bad experience due to poor trip planning advice?

I agree that the right answer is to use whatever tools are available. GPS-based equipment makes MANY tasks easier, faster, and more accurate. The trick is to understand its limitations and not rely on it exclusively. It will lead you into some bad spots, and like all electronics, can fail suddenly.

 

Agreed, a GPS is a very useful tool as is the truckers atlas. As someone mentioned get the other books, truckstop locator, fuel stops, etc...Look at them, look where you are going. Plan ahead!

If you haven't already, maybe you can talk to some of the veteran drivers and ask for advice or additional training more or less. The veterans are a wealth of information. Talk to them.

This brought a question to me reading this. The "truckers" GPS, are they any different in how they route as compared to a standard GPS? Can you set it up to maybe avoid residential areas, etc.?

Sounds like you are making life way too hard on yourself. Stay legal and rest when its time. Best of luck to you.

 

Sounds like a normal day in the life of a trucker! What can't go wrong, will! -lol-
No matter what try to give your eta with a generous amount of time. This way you will always be early. If you are going coast to coast add 4 hours just for traffic. Another couple for weather an hour for getting lost etc... you get the point! Don't short yourself. As far as all the other crap, hang in there it will all come second nature and you will find yourself not even using a map. What you do need to do though is slow down and pay attention especially when you are over tired. This is when (and it will) crap happens! Being a little late can be forgiven more than getting in an accident and hurting yourself or others. Not just in your truck either! While hooking/unhooking, loading/unloading etc... Falling out of your truck or slipping on your stairs is one of the most common accidents. It is a good practice to repeat the above phrase out loud to yourself everyday. (Slow down pay attention) Helps you relax a little too! Any way man, few more months and things will start falling into place. Until then, "slow down and pay attention"! Remember to, your license is your bread and butter. You can be late a thousand times and still be able to find employment elsewhere. You start racking up points and accidents and your done. Good luck to you, it has happened to all of us!

 

Mattbnr: you've got two months driving and you're buying or leasing a truck???

Reason I ask is company drivers shouldn't have to mess with fuel tax.

If CRST is leasing to someone who is admittedly as much og a greenhorn as you, I would begin to question the quality of the company. I mean, really!

 

"I got a six month old baby and a wife at home." That is exactly why you can't afford to run illegal. No load is worth your life or the life of another if you kill somebody. Ditch the second logbook.

Where did you get trained? You should have been taught how to Trip Plan. Go back to whoever trained you, and ask for help.

One of the biggest aids to you would be to plan on arriving at the shipper or receiver at least two hours early, if possible. That way you have a margin of error, when something goes wrong, as it will.

Remember, the way to succeed in this business, is to always be safe, the consequences for not being safe are never good, over the long haul.

 

The GPS is a tool. You still need to learn how to trip plan. Call ahead, verify directions. 14 hours and your day is done. You start doing creative logging and kill someone, you will be at fault not your dispatch.

The driver runs his logbook not dispatch. Log legally and if you are tired send a message that you are taking a safety break. As a new driver you are not used to the demands of the industry yet.

Run Safe and you will be home to see your family again.

BUT, the GPS is a tool... use it in conjuction with your MCRA and your brain.

Thanks,
Mark

 

Ahhh the memories that brings back...You're not the first to get off to a rough start, and won't be the last.

There ain't a driver on here that hasn't learned the lessons you learned on that trip...and learning when, where, and how to turn around in a bad place is a PRICELESS lesson. Such decisions will make you or break you...and I mean that.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has made a U-turn in downtown Detroit, Chicago, and other places....and I mean a U-turn...right in the middle of everything.

Dangerous, risky, and not a very good idea...but there was no other choice (low clearances)

For starters...taking off at 7PM is not good planning IMO, you're on the night shift and that is troublesome in itself (no parking, bad timing for reloads, and a few other reasons) Make the HOS work for you, not against you...start your day when you want to start it. That way you are on a schedule that keeps you alert and awake (those days of driving without sleep are GONE...don't do it)

STOP FUDGING THE LOGBOOK...its not worth the risk. I would have logged that tire repair time as "on duty" (while sleeping...rest when you get a chance).

You're new...and your chances of having an accident (even a minor one) are very high right now...RUN LEGAL.

 

And stop bypassing the scales as well. Using 2 logbooks brings up another question, if you are stopped by a State Trooper does he have the right to search your tractor if he thinks something is amiss?

 

Unless it is a DOT thing he doesn't have the right to search unless it is incident to arrest or he has probable cause to believe you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol or that you just committed a crime.