Pop Quiz

I have read several comments from veteran drivers to ‘run smart’ and forget about racking up miles. That’s hard to understand in an industry where pay is mostly based on mileage, but I was playing with the math in Excel today and thought this might be worthy of a Pop Quiz.

Staying within the HOS regulations, under which scenario could you run more miles per year?
1. 10 hours Off Duty/ 1 hour On Duty / and 7.75 hours driving per cycle
2. 10 hours Off Duty / 1 hour On Duty / and 11 hours driving per cycle

Note: no home time for you!!

 

Answer #1. The optimum is 9:45/day. Run until you get tired.

 

If I'm doing the math right, you would still be required to do resets at some point wouldn't you?

 

Stop doing guess work and just get a job. Nobody is going to drive 7.5 hrs and then stop just because they want to optimize their 70. Once you get hired by a company you'll need to complete your duties and drive whatever it is you need to in order to make the appointment. Stop reading forums and think that that's all there is to trucking.

 

You are going to learn that it's never that easy. You'll occasionally sit at a warehouse for 5 hours and run your clock down, or be stuck in traffic. No two weeks will ever be the same.

 

Thanks for your encouragement, but I'll continue on the path I'm on right now. I have other options for employment that pay considerably more, but require sacrifices in other areas that I would prefer not to make. Driving would fit my current lifestyle better, but the pay is barely adequate and that is only if I have a firm grasp of starting pay in the industry. Before I begin CDL training or accept a driving job, I intend make sure I have a good understanding of what I am getting into, otherwise I'd be making one of those 'I didn't know' posts on here and being ridiculed for not researching the company or lifestyle. That firm understanding includes how I will earn money, and what limitations may be imposed on me. I don't plan on starting CDL training until early March and I'll continue reading as much as I can about the industry until I start that.

 

I realize that, I was just running the math to see how HOS may limit the hours I could drive and was surprised at the results. I have no doubt none of that would ever happen in real life.

 

The bottom line is every load is different. My rule of thumb was if I have available hours to run today, then run them. The only reasons I would shut down early is if parking, traffic, or weather might become an issue.

If you are paid by the mile then remember you are "selling your 70". Run at the most efficient times of day. Avoid major metro areas during the day if you can help it. Run a extra couple hundred miles out of shortest route if it means you can save time avoiding small towns or avoid bad weather.

Be willing to take a 10 ANYWHERE. If you are only willing to take a 10 at a truck stop instead of a road side pullout or rest area, then you will frequently be stopping well short of maximum miles per day. Some of my most memorable 10's have been in pullouts off two lane highways in the middle of nowhere.

 

Where are these trucking jobs where you can drive however you want 7 days a week 365 days a year? There are no appointments in this world, either?

 

Think of like this,
You're going to average logging 8 and a half hours a day whether you take a reset or run recap hours.