How often do you stop?

If your paycheck is affected because you made a bathroom stop, you need a new job!

 

I'm wondering how many drivers are skilled at peeing in a pee bottle and driving at the same time?

 

My dog rides with me so I stop a little more often than I really need to, to walk her around. I try to start my days around midnight, then I can run several hours, and she will just sleep back there. It's a good time to get fuel at those times too, because I can pull up to the line, go in wash hands, grab a coffee and walk her completely around the truck stops and no one complains that the truck is sitting there for an extended time (usually all the spots are full anyway at that time).

Someone mentioned bloodflow and clots. I recommend those little personal massagers that you can plug into your inverter and massage your calves and thighs, neck and shoulders while you're driving down the road. This will get your blood flowing and feel good not to mention stimulate your awareness and awakeness. Also helpful, when you are lying down in the bunk, put your feet up on something to elevate them above your heart. You'll see these guys in the summer time walking around in their shorts, with huge black and blue calves which is an indication the blood just stays in their legs and doesn't circulate right.

But to answer your question specifically, I try to run about no more than 9 hours a day driving and on duty so about 3 hours driving, break, 3 hours, then 2 hours something like that. The Elogs make it easier too. If I just pulled over to get fuel at this TA but I like the coffee at Love's better 15 miles down the road, I don't have to eat the time on the drive line or give up 15 more minutes on paper just to pull over.

 

This...

I won't run with anyone who wants to stop every couple of hours...they're a liability.

 

When im on the road it's around every 300 miles.Then it's about a 45 minute brk to let my dog out and get exercise.Then i'l drive my hrs out and take my 10.I don't like to stop too much because then I start to get tired and lazy and don't feel like driving any more that day.

 

Ya know it really depends on your load too and what you have lined up. You guys once you get used to things out there you will learn the times/runs that you can stop a little more frequently. I personally am a hustler and every time I would get a load it would always be a game to me as to how quick I could get it there. Safely! I would make it a personal challenge as to how much filler I could trim out of my day.

Stopping at a truckstop though you really should avoid unless you are fueling or scaling or something. It really eats up your log getting off the interstate and going to that truck stop. You either have to park or pull into the fuel island and it seems that if you are in a hurry it never fails that the guy in front of you at the fuel island is in there taking a shower!

Either hit the pickle park or get out your little notebook you use to keep track of your secret stopping places and find a quick and easy you can just whip in and out. A lot of quick and easy's I would write down in my notebook would be like exits that you get off and there is a little convenience store with like room for one truck or a pull off on the shoulder of the road where you can just dash in and out.

 

One problem with that snafu. Many reefer companies want the driver to get of the truck and check check the reefer and/or the load every 2-4 hours. Usually its every 3 hours. Plus with the new HOS going into effect a driver has to stop before the 7th hour and take a 30 minute break. It doesn't say where. A driver can take thier break in a rest area and eat a sandwich. Granted delivering the load detrimines how hard you run,but I have yet pulled a load that was worth hurting or killing myself over.

 

I took a leisure drive of 8 hours last week to move north.

I stopped every 1-1/2 on the way north, made a long lunch break all that...

Took me 12 hours to drive 8.

About drove me batty and I was more tired doing that than pushing hard.

 

I like them leiser drives.I can make an 8 hr drive take 2 days,lol.