Trip Planning Fundementals for Newbies

Am I reading this post wrong?? Were you taught to "knock off 4%" or was it a project in your class??

Reason being is that in 12 years I have never received a load that you would wanna "knock off" ANY miles as you actually need to ADD miles to EVERY load you will ever receive. Even if someone before you ran an actual route then sent you a message with the actual miles, when you run it the mileage would not be the same so if you wanted to guarantee you were "on time".

If this was a project then it would have been good practice trying to find other routes and just overall good practice for map reading, but I just want to be clear.

 

Digger,

Who do you work for if you don't mind me asking, or PM me....
I looked at your experience and if that is correct then it might be because your company is still in that "training you" frame of mind. I don't really know, but there are many things companies say to newbies that as you will learn don't matter much. The going off their route plans for instance and their fuel plans. The important thing with "their" fuel is to make sure you get it where ever they have accounts set up and not from mom&pop stations. That can get you in trouble. But if you work for a large company then the whole "get 54gals here, then 37gals here, then 114gals here" goes completely out the window...If you are employed by a LARGE company, I'll give you some advice that will help you, NOT get you in trouble. Get fuel when you need to and FILL UP! Just make sure you get it from a stop that is authorized. NOT via the qual-comm trip plan but by your companies accounts.

There are instances that even if you fuel at most truck stops, example Flying J and your company has account with them, it is possible that there may be a Flying J that your company doesn't want you to fuel at or has NO account at "that 1" flying J. You will know at the pump, point is, stop at the first one on your list when you need fuel and FILL UP!

 

I'm NOT trying to burst your bubble and I'm NOT even going to dispute what you have just written.

What I am going to do is state this "You are a STUDENT are you NOT?" "You as a student, as well intentioned as you may be, should NOT be trying to teach other STUDENTS or in this case NEWBIES."

I am NOT trying to be mean and if you are NOT a STUDENT then I completely apologize, but I want to explain something to you in the nicest way I can.

First, if you read this entire post you would see that what you said was explained here already but in much greater detail.

Second, This thread was and is for NEWBIES and trying to inform them or get the thought in their heads to "SEEK OUT THE SHORTEST ROUTE POSSIBLE" in order to make money or for any other reason is just plain stupid.

You may and they may "THINK" you have the experience and the know-how to conquer any road you are legal to drive on, but until you have "AT LEAST" 6 full months, I personally wouldn't advise it until you have at least 1 full year, unless you are particularly very proficient in BACKING, I would ADVISE every newbie and student to stick to the main lanes of travel.

That advice is simply because you may get yourself into a situation you are going to have a hell of a time getting out of and without the proper skill level are going to do more damage then anything.

The LAST REASON I am going to say that STUDENTS and NEWBIES should watch what advice they are giving is because you didn't explain or you are unaware that you have just given advice which could land you and anyone else that takes it FINES, TICKETS, AND PENALTIES which could END their new careers.

THE FACTS:

YOU MAY NOT OPERATE A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE FROM A DISTANCE OF 1 MILE FROM THE NATIONAL NETWORK IN:

Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Georgia, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia

YOU MAY NOT OPERATE A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE FROM A DISTANCE OF 5 MILE FROM THE NATIONAL NETWORK IN:

Alaska (unless otherwise noted), Kentucky, and Michigan

YOU MAY NOT OPERATE A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE FROM A DISTANCE OF 10 MILE FROM THE NATIONAL NETWORK IN:

Louisiana and Missouri

YOU MAY NOT OPERATE A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE FROM A DISTANCE OF 15 MILE FROM THE NATIONAL NETWORK IN:

Wisconsin

Do you see that I am NOT trying to be mean or all knowing, but I am trying to educate you and them correctly. Please just take a little time to learn your trade before posting information that could get you or someone else in trouble.

I do appreciate your eagerness and your wanting to participate as more and more truckers should be involved and not just out for their own gains. Share the knowledge, just make sure it is complete and correct.

I hope you understand me and haven't taken it personal or in a bad way. I meant NO disrespect to you, and I welcome you to what can be the greatest occupation known to man

 

I am simply saying that although your instructor may have been knowledgeable, you are going to find out that when you start getting put on "just in time" runs or "hot shot" loads, if you trip plan by shaving 4% off your mileage that comes across your qual-comm you are going to be late. If you take the exact route that comes across and follow it and take note of your odometer you will find out that you are running more miles then they are paying you for. Rand Mcnally is the closest to practical mileage and even practical mileage is off by a little. Just try it and NO company is going to fire you unless you run completely out of route without notifying your FM. When I mean completely I mean, If you are to run up I95 in New Jersey headed to NY but you decide you want to save the company money and run I295 to exit 56, cut across the Bordentown, NJ truck stops, then pick up the NJ Turnpike (I95) at exit 7A and continue running North, you will NOT be fired but if you ran I476 North to I81 North to I90 East back down to NY just so you could go meet someone or because you got lost then you are right, they would fire you....They are simply using this scare technique to get you compliant with what they want. When you become an experienced driver you will see that as long as you make the right decision you will be ok. Unless it involves and accident lol!!!