Real Time Trip Planning. Roll with Dino and others.

Thanks for starting this thread! I start right out of school with Watkins Shepard for their 10 day orientation and I'm sure I'll be in touch. Your timing is impeccable!

 

Well mine is a bit more planned out than most, but then I can usually tell dispatch to within 15min of what time I will arrive.

Current load: Dispatch

Auto parts:
load address appointment time.
Detroit to Edmonton Alberta Canada.
load info 43,790 lbs in 53 ft dry van.
Delivery address and unload appointment.
Customs broker GH Younge

Now I know there are 2 possible routes for this trip:

First is through Chicago to Pembina ND to Winnipeg then Hwy 16 to Edmonton. miles 1990.8
Second Hwy 75 north through Sault Saint Marie , Hwy 17 to Winnipeg, then TC1 to Hwy 16 to Edmonton. 2075.0 miles.

Now here is where experience and planning come into play. The first route is shorter by 85 miles give or take. But you have the tollways and Chicago to deal with. 11/14 log times. Route 2 you avoid the tollways Chicago, and are able to run 13/14 logs with split sleeper. You will be going the more cost effective route both in time and fuel to go the second route. ADDED BONUS you can run heavier on Canada roads than you can on interstate. Therefore no worries maxing out your fuel load.

I calculated my fuel burn and could make Winnipeg on full tanks. Thus minimizing the number of times I need to stop for fuel. Drove 10 hours the first day, stopped at a little town parked up for the night no worries about log hours due to the 13/14 regs. Did 8 hours sleep time, hit the road and drove another 3 hours. Stopped at Thunder Bay, had shower and breakfast, fuel, net 2 hours off duty, hit the road drove 10 hours, arrived Brandon Manitoba Canada, parked up at a Petro Pass truck stop. 8 hours bunk time, fuel/pretrip both at the same 15 minute log entry. Drove 3 hours to Saskatchewan had breakfast, and did some grocery shopping at a little store, net 2 hours. Drove 10 hours to Lloydminister Saskatchewn/Alberta, parked at Husky truck stop had shower and 8 hours bunk time. Drove to Sherwood Park Alberta Parked at FJ, 10 hours bunk/off duty. unload appointment 8 AM.

My reload is Edmonton Alberta to Laredo Texas Load info and total trip plan to follow.

 

A useful tool I have is a pocket guide for truck stops. it also has rest areas. this way I can plan a stop ahead of time. it is only about $7 at a t/s.

http://truckandtravel.com/buy_now.html

 

So here it is trip plan number 102212: Try to stay awake please:
Load info:
Preloaded trailer # 0000000
Frozen maintain -10 F
Load frozen food
Wt. 39,890
Ace manifest accepted, cross Sweet grass MT.
No unload appt required drop trailer for export to Mexico
Load to arrive no later than 0800 10-26-12
Receiver addresses and phone number
Broker phone number.

For obvious reasons I am not putting all information here, names, addresses ect have been omitted for security reasons.

Now I have 31 hours 24 minutes left on my log.

According to Truck GPS the trip is 2571 miles. But being a skilled professional I know that is ######## and there is a better way. Out comes laptop and MS Streets and Trips 2011. Punch in information start and stop come up with 2309.5 miles. Get out the two do not leave without items : 2012 national truck stop directory and you guess it 2012 motor carriers Road Atlas. MS streets and trips route is.

00 AM 0.0 ml  Depart Edmonton on 103AAve NW (West) for 0.1 ml

00 AM 0.1 ml Road name changes to 104 Ave NW for 0.6 ml

01 AM 0.7 ml Turn LEFT (South) onto 109 St NW for 1.0 ml

04 AM 1.7 ml Road name changes to High Level Bridge NW for 0.4 ml

05 AM 2.1 ml Road name changes to 109 St NW for 0.6 ml

06 AM 2.7 ml Turn LEFT (East) onto 82 AV@NW [Whyte Ave] for 0.6 ml

08 AM 3.3 ml Turn RIGHT (South) onto 104 St NW [Calgary Trail NW] for 1.7 ml

:11 AM 5.1 ml Keep STRAIGHT onto Calgary Trail NW for 0.9 ml

12 AM 5.9 ml Road name changes to Hwy-2 [Calgary Trail NW] for 0.2 ml

12 AM 6.1 ml Road name changes to Calgary Trail NW for 21 yds
12 AM 6.2 ml Road name changes to Hwy-2 [Calgary Trail NW] for 268.4 ml

09 PM 274.6 ml Turn LEFT (East) onto Hwy-519 [Township Road II 0] for 0.3 ml

10 PM 274.9 ml Keep STRAIGHT onto Hwy-519 [McEwan St] for 1.4 ml

13 PM 276.3 ml Keep STRAIGHT onto Hwy-519 for 17.9 ml

31 PM 294.2 ml Bear RIGHT (Sout@East) onto Local road(s) for 54 yds

32 PM 294.3 ml Bear RIGHT (South) onto Hwy-23 for 5.6 ml

38 PM 299.9 ml Take Ramp onto Hwy-3 [Crowsnest Hwy] for 14.2 ml towards Hwy-3
52 PM 314.1 ml Keep RIGHT onto Ramp for 0.1 ml towards Hwy-5 / Mayor Magrath Dr Hwy-4 Services

53 PM 314.3 ml Road name changes to 3 Ave S for 32 yds
53 PM 314.3 ml Turn LEFT (South) onto Hwy-5 [Mayor Magrath Dr S] for 2.0 ml

56 PM 316.3 ml Bear LEFT (East) onto Hwy-4 [24 Ave S] for 62.8 ml
54 PM 379.1 ml Entering Montana
:54 PM 379.1 ml Road name changes to 1-15 for 118.2 ml

:34 PM 497.3 ml At exit 278, take Ramp onto 1-1 5 Bus [US-89] for 2.7 ml towards US-89 Mt-200 1 Oth Ave South

:38 PM 500.0 ml Keep STRAIGHT onto US-89 [SR-200] for 0.6 ml

:39 PM 500.7 ml Keep STRAIGHT onto US-87 [US-89] for 21.7 ml
:00 PM 522.4 ml End of day

2
:00 AM 522.4 ml Stay on US-87 [US-89] (South) for 65.6 ml
:55 AM 587.9 ml Turn RIGHT (South) onto US-191 [SR-3] for 39.3 ml

:37 AM 627.2 ml Turn LEFT (South-East) onto US- 1 2 [SR-3] for 45.1 ml

:16AM 672.3 ml Turn RIGHT (South) onto SR-3 for 43.5 ml

:54 AM 715.8 ml Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-3 Truck [Airport Rd) for 1.4 ml

:56 AM 717.2 ml Bear LEFT (East) onto SR-3 Truck [E Airport Rd] for 1.5 ml
:58 AM 718.7 ml Turn RIGHT (South) onto US-312 [US-87] for 0.7 ml

:00 PM 719.4 ml Turn LEFT (North-East) onto 1-90 Bus [US-87] for 1.3 ml

:01 PM 720.7 ml Take Ramp (LEFT) onto 1-90 [US-212] for 3.4 ml towards 1-90

:04 PM 724.2 ml At exit 456, take Ramp (RIGHT) onto 1-90 [US-212] for 156.1 ml towards 1-90 Sheridan

:27 PM 822.1 ml Entering Wyoming
Construction between Banner and Big Horn (SB) (April 6, 2012 - February 28, 2013)

:16 PM 880.2 ml At exit 56B, take Ramp (RIGHT) onto 1-25 [US-87] for 192.8 ml towards 1-25 / US-87 / Casper
Construction between Kaycee and Buffalo (SB) (August 15, 2011 - October 31, 2012)
5:00 PM 1073.0 ml End of day

DAY 3
Check your departure time; the next stop is in a different time zone.
9:00 AM 1073.0 ml Stay on 1-25 [US-26] for 179.3 ml
Construction near Cheyenne (SB) (September 14, 2012 - March 28, 2013)
10:31 AM 1181.6 ml Entering Colorado
11:31 AM 1252.4 ml At exit 228, turn RIGHT onto Ramp for 0.2 ml towards E-470 / Northwest Pky /Airport / Limon
Broomfield
11:31 AM 1252.6 ml Keep LEFT to stay on Ramp for 0.8 ml towards E-470 Tollway / Limon / Denver International
Airport
11:32 AM 1253.4 ml *Toll road* Merge onto E-470 for 24.6 ml
11:53 AM 1278.0 ml At exit 20, take Ramp (RIGHT) onto E-470 for 0.9 ml towards 1-70 / Aurora / Denver / Limon
11:54 AM 1278.9 ml Turn LEFT (East) onto Local road(s) for 21 yds
11:54 AM 1278.9 ml Take Ramp onto 1-70 [US-287] for 73.5. ml towards 1-70 / Limon
12:66 PM 1352.4 ml At exit 363, turn RIGHT onto Ramp for 0.3 ml towards US-40 / US-287 / Hugo / Kit Carson
12:57 PM 1352.7 ml Turn RIGHT (South-East) onto US-287 [US-40] for 107.7 ml
2:34 PM 1460.4 ml Keep LEFT onto Ramp for 0.4 ml
2:35 PM 1460.9 ml Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto US-287 [US-501 for 103.8 ml
3:55 PM 1546.1 ml Entering Oklahoma
4: 11 PM 1564.6 ml At roundabout, take the THIRD exit onto US-287 [US-412] for 1.8 ml towards US-412 US-56
US-64 / Guymon /Amarillo, TX
4:13 PM 1566.4 ml Keep RIGHT onto Local road(s) for 0.3 ml towards US-287
4:14 PM 1566.6 ml Keep STRAIGHT onto US-287 for 53.2 ml
4:31 PM 1587.5 ml Entering Texas
Check local time; this stop is in a different time zone.
5:00 PM 1619.8 ml End of day
DAY 4
9:00 AM 1619.8 ml Stay on US-287 for 62.2 ml
9:56 AM 1682.0 ml Keep LEFT onto Ramp for 0.2 ml towards US-87 / Pierce St 1-40
9:56 AM 1682.2 ml Road name changes to US-87 [N Pierce St] for 0.3 ml
9:57 AM 1682.5 ml Road name changes to US-60 [US-87] for 1.7 ml
1 0:00 AM 1684.2 ml Road name changes to US-287 [US-601 for 0.1 ml
I 0:00 AM 1684.3 ml Road name changes to 1-27 [US-601 for 123.1 ml
11:45 AM 1807.4 ml At exit I B, take Ramp (RIGHT) onto Avenue H (1-27 S] for 0.8 ml towards TX-289-Loop E
US-84 / Post
11:46 AM 1808.2 ml Take Ramp (LEFT) onto US-84 [W Slaton Hwy) for 37.7 ml towards US-84
12:20 PM 1845.9 ml Keep STRAIGHT onto US-380 [US-84] for 0. 1 ml
12:20 PM 1846.0 ml Keep STRAIGHT onto US-84 [S Broadway St] for 75.3 ml
1:24 PM 1921.3 ml Take Ramp (LEFT) onto 1-20 [US-80] for 6.4 ml towards 1-20 / Abilene
1:29 PM 1927.7 ml At exit 244, turn RIGHT onto Ramp for 164 yds towards TX-70 Business / TX-70 S / Sweetwater
/ San Angelo
1:29 PM 1927.8 ml Keep STRAIGHT onto SW Georgia St [1-20 E] for 0.1 ml
Turn RIGHT (Suth) onto SR-70 [Lamar St] far 11.0 mi irA
Keep LEFT on& SR-153 EFM-193J far 36.5 mi
T m RIGHT {South) onto US83 fur U.4 mi
Road nms c h a w to US67 [USW fw 0.9 mi
T m LEFT (SwtbEast) mto US43 for 57. l mi
K mS TRAIGHT -0 US-WO [U15-03] ~ o TI .a I
Road narm changes to US43 [Edsca Ave] fm 28.8 mi
Keep STRAIGHT antQ US-377' [U6-83l for .O mi
Take Ramp (LEFT) wtto 1-10 [CIS431 for 5.9 mi tuwwtis 1-10
At exit 462, take Ramp (RIGHT) onto GI0 fur 0.5 mi towards US-83 S I Uvd&
Keep RIGHT onlo tml rmd(s) for 0.2 mi
Bmr RIGHT (Smith) onb M-83 for 74.3 mi
End d day
Stay m US-83 for 22.0 mi
W WGHT (South) d o Loud mad@) far 98 yds
Kmp STRAIGHT onto US-83 for 112.1 mi
Keep STMGW d oI- 35 S IUS-83 S]f a0 .3 mi
Take Ramp (LEFT) anto 1-35 [US831 fur 15.9 mi towards 1-35 1 US-83
At exit 2, We Ramp (RIGHT) mb Smta Ursula Ave br 0.3 mi twmd US-59 I f r w I Carpus
Christ! I Hwctm
Turn EFT {East) onto US59 [thnfayette Sf] fur 153 yds

Now I mentioned the atlas well I use govt road maps for my trips but the atlas is good for new drivers what I want from it is the phone/fax numbers for the operating authorities for each state they will give me my updated restrictions and any changes to heights the atlas is time sensitive as it was printed at the beginning of the year.

Montana; 406-444-6130 fax none
Wyoming 307-77-4850 fax 307-777-4772
Colorado 303-894-2000 fax303-894-2071
Oklahoma 405-521-2251 fax 405-521-2916
Texas 800-299-1700 none

Now that I have these I can call and get the most recent information.
Streets and trips also gives you any road construction information, where when ect. You can plan any detours ect from that. Check route from MS streets and trips is good to go no restrictions on that route. Microsoft streets and trips 149.00 with gps usb attachment. Cobra GPS platinum 300.00 and change and gave longer routing.


Now 2309.5 divided by 50 gives me my driving time. 46.19 hours. Divide that by 11 = 4.19 so I will need to add 40 hours sleeper birth/off duty to the total = 86.19 hours divided by 24= 3.591 3-1/2 days it is going to take.

So going back I only have 31 hours 24 minutes left on my log. So I will need to get a hold of dispatch and see if arrangements can be made for Jim to meet me at a location for a load swap advantage of having my husband driving for the same dispatcher. Or get another driver to meet me and switch loads so I can reset. If not I will have to refuse the load.

Called dispatch have made arrangements for Jim and I to meet and swap loads. Reefer weights more at front for obvious reasons. I will scale the load and determine what my fuel load can be to stay legal. 1 gallon fuel is approx 7 lbs. I know I wont be able to run full tanks with this load. I then go to the truckers atlas and find the weight scale locations. I calculate how much fuel I can take on and be legal when I hit the scales. I have never had an overweight ticket in the years I have been driving.

My calculations tell me full tanks I will be 800 lbs over weight. 800 divided by 7 = 114.28 gallons subtract that from my tank full = 185.72 so just over ½ tanks. Burn rate to scale distance divided by MPG. I average 7.6 with my truck so I can take on that many gallons from where I fill to the scale and still be legal when I arrive even though technically I leave the fuel island overweight.