Am I in the right

I'd ask them what "average numbers" they are using to dispatch you and set appointments with. Then they need to back them off about 5-10%.

They are using

• Average speed
• Average HOS utilization
• Average wheel-turn/day time (hours)
• and maybe a few others go into their algorithm

Basically it sounds like you want 18-30? hours (contiguous) idle time each week. This is not unreasonable. This time can be under load or between load, however they want to work it internally. But regardless, you are within your rights to ask to be treated as a humans with lives, not paid machines.

 

It is normal if you let it happen.Sound like your dispatcher doesn't care and has a deal with it attitude.If you all have the hours he will run you up to the very last minute.

 

Didn't you ever learn the word no? If you go for their schtick, they will suck you in. Just say no. They'll get over it, and if not, adios.

 

If dispatcher wont listen call safety.

 

Not if the appointments are set based on 1 hour/day wheels stopped and 65+ MPH average road speed. I don't think there would be any issues if they were running in a "it get's there when it gets there" model. They are obviously running to appointment times, probably stacked 2-4 deep and assuming NO/ZERO/NADA traffic or construction or weather delays.

I assume this is typical over a month+ period and not just a one week unusual occurrence. You can expect this type of thing to happen on occasional weeks as a team, but when it becomes the norm, then that's when something has to give. Winters coming soon, also. So this dispatch model is going to have to change drastically pretty soon. It's one thing to average 70 MPH across Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming today, but quite another to do this in December.