"Break Times" ----what's the Truth ?

1. You can take as many breaks as you want. Every hour if you want. Your company might not like that. Legally every 8 hours of driving you need to take a 30 min break.
2. You are allow 11 hours driving time. I think 12 is for local but you want otr stuff so it's 11 hours total.
3. .....

 

Can drive up to 11hours in a 14 shift, can not go more than 8 hours without taking at least a 30 minute break. Look up the phrase "hours of service" to get a more detailed view of driving "shifts".

Normally are given a load assignment with an delivery appointment time. As the driver, I take as many breaks as I like as long as I can get the load there on time. A bathroom break anytime I need one. Usually that is what dictates when I stop, then grab food, drinks, etc. at that time. I typically have much more time than I need, that I could have used as breaks, but instead get the load to the receiver early.

 

^Most have our favorite kind of stop. Me, any Burger King with truck parking. If ya gotta go, ya gotta go. Rest stops, truck stops any place you can park a truck. I never felt in any type of panic to find a place to urinate, enough places on the road you can stop. It is more just working stops in with the flow (no pun intended) of fuel stops and getting your load to its final destination.

Normally schedule my shower time for the same time I need to use a rest room for more than just a tinkle. Accrue extra shower credits so once in a while, I will use a shower room just so I can have a private rest room. I think most of us also keep a mental list of where the cleaner, better rest rooms are located on the road.

I have heard the stories of guys peeing in a bottle, etc. I never felt the need. I think that is mostly the M.O. of hardcore lease or owner operators who could stop but feel the pressure of their truck payment hanging over their head.

 

^
I pee in a sunny d bottle.
Taking a ramp cost me at least 15 minutes usually.

But I actually carry it in and dump it out in the toilet where it belongs. Walk back out with jug.

Classy for a truck driver eh?

Even wash my hands.

:-O

Straight 8 unless playing the even elog game during rollover then sit in front of gate waiting for receiver to show up.

 

Good questions, OP --

I think one of the hardest things for new/non drivers to get their heads around is this: in OTR there are no regular shifts and no overtime pay. We don't even use the word "shift." Others have addressed the HOS. I'll go out on a limb and quote myself:

"Non-union, irregular-route trucking isn't eight daily hours on the job then a commute home to the family, five days and 40 hours looking forward to another weekend, week following predictable week, and paid holidays. It is camping out two, three, four, or five weeks in your truck. Maybe a load gets you home for an evening, maybe not. Think of day shift, swing shift, or graveyard and of working any one, two, or three of them--or split parts of them--in the same 24-hour period, then other parts in the next 24, no two days ever alike, day after day. You take your time off 500, 1,500, or 2,500 miles from home.
Every load picks up and delivers at different times. Truck drivers don't speak of formal work shifts. There aren't any. You'll never see a time card. The job lasts until it is done, until freight is stacked on a dock, until a trailer is empty or dropped at a customer, whether it's 3 a.m. or 3 p.m., midnight or midday. Then you're off to the next load and the one after that."

I loved OTR, loved being up at all hours, loved the short haul/long haul, short day/long day variety. You could say I got off on it. It was a job of work and a major responsibility which I took seriously, but, for me, it was also an adventure.

 

Correction. You have to have the break when you reach the 8 hour time limit from the last 30 minute break or off duty time of 30 minutes or more. You can have the 15 minute inspection and then can only drive 7 hours 45 minutes.

 

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. There was pain with the pleasure, but that's true of most things. Safe trip -- You too, bergy.