Newbie Miles

I upgraded to solo last year at the end of June. I averaged about 2500 miles per week through the end of December, and it was fairly consistent with my lowest week at about 2200 miles and my highest week at about 3100 miles.

There's been many a good comment so far in this thread how to run successfully, especially the parts about going in to the dispatch window at a terminal to ask if they have any local deliveries they need help with. Instead of sitting around complaining about not having work, or worse yet turning down short haul pre plans, run that short haul and they will almost always stack you with a good run. With many terminals that's how you get an empty trailer, by making a local delivery.

Volunteering for loads others don't want is another great way to get miles. I made a lot of runs last winter between LA and Denver, because few drivers wanted to throw iron in the Rockies. I love that run and I love the challenge.

If you get one of those loads that's only 500 miles with two days to make delivery, then get proactive. Usually there is nothing in the dispatch that says you can't call the customer (sometimes there is). Call the customer and ask them if you can deliver early. Often they say, "Yes!" Once you have that confirmed then IMMEDIATELY send a Mac-34 to update your ETA and PTA (Projected Time of Availability). That will alert the planners that you are going to be available for another load earlier than they anticipated. Do that a few times and you will likely start seeing more "stacked" loads coming your way, they know you are working

One last thing regarding maximizing your miles per week: if you have available hours to run today, then run them. For example, if you have 600 miles to run out West on wide open freeways, picking up this morning for a delivery early tomorrow morning, then if possible run all the way to the customer and park there overnight (if they allow it). If it's a small customer you can often park in their yard. When they arrive first thing in the morning you can log On Duty for BOTH Pretrip Inspection and Delivery as you check in, open the doors to the trailer, back into the dock, and do your pre trip. NOW your 14 hour clock is maximized for your NEXT load.

Instead if you run only 300 miles today, then plan on running 300 miles to make that early morning delivery tomorrow... well then you chewed up 5 hours getting to the customer and you only have half a day left to work tomorrow.

Run out your hours. Be self reliant enough with food in the truck so you can park anywhere to take a 10 hour break. Use your 30 minute breaks to shop or take a shower. The more flexible you are with where you can park for a 10, the more productive you can be.

 

Remember, your 70 hour clock is your limiting factor. Work your other three clocks so that you can sell Swift as many of those 70 hours as you can.

I usually go straight to the 90, even if I'm really early. If it's a drop, they usually allow me to drop right away. A live unload usually involves waiting, but I usually get a "we'll see if we can work you in". Quite often, they can.

I have yet to receive a service failure for showing up early. "Oh, today's the 20th? I was sure it was the 21st!"

 

bam87... yeah..i'll get a few straight trip there. or a trip to slc, then another to colorado. during winter, i try to avoid colorado unless i'm coming from the south or east. i'm not fond of chaining or snow lol

 

Hahaha yeah that's what I'm weary of. I know first hand how the snow gets here. Not to mention the wind along I-70 heading east. Almost blew off the road when I was on my bike.

 

Another thing to remember, a lot of times your dispatch gives you a set time..these times are not always accurate...if it shows a drop..ask you dm what the window is...and sometimes on live loads/unloads there is an open window as well...If you can drop early that means you can get to your next load earlier and get more miles...sometimes you just need to ask the definites on a load to get the answers...a lot of times most loads have a big window and you may be able to pickup or deliver much earlier than what your dispatch shows.

 

I and another driver have a monthly cycle that I never figured out what correlation it had to the calendar. We both had one week around 1800-2300 miles then. 2 weeks around 2500-2700 then one week 3000 or more.