Trip Planning "Coefficients?"

When planning a load I allow for 12 hour breaks, because 10 hours simply does not give me enough time to wind down, sleep enough, wake up and do a pre-trip before driving again.

I add 10% to the miles the plan gives me, because they are usually short by at least that much - especially on longer runs.

I also allow 2 hours for breaks during a full 11 hour day of driving in 14 hours of on-duty time.

That is a general rule, but I sometimes will shorten the break times if needs be. Sometimes by as much as 1 hour.


I am not about to kill myself driving loads of diapers, or whatever else, by trying to keep to a strict 10/14/70 maxed out to get all the miles I can before I drop of fatigue.


I turn down any load that I don't think I can comfortably do within my own personal time-frame.


As to the actual planning when I get a pplan...
I look at when it picks up and when it delivers, and if it is a live load and unload.
Live anything gets 2 hours added, while a preload or drop gets 1 hour.
A heavy load gets 1/2 hour for a scale, and extra time for hills. A heavy load can drop my average from 55 to 45 real quick, depending on the length of the trip and the terrain.


I use a GPS as well.
I like that it tells me my current ETA at any given time, and in the correct time zone.
With that ETA I can calculate how much time I have for breaks, etc.

But using that 'overall speed' of your Garmin is misleading, because your trip is different at different points.

 

I don't take breaks because I don't need them. On a 700-800 mile run I may take one break for 5-10 mins. I take all my breaks at a rest stop and not a truck stop because you can get in and out of a rest stop quicker. I average most of my loads at 55mph. If it is a heavy load in mountains then I go down to 50 or 45. I get there early and drop and let others deal with the 2-3 hours of unloading.

 

On a team truck I can go from San Diego CA. to Atlanta GA, in 39 hours. So many new drivers wait till the last minute to take off on a planed destination. On my own I have never bin late due to heading out as soon as the load assignment is received. Yes, I know, never had to go to that place B/4, can we park out front and wait when we get their, and is it safe with room to park and then find some food while waiting. I understand the concerns that our valid, but most DM's and dispatchers will give you a little extra time anyway when you our new to get there. The avg speed is 67.5 mph for all trucks. So 48 to 53 mph has worked well for me. The GPS is new and I would not discount it, but using an OTR Atlas for trucks is best. The batteries never go bad on a map, and it will always work in bad weather. You just never know what is at the other end. So feel it is best to move those load assignments out ASAP, and get as close to your delivery's with good information. Not all new drivers due this, but sitting at the truck stop till the last minute will kill you in this business. Save your hours at the other end, not at the start.

 

Well said my trip plan includes what supplies I have in the truck. Do I have food and water so I can get there. Also don't be afraid to call the shippers or consignees and ask them about there policies. I have been able to unload early because of a simple phone call. On to the next load.

 

I always did my trip planning at 50 mph, on multi day trips allowed for 500 miles per day plus 50 mph avg for the the miles left over. This will allow plenty of time for food and rest stops during each day as you actually run faster than 50 mph. Then plan to run 10 1/2 hrs driving and always be ahead of your planned schedule. If HOS comes up short with this quick method you need to sharpen your pencil and estimate best possible ETA running hard.

 

Try looking at your RECAP,,,

 

Once you been driving long enough and on a dedicated or regional run and know the states roads cust ect you don't have to trip plan.My last company was TX and back so I knew the route.Or if your company gives you a pre assign a day before then plan your route while taking your 10 hr brk.Saves time in the morning.

 

myself i just grab the pre plan and knew if i could go or not, second i look at that big tv they had in dispacth office they had the weather channel and based my times on that , you might get half there and bam get holed up in a truckstop due too a blizzard, so i always ask my dm if can go out route and most time not, so there i set