Tips/advice for drivers to increase total miles....

All this talk about total miles has made me realize that we need a thread to spread our combined knowledge around on ways that we drivers can increase our chances of better miles.
Why are some drivers claiming to average 3200 miles per week while others claim to get less than 1800? We all have the same planners, same trucks, trailers etc... Fleet managers vary in effectiveness, but I have seen a spread sheet from one of my former FMs and there was over 1000 miles per week difference in his top drivers and his bottom drivers.
What are the drivers in the top 10% doing that makes them so efficient, and get so many more miles than the bottom 10%?

This thread is for posters to name some of the little points they know that helps get better miles. It can be general advice such as always call the customer to see if you can load/unload early. Or a very specific tip about one specific customer such as a steel plant in Detroit that opens at 0700, and has a first come first serve policy for unloading. Getting there a few minutes before 0700 will cause you to wait 4-5 hours behind 15 other trucks to get unloaded. Getting there an hour early at 0600 and you will be first in line and be out of there within 30 minutes.

For you drivers getting good miles, what is your advice to us other drivers that want to increase our average as well?

I will start with a very obvious one.
Always call the customer to see if you can load/unload early. If your delivery is Monday AM, call and ask if they load/unload on weekends? I have had this workout a few times when I was told something such as (((even though we don't normally do this, we will have some maintenance guys here Sat morning for a few hours. If you can get here before noon, contact one of them and they will unload you)))) This actually helped me (with the help of my student and some team style driving)turn an 1800 mile 5 day load from Lacrosse Wi to Tacome Wa. into 3900 miles in that same 5 day period when we delivered early and immediately got a return load from Portland Or. back to Wisconsin Rapids Wi.

 

Great example, and so true. I use this in big cities such as Chicago. If I have a load going thru Chicago close to the afternoon rush hour, I just shut down and get up around 0100 the next AM and breeze thru there at 55 mph the entire way. Saves about 2hrs off your 70hr week

 

Planning is most likely the biggest factor in all for improving miles. Great example.

 

Here's a Tip for Flatbedders, especially on loads such as the large double lumber tarped ceiling tile loads.

When I get to the cons, the forklift operator is often waiting for me to untarp the load. I have seen many drivers untarp, roll up the tarps, put the tarps away, unhook 1 strap, roll it up, put it away, unhook another strap, roll it up, put it away etc... the entire time the forklift is waiting to unload the truck. After getting every strap taken off rolled up and put away can the forklift guy start unloading, as the driver sits in the truck cab for the next 30 mins.
My advice is to take off the tarps and drag them out of the way. Unhook the straps and drag the out of the way. Rip off the plastic sheeting and drag it away. Now the forklift driver can start unloading. For the next 30 mins while he is unloading the truck, you can be rolling tarps,and straps and neither you or the forklift guy are waiting on each other.