Quality of Life and Trucking??

That is the way I am anyway. All other times, when I do not have my guy, I would be totally mobile. I was thinking that if I am available without question AND have a good rapport with my dispatcher, it could be doable. I am just trying at this point to get my affairs in order and tie up some loose ends before such a major change.

Still haven't read anything or heard anything from drivers that has caused me to back away from this. And thank you to all of the experienced input you guys can give us wannabes.

 

The replies on diet pretty well cover the issue. Fridge, and ac/dc cooking appliances, or just keeping your eyes peeled for the truckstops with decent menus.
On the fitness issue.. You'll find various gadgets at your fitness stores that will work. I had the same problem till I delivered to a fitness store on Long Island. Picked up a deal that looked like a short jump-rope, but with oversized handles, and a rubber/elastic band for the "rope" 14lbs per handle did'nt sound like much till i improvised, and used em BOTH with one hand, and looped the band. 56llbs was just fine for one muscle group. It's not a matter of NOT being able to workout, but figuring a way to get it done.
Don't fret if you hear "it can't be done" Often the person saying it is hiding that he did'nt WANT to do it. It can be tough to find the motivation after 11 hrs rolling, but there's a way to do anything.

 

As for the 11 hour rule, if you max your log book out every day you can, you will make far less due to having to reset all the time. That pisses fleetmanagers off too. They have a load for you and you tell them you are maxed on your 70! If you do 9 or 9.5 hours a day, you should be able to streach that logbook out and not have to reset. That way, you dont have to worry about having a day of NO miles at all! That was one of my first mistakes.[/quote]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So you won't run out of hours as long as you don't run you full 11/14
every day. Can you please explain.

hope this doesn't make me thread stealer.

 

9 times 7 = 63 hours

11 x 7 = 77

Typical Example of issue

Day one- 11 hours 11 Hours towards 70
Day two- 9 hours 20 Hours towards 70
Day three- 9.5 hours 29.5 Hours towards 70
Day four- 9.25 hours 38.75 Hours towards 70
Day five- 9.00 hours 47.75 Hours towards 70
Day six- 9.25 hours 57 Hours towards 70
Day seven- 9.5 Hours 66.5 Hours towards 70

So, that leaves you with 3.5 hours to run on the 8th day! It sneeks up on you too. (70-66.5=3.5)

If you change the 11 to a 9, it at least gets you to over 6 hours available. Cap yourself at 9 hours total a day, and it gives you I think.... 7 hours on the 8th day. Chances are, you will have some 6, 7, or 8 hour days in your log and you will have 9 hours available every day, but my point with this is, just one 11 hour day can screw you on the 8th day. Two can force a Zero available day. Three for sure.

Day one- 11 hours - 11 hours
Day two- 11 hours- 22 hours
Day three- 11 hours- 33 hours
Day four- 9 hours- 42 hours
Day five- 9.5 hours- 51.5 hours
Day six- 9.5 hours- 61 hours
Day seven- 9 hours- 70 hours

Leaves you with a zero DAY! And if you have to run no matter what on day 9 and cant get a full reset, there will still be two 11 hours screwing your log.

Sometimes its unavoidable. But just be aware instead of racking up hours without thinking about it. Loads are still pretty much booked at 8 to 9 hours a day at 55 mph.

 

Cool thanks for the help

 

Like I said before, if you want to 'shut down' you have to be a solo. When freight is popping, my husband and I never shut down due to the 11 hour rule. Remember with teams there are two 11 hour/14 hour rules. You can only drive for 11 hours but you can 'work' for 14 hours. That means when picking up and dropping loads yhid is time spent 'on duty, not driving' which goes toward your 14 hr rule not your 11 hr rule. So even though you are only driving for 11 hrs you are working for up to 14 hours. As a team this means your truck does not stop when freight is moving, it is moving 24/7. No quality sleep, no healthy meals, no gym, ect!

 

Teams = no real life. And the money to the truck as a whole is the same. You may get better loads, but its all to the benifit of the company, not the driver. Just a way to work you like dogs. I enjoy having a life, on or off the road.

 

Hi,
I am the girl friend of a truck driver. I had ridden with him for 4 months too. He goes to the doctor when he is in town and then when he is on the road and he runs out he has to get them refilled. Where does he go? To Wal-Mart. That is my problem. He cannot park his 18-wheeler in Wal-Mart's parking liot. There are so may truck drivers that want to buy supplies and groceries and whatever at Wal-Mart but they do not allow the trucks to park in their lots. That to me is discrimination. Discrimination against truck drivers. Something has to be done and I want to be the one to do it. I want to start something, something to help the truck drivers. I was thinking of going to truck stops with a petition and having drivers sign it. Please help if you know of a way that I may get something done. Truck drivers have the right to go to Wal-Mart and spend their money like all other people. So now I am going to do something. Without truck drivers this world would be nothing.
If you know of an idea that would help me start something, please email me and let me know. Thanking you in advance,
Karen