How often do you actually drive 11 hours/day?

the very odd occasion I have driven 11/13 hours a day, but I don't make a habit of it. It wipes me out. But there are times when you are going to HAVE to run that long just to make a delivery that your dispatch gives you last minute and tells you it needs to be there the next morning. Which of course means you are also going to have times where that 11 hours is going to be straight through the night.

So to answer your question, it's probably not going to be an every day occurrence but you are going to end up doing it.

 

After the company went to Elogs, I usually limited it to average 9 hours or sometimes 10. The terminal manager fussed about me not using the full 11 hours, but my reply was "what difference does it make as long as you're not late for appointments?" I was never late and usually early, so had to wait for the appointment time anyway.

 

I get over 10 hours about 1-3 days a week, the balance I'll drive anywhere from 3-9, depending on loads. The long driving days really only happen on multiday runs, on the day(s) when you don't have a pickup or delivery.

One thing to bear in mind, especially with the required 30 minute break, you have control over your break schedule. I rarely drive more than 2-3 hours at a time without taking a "leg shaker". If I'm getting toward the end of my day and getting tired I may only go 90 minutes between short breaks. You have 3 hours more than 11 to take rest breaks, pretrip, and post trip. Sometimes I'll take a longer rest break for my 30, like a 90 minute sleep break, in order to stay fresh and safe.

 

Never. And I agree with crb's comment early in the thread.

 

I dont see anywhere where the OP asked about elogs...so whats all the mumbo jumbo on elogs for? I rarely drive 11 hrs a day. Its usually 11.5-12 to get er done n keep everything consistant.

 

Every day I drive almost 12 hours

 

Remember you rub your ship. What ever you fill like driving drive But it will make for a ###### pay check if you cant hold the steering wheel that long. If your company gives you shot say I wanna talk to safety then they won't say ####(say you fill tired and the load is not worth your life or the lives of people around you plus there equipment). When I started it was hard to stay behind the wheel. But now it's no problem. Also remember you only have 70 hrs drive/ on duty burn it you gotta take a 34 stay around 8-10 of combined duty you should not run out

 

If you are a long haul driver you spend every possible minute behind the wheel. You might spend a day delivering and picking up mixed with driving and the next day all driving. It all depends on the length of haul.

You gotta love driving. Even before truck driving any road trip I was elected the driver and didn't mind one bit.

For a greenhorn all the driving might be overwhelming. After about 3 years or so them trips seem to get shorter and shorter. I remember when I started 650 miles seemed like a 1000 miles. Now 650 miles seems like 200. Mainly because you learn how to manage your time better, you know how to battle boredom and entertain your mind and you get to know all the roads which shortens a trip. If you take scheduled breaks that even helps with all the driving. Three 220 mile legs is a lot shorter than one 650 mile leg.

If you question all that driving then you probably wouldn't be happy doing it. I don't see it much different than any other job doing something repetitive. You learn to deal with it. At least truck driving you have some freedom and don't have to ask someone to take a break and you have ever changing scenery. Each load is different. Kind of like a job within a job.

The turnover rate is extremely high. You have to be born to truck just like someone is born to sing or play an instrument. You either got it or you don't.

 

Sounds like you've got the necessary qualities for the job. I'd recommend dry vans to start. It's the safest bet to succeed-- for a new driver that is. Notice that TS doesn't say anything negative about dry vans... you mentioned flatbed. Unless you're relatively young (say under 40) and in decent shape, you may be biting off more than you can chew in choosing flatbed as a start...