Trans Am Still

Correct me if I am wrong .....and I know that you guys will .....but your GPS calculates the time it takes to get to your destination based on the maximum highway speed and no delays. It doesn't take into account construction, the fact that your truck is governed at a lower maximum speed, or any number of other delays that can happen.

 

That's one of the things that is wrong with our industry. Yes, technically you don't start your day until you start driving because that's how our pay is figured, BUT unloading/loading is supposed to be logged on duty. We all know that isn't the way it is, though, and probably never will be because drivers can't agree on the color of the sky on a clear sunny day, much less something really important.

 

Very true....unfortunately the way things should be and reality are often two different things. There are many things wrong with the industry and many of them have nothing to do with drivers and everything to do with folks that have never been in a truck making laws for the people that drive them.
In the meantime, the reality is that in order to make enough money to survive, especially your first OTR driving job, you have to save your clock for the time that the wheels are turning. The truth is that you are On Duty 24/7 ....you don't go home every night and you are responsible for the truck and the load around the clock, you should be paid for it.

 

I'll have to call an ask as you say, Looked it on on google Maps all I seen was Cars though no trucks possibly they have some parking but I'll have to call

 

Some GPS if they have live traffic updates will calculate times adjusted for traffic but otherwise your right HTQ. I never even notice the time estimates because as you say, they don't adjust for things like the trucks top governed speed. I just look at the miles and figure it out myself.

HTQ is also right about managing your clock. I would ALWAYS find a way to park at or near a receiver so I could start my day unloading off the clock. Often parking is not conveniently located at a shipper/receiver and I would park up to a mile or so away and "creep" up to the receiver at less than 15 mph to avoid being automatically put on the drive line. Google maps is your friend, I would just extend my search beyond the parking lots provided by the receiver.

Finding a place to tuck in, out of peoples way, where no one will bother you is a bit of an art. If you keep posting who your shipper/receivers are, I will be happy to share some of my parking spot locations with you.

In Dodge city, you can bobtail and park behind the Cattleman's Restarunt near the Wyatt Earp Inn and get free WiFi. It is still close enough to the Flying J to walk and take a shower. If I had an extended wait time I would park behind the Comfort Inn. Again, free WiFi, some places around to eat and the Comfort Inn has a clean, public restroom.

 

I wasn't trying to be mean, jdmredneck, and I hope I didn't sound that way. I just want to give you the best start possible and between all of us here we have learned quite a bit. I know that you can drive that truck and get from point A to point B, the only thing we have to work on is making it work for you and making a good paycheck. You can spend a lot of time working for nothing in this industry if you don't know how to use your time wisely.
It will take time for you to figure out your planning and what you are comfortable with.....in the meantime, take advantage of the experience here. Follow the lead of our more experienced drivers even if you don't understand why yet. It takes awhile to learn this part of being a driver.

 

Thank you, Sir Passport. I am always aware that I am not a driver and some explanations are better coming from someone that is.

 

All I can say is god bless non-electronic logs. All this mambo jumbo you guys are talkin about...it gives me a headache even thinkin about it. I think when it finally becomes mandatory to run like you guys run I'm gonna quit truckin and flip burgers cuz the money will be about the same.

 

With the technology that is out there today, everyone is already on an electronic leash, with or without elogs. Fuel receipts are computerized and time stamped, shippers and receivers, cameras, your own phone.....and the list goes on and on. Elogs do nothing more than speed up the process and save them time.......that's the way that I see it anyway.
Each state's highway cameras are very easy to watch, most cities have cameras that are available also, and then there are the private webcams that you can access.....you guys are never off of the radar. When the King was OTR, if I hadn't heard from him, I could start checking cameras.....I wasn't being sneaky, he knew that I did.

 

You're evil.