New CDL Holder Looking For Advice

Especially openly admitting to speeding all day, every day.

 

Your averages are garbage. There is 0% chance that you are not slowed down to 60 mph or below for stretches over a 700 miles, thus limiting you to about 600-650 with HOS. Let's say you have a 1,200 mile run and the first 700 miles you are able to hammer down with only open road. You still have 500 miles remaining and the run takes two days. I could do the same run in 2 600 mile days. The reason I use this as an example because your 700 miles example doesn't account for city traffic, navigating to/from shipper/receiver to/from the highway, and other inevitabilities that arise. Basically, because 90% of drivers are dealing with appointment times that give more than enough time to get from point A to point B, your calculations are great for story telling, but not reality.

 

Again, I run Minneapolis to Louisville (exactly 776 miles) which was the example I posted - I KNOW these numbers because I run them every week for the past 2 years, and yes, there are construction zones here and there, which I typically run at night - SUNDAY night at that. Which means minimal slowdowns. There is a stretch between Clear Lake and Waterloo that is a 65 zone (which I run at 71). So while YOU may think thats garbage, I know it for a fact... I run those 776 miles every week in under 11 hours... edit: Which of course would take me 2 days in your truck...

And depending on the wind speed and direction, I get 8mpg doing it. I took a pic of my return trip once (I had a tail wind) where I got over 9mpg.

I usually leave home at 10am sunday morning, and run down to Walcott IA. getting in there around 2pm. Shut down for 7 hours, get rolling at 9pm. Its about 6 1/2 hours from there (without construction is closer to 6). I get in there about 4am central time. My appointment is 10am (eastern time) but Im usually out of there by 8am (central time). 3+ hours off duty at the site gives me 4 hours plus whatever I didnt use on my 11 available, Im unloaded and 2 1/2 hours up to Lebanon to pick up my load (usually getting in there around 11:30 central). Half hour loading, and an hour down the road I stop somewhere just shy of Danville, IL for 7 hours. Rolling at 8pm back to Walcott for fuel, and another 3 hour break, and Im home by 8am tuesday. Less than 48 hours round trip, and about $6 grand in my pocket.

And Wendsdays I run from Minneapolis, to Eau Claire WI, Stevens Point, WI, Green Bay WI, and back in just under 9 hours (626 miles EXACTLY). Well, 9 hours driving time (in allfairness sometimes it takes closer to 10 on this run because - Wisconsin). 12 hours on the clock. Its a long day. But thats my weekly routine. Thats all I do a week, is 2 1/2 days. A little less than 2200 miles. A little over 8 grand for the week...

 

That's your problem. You are trying to take a very specific and controlled route and extrapolate that out to be applicable to the entirety of the US.

 

I avgd 2500 on otr; would’ve gotten the production bonus if I didn’t go home. I think they still have the bonus but I switched to dedicated, more consistent sleep schedule.

@RuralTrucker I’ve never seen one of ours with an apu… they do have the espar heaters and the maroon maverick ones were weird. Volvos were being phased out when I joined; pretty sure I noticed more maroons then Volvos at the time and I doubt kllm has one of either left now.