E-Logs: how close do you cut it?

A few quick taps on my GPS, and I can guesstimate my remaining mileage and time. Find parking near the end of my day, and route to it. Too easy. If it's later at night, drive through the closer rest areas first, to ensure I don't drive past the last parking spot within 50 miles along my route.

 

You make a good point. Every once in awhile I choose to make it to a parking area with 0 to 4 minutes remaining on one of my clocks...Now I only do this when I am "highly confident" it can be done without speeding and is not an area where traffic delays are likely. First priority is wanting to safely carry out my plan. Second priority is not wanting the call from the Safety Dept the next morning and a mark on my record (within the company) for the next year until they clear it off. Recently I stopped with 0 remaining on the clock which isn't a violation unless it gets to -00:01, now how would I know I'm going to make it not one minute later>?> I'm calculating with each mile marker that goes by and staying alert to the conditions. But somewhere after the last hour I literally pass the point of no return, for example in a state like Wyoming where the truck stops and rest areas only appear every so often. Long way of saying it is best to run 8.75 hours a day on recap constantly in which case you can plus or minus an hour or two as needed with no stress.

 

Wyoming is only 401 miles long east to west on 80... Why would I worry about 8.75 hours? Don't even need to take a 30 to cross it unless you are in a 62 mph truck and hit a slow down.

 

I had 2 hrs left on my 11 to get around Atlanta to Madison, GA - make it and get a 34 in before delivering Monday morning, don't and finish it off today. Saw the construction warnings on 20 and rolled the dice. Got to Madison with 18 minutes left, but I knew of places to stop had I not been able to make it the whole way.
I really don't like going that deep into the last hour. Usually I start looking at the 9 hour mark on traffic conditions on Google maps and parking availability on trucker path to see what the future holds.

 

Started day departing Idaho

 

I am wondering what kind of loads you guys run and miles per week that allow you to do 8:45 days. Do you really have that much time on your loads?

I left NY last week on Sun am with a Wed 8am delivery in Phoenix. If I was running less that 10.5 hrs there is no way that makes it on time.

Currently on a Santa Nella CA to Buffalo load. Left Cali yesterday am, will be in NY Tues afternoon for a Wed am Delivery. I would need an extra day if I was running 8.75 hrs.

 

I start looking when im at about 4 hours out. I find an ideal place, then i factor a second option. I really start calculating when im within 1hr of shutdown. If im within 15 minutes and still havent gotten to my spot, ill take an on ramp someplace if its allowable.

 

I would need an extra day if I was running 8.75 hrs.[/QUOTE
And -
I cant why anyone would want to spend over 15 hrs a day in trk stop. Seriously im like you and we get 5 days to deliver . i picked up just south of savannah ga . friday morning , ill drop it in la mirada tomorrow afternoon then shoot over to moreno valley and hopefully have just enough time to make coachella . 4 days later ( reset ) ill be 1900 miles down the road to either mobile ala , atl ga or Murfreesboro tn.
Ill take my reset in new mexico and GET OUT of the truck for a FULL day .
P S , i run from lincolnton n.carolina to tracy , you can drop your trailer at the ta in santa nella and bobtail 10 minutes to walmart. Just get a permission slip at the fuel desk.

 

I did my reset in Ontario. Just slept and did laundry this time. I reset there in June and rented a car. Sent to a Dodgers Game, then up to Ventura and spent the next day on the beach.

I actually parked at Rotten Robbie in Santa Nella and walked to In N Out for a Double Double.

 

This is where running team is handy. I run it down to 5 minutes and look for a chunky on ramp. Never gone over my clock once. Plus it's nice looking at that larger number for your daily mileage.

If I was solo I'd probably start looking at about 45 mins on 80, and most Midwest plains, east coast is like 2 hours haha, same with Cali. But at least Cali has all those random spots on the side of the on ramp so id give Cali 45 mins also. Florida... Yikes idk never go there... New England, well I have home field advantage