Best hours to drive/rest?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Konsaki, Jun 10, 2016.

  1. racemaxx24

    racemaxx24 Heavy Load Member

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    Im not a morning person what so ever, and my favorite time to drive is dusk so I find myself starting later in the morning (9-10) and running late into the evening (9-10-11ish). This schedule is not conducive if you're going to park in a high traffic areas as most places are full at that time. But it does start you after rush hour traffic has passed in most areas.
     
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  3. Fx9

    Fx9 Light Load Member

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    I can see a whole lot better and a whole lot more during the day than i can at night , double that if its raining / sleeting or snowing .
     
  4. tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

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    Makes sense. If you're an early bird that should work good for you. Assuming delivery and p/u times fit.

    The only time you'll get me driving at 03:00 is when I'm finishing my day a bit later than normal.

    There is no 'best' or 'safest' time IMO. There's advantages to starting early and advantages to running late. Just be well rested.
     
  5. DsquareD

    DsquareD Road Train Member

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    Green Bay, WI
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    What's this 14 hours of off duty you speak of?
     
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  6. Crazytrucker77

    Crazytrucker77 Heavy Load Member

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    That's when there is nothing available and you sit for awhile lol.
     
  7. Joews

    Joews Light Load Member

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    Best time production wise by far is night driving, I cover 400 miles a night in 6.5 hours nightly.

    Not only that, most of the idiots are sleeping.
     
  8. Thermos Bottle

    Thermos Bottle Light Load Member

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    Driving at night is best to avoid traffic, but it can make you sleepy and all the headlights bug me after a while. It's hard to sleep during the day if your AC is crappy. I mostly try to run between 0500 and 1900.
     
  9. thelushlarry

    thelushlarry Road Train Member

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    glasgow ky
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    I like to rest during the day and sleep at night!
     
  10. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    The last few days of my schedule is a good case study for time management versus time of day. I ran a load from OKC with the first drop in Muncy, PA. First day I made it to Effingham, IL. Second day I started about 3:30 am and skated through Indianapolis before rush hour.

    I made it through Columbus okay late morning, and finally took my 30 minute break at a rest area short of Akron. I consulted Google Maps with the traffic layer enabled, and discovered there was a 70 minute delay getting from Youngstown into PA on I-80.

    I opted to call it a day and run that construction zone in the middle of the night. Starting at midnight there were absolutely NO delays going through the construction zones.

    I made delivery a few hours ahead of schedule in Muncy, then proceeded to my second and last drop in Waynesburg, PA. I stopped to take a two hour nap at a rest area, made delivery on time, then shut down at 2:00 pm.

    My next load picked up in Lexington, KY. I started at 1:00 am and blazed through Charleston before rush hour, never really having to deal with any traffic at all until I approached Lexington around 8:00 am.

    By the time I deliver the first drop on this load tomorrow morning in Little Rock, I'll be close to my 70 hour limit trying to get back to OKC before making the last drop Monday morning (I started this loop after already burning some hours on my 70).

    Plan B sounds good. I'll take my 34 at the Grand Casino, play a little poker and get some laundry done.

    Had I forged on into that rush hour traffic through Akron and Youngstown I would be behind schedule and have to take a 34 in some less desirable location.

    Nights are good. Weigh stations closed, no traffic, and smooth sailing.
     
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  11. 1278PA

    1278PA Road Train Member

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    There are more dangers driving at night with limited visability and animals come out at night. Driving during the day you have dangers of traffic and animals behind the wheel. Your choice lol
     
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