Advice on Hours and how to use them

Hot asphalt / end of season times as of late, I struggle with a 14, and try to keep it down to only 'one' 16 a week. There are MANY variables. Desire for hometime fits in there somewhere, also.

OP, get your feet wet with this new company, and bounce us a bit more info. Many of us will be glad to help you sort it out, with more info.

Best of luck, tho!

 

15 minute pre-trip, 5 minute pick up and deliveries, and 5 minute fuel. Always approve logs during pretrip, so that can be adjusted for an extra 7 minutes when situation is dire.

 

I've found that best time to start the clock is anytime after 5pm and before 5am. That way the latest you can get to a truckstop is 7pm and the earliest is 3 am (assuming you drive all 11 hrs) so there's usually a spot, unless you're in a city.

 

Love to know who your running for. If they have those miles would like to look them up. If your not sharing just say so. Otherwise please pm me.

 

Let's take a Little Rock to Load at Memphis and then deliver at Detroit. Company is McKesson. It delivers 7 AM tomorrow morning. Let's assume you havent worked the last 8 days so you have 70 hours. McKesson is drop/hook or you might bobtail to memphis to get the trailer. Let's say you are given a empty to go drop there.

Little Rock to Memphis will take 150 miles at around 45 mph fleet average 3.3 hours. Google says it can be done in two, but you never plan like that. Companies in my time depend on 45 mph to catch those running late to appt time. I plan at 35 overall. That helps me catch trips that run short or run out of hours in a few moments up in my head while dispatch is trying to sell it to me.

So, leave at 13:30, pretrip 15 minutes now. You will burn 3 hours today to Memphis. Get there around 1630. Drop, hook 15 minutes loaded and rolling. 16:45 Call it 3.5 hours gone from your day.

Since you are by yourself you will plan on parking somewhere between Memphis and Detroit. Keeping in mind the Delivery appt. of 7 am.

That part of the trip is 11 hours at about 750 miles driving. You are already running late and need to make a new appointment for delivery.

Whoops. Should have gotten going by sunrise this morning, closer to midnight even.

 

After doing this for three years I have figured out what works best for me. I am someone that likes to avoid major truck stops such as loves, pilot, etc. I prefer to park either in a nice quiet spot off the road, rest areas, small mom and pop stops, and around gas stations. This means I don't really pay attention to trying to "beat" all the other drivers to the truck stops. If I need to shower I just stop and take one during the day and use it as my 30 min break and make myself a bite to eat in my truck. I can usually do this within an hour.

With all that said I always try to run my clock out every day as long as my company has the loads to keep me running. I take a 34 every week and do it all over again. My company tries to get me home for my 34 every weekend and is usually successful in doing that. I am usually breaking 10000 miles per month working 5-6 days a week. Due to driving curtain van all of my day is done between 5am and 9pm. Just depends on when I need to start my day for an appointment. I myself don't like driving at night because I like to be able to look at things while I am driving and not just the road.

I have done the running on recaps thing and running my hours out and taking a 34 thing. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. Getting a 34 every week allows me to get out of the truck every week and get a break, but trying to get things done at home in one day while trying to get some relaxation is often very difficult. On the other hand staying out for awhile and running recaps can give you a couple days at home to get stuff done and relax, but running recaps all the time can make you burn out.

I really thing the best advice I can offer is try a few different things that you can do with the company you choose and figure out what works best for you to achieve your goals. Good luck.

 

I think that is just wishful thinking; Some drivers think they can pull a number out of thin air and find a company that delivers it: 1400mile average length of haul is far and above the average length of haul now days.

 

This bunch here will tell you to "plan your trips", and when unforeseen circumstances happen that are not in the plan... They will tell you do not know how to "plan your trips". See, in the steering wheel holder's world, everything fits in a nice and tidy little box, kind of like a cubicle at a call center. You show up, do your 14 hours or less and go to sleep and repeat. Wish life was so easy... And then reality bites you in the ###. LOL!

Hit the sleeper button on the ELD every chance you get, that will bump that milk and cookie or beer break up 8 hours and you will not have to worry about it. Make sure the outfit allows you personal use of the tractor, that would be YUGE on my list, especially when heading to the house empty. Also, and very important, will they allow you to go over the 14 hour clock to find a safe refuge to park without punitive damages? Like shutting you down for a week for 1 minute over, or even worse, firing you. And YES, companies do do that.

I am an O/O leased to a company, and I flat out stated if I get in a position where I cannot park safely, no matter what the dam egg timer says, I am going there and park, and dam the mileage and time to get there. Screw the DOT. The company said yes, go park, no matter what the clock says, and I will not be punished for doing my job and being safe.

We have an excellent safety record and have won more than a few awards as a company with the Big 3. There are ten of us, 6 on the road at any given time. We are adults, and do not require a wet nurse.

 

Or may some Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

 

I haven't ran anything (trip) less than 2,400 mile since a Dallas to Ontario back after thanksgiving.