SMA PLT HAD TRACK DEV DEPARTING DAL.

Narrative

I WAS DEPARTING LOVE FIELD TO SHV; LA. RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING CLRNC: CLRED TO SHV; HUBBARD 3 DEP; QUITMAN TRANSITION; DIRECT BELEHER; DIRECT SHV; AFTER TKOF TURN TO HDG 340 DEGS; MAINTAIN 2000 FT; EXPECT 9000 FT 10 MINS; DEP 124.3; SQUAWK XXXX. TWR CLRED ME FOR IMMEDIATE TKOF BUT DIDN'T GIVE ME A HDG. WITHOUT A HDG ASSIGNMENT BY TWR; I REVERTED TO MY CLRNC. ON CLBOUT; I TURNED TO 340 DEGS AND ABOUT 1500 FT MSL I INTERCEPTED THE MAVERICK 084 DEG RADIAL WHICH IS THE INSTRUCTION FOR HUBBARD 3 DEP. PRIOR TO REACHING THE 084 DEG RADIAL; TWR TURNED ME OVER TO REGIONAL DEP 124.3. DEP WAS EXTREMELY BUSY AND I WASN'T ABLE TO RPT UNTIL I HAD INTERCEPTED THE 084 DEG RADIAL. I TURNED ON COURSE (084 DEGS); LEVELED OFF AT 2000 FT AND RPTED LEVEL AT 2000 FT ON 084 DEG HDG. THE CTLR ASKED ME IF I HAD TURNED TO 084 DEGS ON MY OWN. I REPLIED THAT I WAS FOLLOWING THE QUITMAN TRANSITION. HE TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE STAYED ON THE 340 DEG HDG UNTIL I WAS TOLD TO DO OTHERWISE. HE ASKED ME TO CALL BACK UPON REACHING SHV; WHICH I DID. WE HAD A VERY USEFUL DISCUSSION; AND IN THE FUTURE THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS SIT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE TWR HAD ASSIGNED THE 340 DEG HDG UPON DEP. IN THE ABSENCE OF HDG INSTRUCTION FROM THE TWR; I REVERTED TO MY CLRNC DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS. I PLAN ON CALLING THE TWR OPS AT LOVE SO I WILL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR EXPECTATIONS IN FUTURE DEPS.