguard yourself when leaving a trucking company (this is just my own opinion based on experience Ive had with trucking and non-trucking jobs, and is by no means exhaustive.

1. All correspondence must be done through email. Email is a legal document and provides proof of a conversation. Never just "macro" your company or tell them your leaving over the phone. Email email email. Email them, your fleet manager, safety manager, etc. If the trucking company wants to falsely slander you on a DAC report (and yes it does happen), the proof of email and or photos is what will save you.

2. Be professional. Dont tell them your leaving because they suck or because your tired of driving. Come up with something legit and solid in the event you ever want to go back to that company.

3. I would always tell the company that I'd like to turn in the keys to the truck at a terminal in the next 2 or 3 weeks or so. Ive heard horror stories of drivers giving a 2 weeks notice only to be routed home at the end of 2 weeks and the truck reported abandoned. So I always said route me to a terminal.

4. Never ever abandon a truck or leave a truck somewhere other than the companies terminal, even if dispatch tells you to (this will go on your dac report) Ive heard of it happening. If they want you to leave the truck somewhere, like at a customer, that needs to be done via an email from safety and/or your fleet manager, save the email! Take time stamped phots, etc, and then Id reply back, ok, and copy safety and everyone. An abandoned truck is a really big deal.

5. Dont damage the truck (will also go on your dac report). Once the truck is at a terminal and cleaned out, take time and location stamped photos of inside and out as proof you returned the truck in good condition.

6. I would get copies of any papers they want you to sign, and read what your signing. Take photos of the forms if they dont want to give you copies.

7. Print all your elogs, paystubs, etc before leaving. Id actually begin doing this before I even gave them my notice.

8. If I was going to another trucking company, Id have the job lined up before I put in my notice.

In my experience, trucking companies are usually the only ones that use a DAC report to critique an employee, therefore I always felt that leaving a trucking company was an exercise in documentation just to safeguard myself.