Why you should drive at night (helps HOS too)

After several months of day driving, log problems, 18 hr days (and more), I ran myself into 34 hr breaks where I would say ah hell with it put me down for 11 hrs at least I'll be running all night legally. 10 months after I said that, I never went back to day driving although have to switch occasionally and put up with it. I made a list of pros and cons for day and night driving, but you already know what happens during the day so here's something to think about night driving...

can avoid most traffic jams
-less drive time
-less tail gaters
-can see traffic better because lights make traffic easier to spot

easier to estimate hrs and not run out later in the week


less waiting in fuel lines and getting in and out back to hwy


better parking in morning when shutting down


less dock traffic at customers (safer and faster loading and unloading)


less pressure to rush or drive aggresively


can move slower through unknown areas looking for turns without impatient drivers passing or getting stuck in the wrong lane


easier to get in and out of smaller customers or ones at mini malls

(The ones I have to sell my company on because they think I sit too much in the day even though it's usually only a 10 hr brk and they have still think working more hrs equal more miles like it's a factory and we have control over traffic and time itself)...

*Available to pick up more Freight for the company/not sitting in line to wait for freight during peak hours where too many drivers are in an area with too little freight
*Available to finish loads for other people that break down or run into problems
***Better service for customers, safer, and more money for the driver and the company in the long run***

CONS:

Limited visibility of animals and objects on and off the road

Can not see some smaller street signs but you can check maps and ask for visual cues from customers or other drivers

Rest Areas are usually full 10pm-6am, but the truck fuel lanes aren't as busy so you can pull up and take a quick break there without holding anyone up or getting stuck in a truck cramming contest.

Faster car and truck traffic occasionally, and the occasional "weaving" vehicle that could be on his way home from happy hour.


I used to have a truck that went 74 but didn't pay squat there. I work for an infamous company that runs 62/63 most trucks. I've logged several 24 hr peroids with exact, legal times and accurate milage 735/740 miles. I drive straight through areas you will not even want to see on your preplan in the daytime with no delays whatsoever. I hope that word doesn't get around because it's just right the way it is, hehe.

 

Yes I end up having to use Idle Air alot. But in the winter time, I get the warm sun so don't need to keep heat running at night. I can deal with cold better than heat also. At certain point it's not comfortable at night and I need to idle or use idle air. I need to get some screens and run some fans I could probably idle less but have been keeping it within the limit. I wonder if it is actually cheaper to just put in some fuel and idle than use idleaire? I've spen almost 200 this month on idleaire and I'm back to Laredo again this week. I'm from Michigan, btw may explain why I like it cold hehe.