11 hour limit for drivers

Depends on the load and where you are going.

 

The 10th hr you spend looking for a safe haven to take your 10 hr brk.Never drive with only 15 minutes left on your drive time.You may not find a place to take your brk before your 11 hr.Actually the load you are on dictates how many hrs you drive.Its all in your trip planning.

 

9-10

is average

 

I prefer to drive 8.75 hours a day. That way you never need to do a 34 hour reset. You will find a rhythm you like and can very that up. The truck stop parking lots fill up. Around 5 it is nice to be comfortably in a spot and headed for the shower. Myself, I like to drive at night and avoid the traffic. Just because you can drive for 11 doesn't mean you have to. There is never a reason to rush and then have to wait at the receiver or shipper, except for weather.

I have a load that needs to deliver on Monday in the Chicago area. I picked up the load in Grandview, MO Friday. I live in Liberty, MO so I am spending the weekend at home. Along comes a snow storm warning so now, I am in the truck and getting ready to depart for Chicago. I will get there tonight and then spend tomorrow in the truck and Monday hit the two drops I have.

I have my Audible books, my tv, and microwave. APU keeps the truck warm so tomorrow will be boring but I will already be there when the storm comes through.

Driving more then 8.75 means at some point you will either have to put in a short day or reset. Save your reset times for home time.

 

Roads are getting slick in northern Illinois already. http://wrc.gettingaroundillinois.com/pages/wrc.htm

 

the whole 8.75 thing will only work if you have zero on-duty time. Pre-trips, loading, unloading, fueling, etc will cut into that time. if you try to use that plan, your actual drive time will really be 8 hrs or less each day.

That being said, I drive whatever I need to drive each day and don't try to stick to any formula. I get a reset at home most weekends so I rarely run out my 70. If you're using your whole 70 each week, you're working too hard and need to find a better paying job. I usually only work 55-60 hrs a week and I make a good living. I mean honestly if you're working 70 hrs every week, you're gonna get burned out real quick. I can drive 550 miles in 9 hrs of actual line 3 time and that's plenty for one day. Ill do more if I absolutely have to, but only if I absolutely have to.

 

Depends on the COMPANY! IMO. Do they want you drive every legal second you can? Some do. Some will call you and wake you up when your clock reaches 10:01 sleeper and ask why you are not on duty doing your pre trip.... There is no average my friend. Too many variables involved in every day out there. As an o/o I can say the co. I am leased to would prefer that I run non stop but for legal breaks. But I don't play that way. I have a home, I have a life. I only work as much as I have to to pay the bills and live comfortably.

 

BTW, my days are about 12 hours long altogether with breaks and fueling and doggie potty stops. I run dedicated drop and hook. 4 days on 3 days off. Actual drive time is usually around 10.5 to 11 hours.

 

The 11 hour rule does not say you can only drive 11 hours in a day. It says you may only drive 11 hours before taking a 10 hour break. Once the 10 hour break is over you can legally drive again even it is still the same calendar day. But, like others said, the load dictates how many you actually use in any given day!