how to get more miles

However, I'm paid a salary. I want less miles. Thanks, just the same.

Your advice is sound, though. Even if 3000 + is not a driver's goal, planning your work, then, working your plan will keep you well rested and partially sane.

 

Good advice panhandlepat. I find that just doing city pickups the same advice applies...
I always plan my route before I leave the terminal or the customer I am at right now.
If I have room to move around in the trailer, I will often do pickups at the same time I am doing deliveries... saves me coming back to the same customer twice in one day, one backup to a dock, rather than two etc. (This means that when I am making my deliveries I always ask if there is anything ready for pickup just in case).
I try to be predictable. eg. If I know I am going to be late for a pickup that has been scheduled, I will call dispatch and get them to let the customer know.
I will work until the work is done (most of my colleagues wont) and therefore when I need a favour, dispatch is prepared to help me out.
I find just keeping in motion, I can outwork a lot of my colleagues. They may drive faster than me, but they cant out organize me!

 

My favorite trick...especially when I was with CFI.

They dispatch a truck at 47 mph. If you tell them you only have 10 hours drive time left on your 70. They will not look for loads longer than 470 miles.

I know I can cover 600 without fail in certian areas of the country, more in others. I would simply tell them I had 12 or 13 hours.

I always maxed my milage when doing this.

 

Bump Bump Bump

 

Theres alot more to it, you need to know what part of the country your going to and how soon your going to get there what time that will be and adjust your ETA's and PTA's accordingly

Under Stand where your going if your going to Eastern States understand its a Race to Sundown to park at truck stops and parking is limited i suggest rotating your shift to where u end driving at 4 or 5am the truck stops will start emptying around that time. making it easier to park..

Build a re pore with your Dispatcher Talk with them joke with them NEVER BE LATE!! make them trust you and you will get treated right...

BE Honest with what u can and cannot Do and don't put yourself in a bind doing a favor even if dispatch asks you nice..

Average every load at 55mph and Stick to it, if you know your going through a 55mph state and u can lump I-76 in PA to all 55mph try and figure out how many miles just that portion of your route is and subtract those miles from your gross and then Divide your gross by 55mph and divide the 55mph miles by 50 miles per hour and that will increase the accuracy of your ETA/PTA

I don't know how everyone else works very much any more I'm kinda spoiled with walmart but i can Still work 6 days a week and pull in between 2,800mi and 3,500mi depending on what part of the country I am in and what walmart needs me to do, and start a 34hr restart by 10pm on Saturday and be ready 8am Monday morning for a full week of work...

But it all depends on how you run and how hard you want to work..

Accurate ETA's and PTA's are Key to more miles if your running a load and your dispatcher shoots you a preplan look at it see how many miles it is where and when it picks up and start crunching numbers in your head, know how many hours u have left today how close to your next pickup can u get to,

figure in 2 hours to load and if its 600-650 miles just add 14 hours to the pickup time then call your dispatcher tell him/her when you plan on delivering that load and when your ready for your next load a day or 2 in advance you can get more loads that way too..

Here is an example of how i come up with my ETA/PTA with a 34hr restart in it

Load from Los Angeles, CA to Marcy, NY
2,714 Loaded Miles (according to USX)

load picks up Friday 8/31 2pm

2pm fri 8/31
+13hr Drive (600mi) 11.5 wrk hrs

3am Sat 9/1
+10 Sleep

1pm sat 9/1
+12 Drive (650mi) 11.5 wrk hrs

1am sun 9/2
+34hr restart +24hr =1am mon 9/3 +10hr = 11am 9/3

11am mon 9/3
+12 Drive (650mi) 11.5 wrk hrs

11pm mon 9/3
+10 Sleep

9am tues 9/4
+12 Drive (650mi) 11.5 wrk hrs

9pm tues 9/4
+10 Sleep

7am Wed 9/5
+ 5.75 Drive (300mi)

12:45pm Wed 9/5 Delivery

now thats how i come up with my ETA's and PTA's i write them out like long form math, but in Reality i gave myself a large cushion on this load i actually ended up delivering it at 5am 9/5, but i Updated my PTA during my 34hr restart to 6am 9/5 i always add 1 hour to my deliver time just in case because you never know...


-Accurate ETA's & PTA's
-Update your ETA's & PTA's
-Build a Re Pore with Dispatch

 

I am salary also...it makes it alot easier, don't have to worry about making the miles.

 

Drive for a company with faster trucks 65mph is too #### slow.