Best hours to drive for new driver?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by JojoTheTruckDriver, Mar 22, 2016.

  1. TruckerVinny

    TruckerVinny Medium Load Member

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    12-12 that is the schedule they told me when hired.
    Seriously, I like hitting the truck stop around lunch time. Plenty of spaces and peace to fall asleep in.
     
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  3. JojoTheTruckDriver

    JojoTheTruckDriver Bobtail Member

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    Mar 15, 2016
    Baltimore Maryland
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    Thanks y
    Understandable boss! That is definitely nothing to play with. I do not drive unless I am fully alert, I do take my safety and the safety of the general public seriously.
    I am still doing team training, one week I'm driving night, one week I'm driving daytime.
    Just wanted to know what time is best for a new driver once I go solo in 2 wks.
    Or if it doesn't make a difference then that is fine as well.
     
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  4. JojoTheTruckDriver

    JojoTheTruckDriver Bobtail Member

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    Mar 15, 2016
    Baltimore Maryland
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    *Thank you.
     
  5. JojoTheTruckDriver

    JojoTheTruckDriver Bobtail Member

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    Mar 15, 2016
    Baltimore Maryland
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    That sounds pretty decent. Thanks bro!
     
  6. MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

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    Well, that is a fairly straightforward and direct answer... Although you must be able to drive at any time during the day/night, you need to find when you are the most alert ...

    For me, if I had a good nights sleep I can drive all night... But mornings are very dangerous for me if I didn't get enough sleep (night owl) ... I can put off sleep for hours but if I get up and try to drive before I am fully rested then I am pulling off after just an hour or two in order to grab a few more Zs.

    I met a driver the other week to swap trailers and he has been driving the night shift for 34 years. That's when he is at his best and likes to avoid the daytime traffic ... And parking is rarely an issue for him since he is parked while everyone else is driving during the day.
     
  7. austinmike

    austinmike Road Train Member

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    When I drove team, my partner, a youngster, liked to drive at nite. Me being a few years older than him preferred days.
    One day he asked me, you know why the truck stops all fill up about dark? I said why?
    He said because all the truck drivers are old and cant see after dark!
    L O L
     
  8. MayhemTrucking

    MayhemTrucking Heavy Load Member

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    All about the parking. Used too u drove based on preference and/or appt time. Now days it's based more around when you shut down in a region and what is the typical times that the area usually shuts down for parking.. Thanks Washington! Lol
     
  9. ExOTR

    ExOTR Windshield Chipper Extraordinaire

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    Depends on region, planning to avoid hitting rush hour in the larger metros, weather, etc. I normally tried to run 0400-1700, but would alter it based on traffic and weather conditions. Good thing about waking up at 0300 was no wait for the showers. But a lot of it really boils down to your pu and delv appts. Work out your own rhythm, some of us are night owls and some of us enjoy waking up early.
     
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  10. G13Tomcat

    G13Tomcat Road Train Member

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    HAYYYYY~~ I'm old, and I resemble (oops resent) that remark, LoL~! I don't do teams (thk Gosh) but I've got excellent night vision; some people don't (there was a thread on here about that a while back....) and I get a "shift differential" per se (an extra $100/week) driving nights. I'm company, not O/O, but was given the choice.

    Nights are peaceful and serene, and less traffic. The accident factor mentioned above, during rush-hour, is an impeding and important factor to consider. If you have no trouble seeing at night, and can sleep adequately during the day (lasagna helps, LoL) that would be "my" choice.

    Good luck, JoJo, be safe, driver!
     
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  11. mitmaks

    mitmaks Road Train Member

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    I start early and finish early, been doing it for the past 2 years/since Ive started driving. It works for me, unless shipper/receiver takes too long to load me, then I have to figure out where I can find a parking spot and hopefully before it gets dark.
     
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