Stupid route from my night planner?

BoxCarKidd · Apr 3, 2019

Lepton1 said: ↑

My mega experience was with Swift. Two years.

Swift uses Quallcomm, and all dispatches come through that unit, including your "fuel route". For forum members that aren't familiar with the concept, you are told where to fuel and how many gallons you can get.

Swift also tracks your out of route miles. The goal is to have less than 15% OOR miles, more than that and your driver manager will have a chat with you.

I remember well a load I took from Denver to Logan, UT. Any trucker with two brain cells and a functioning synapse would take I-80 west to I-84 to bypass Salt Lake City, North on I-15, then catch US-89 to Logan. This was my third solo load and I followed the Quallcom route, exiting I-80 just west of Little America to go north and west in US-30 and US-89 west of Bear Lake. It was nice to say I ran that route, but never again.

After that load I started asking my DM questions about having to stay precisely on route. That really helped.

After that conversation I routinely bypassed fuel stops that I knew were going to be a major PIA, like fueling at the SLC terminal, which required getting in line for a mandatory inspection before being allowed in the terminal. That can easily cost two or three hours. Instead I continue driving another 30 miles or so, then send a macro requesting a fuel route. In a little while a new fuel route, based on how much fuel I have and WHERE I AM is delivered.

EVERYTHING is computer generated, the fuel stops and the route. The company doesn't control the computer program, they subscribe to it, so it has nothing to do with the company trying to mess with you.

I frequently stayed on freeways even though the computer generated route wanted to go through 29 traffic signals and 13 stop signs. Qualcomm wanted THAT route because it saved 2 miles. Stupid, right? The computer program doesn't account for time and fuel burned getting back up to speed. ALL GPS systems, even the best, can return idiotic routes. You need to start thinking out your routes and make decisions. Talk to your driver manager about it.

There were three times I called my DM in advance to announce I was going to drive some MAJOR OOR miles:

1. When Qualcomm routed me through Yellowstone National Park.

2. When QC wanted me to get from LA to Pueblo, CO by running north on I-15 catch I-70 east, then catch US-50 over the Rockies to Pueblo. I ran I-40 east to Albuquerque and took I-25 north to Pueblo.

3. While loading in Denver bound for Reno I got on this forum and found out I-80 just west of Laramie was closed in both directions due to that horrific accident involving dozens of trucks. I rerouted west on I-70 to catch US-191 and US-6 to get on I-15 northbound to catch I-80 westbound. I was on time. Another driver wasted a day in ####ty conditions in Laramie with no parking left at the truck stops.

Every time the DM simply said, "Run the route the way you see fit and ask for a new fuel solution when you need it." I think that may have come by establishing a level of trust. From a DM's point of view, they are gun shy of rookies that get lost, take major detours to visit family, or otherwise abuse their use of company equipment.

Talk to your DM.
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WOW! Yellowstone

CrappieJunkie · Apr 3, 2019

x1Heavy said: ↑

Im inclined to have issues replying. But one poster mentioned toll roads in the midwest along 80. That settled me down.

There are some old traditional roads you use in trucking up there along 80 in the midwest. One rule. Always fill when half tanks. Particularly in winter. If that means you fill once or twice a day, great. You are not in a hurry.

You do however have a glimmer of a idea when someone who does not DRIVE tell you what to do when YOU drive and it's not making sense to you sometimes. Im going out on a limb and assume you know how to be somewhere with a minimum of fuss and effort.

For example, I don't cross the Ohio River at the southern State Border of Ohio. The problem is a series of ridges straight up. Once I did that as a experiment. And found my mighty dollar truck on it's knees taking ALL day to get 200 miles. It was not worth it. It's a example.
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If you take the bypass 275 around Cincinnati you will avoid a lot of that.

CrappieJunkie · Apr 3, 2019

Chebbydriver7195 said: ↑

I'm starting to feel like my company is messing with me. I keep getting these stupid routes that are way longer (slower speeds and more curves/stop signs etc) The last route was 3 hours longer taking state routes instead of staying on 80. The way the route is planned the delivery times are impossible and it always puts me low on fuel. I get made to bounce around for fuel. 59 gallons here, fill up here 80 gallons there.
It's gotten to where I dont really care if I'm on route or not and I fuel up at the first fuel stop.
I end up at delivery on time or early, it let's me have a safe place to park every night and my sleep schedule isn't as wacky. (I know it's never gonna be "normal"

Are all megas like this? Or is someone being a goofball.
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Do what I used to in that situation. Tell then you want to fuel at one place and one place only. Stopping multiple times is holding you up. Then pick a truck stop on 80 that you cant get to on the route you take. Sell it really good that you want to get there ans get the job done for them. Make the company believe it benefits them. They should change it. They may not. Worse they are going to say is no.

Chebbydriver7195 · Apr 4, 2019

BoxCarKidd said: ↑

Do you know what your GVW is with these loads?
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Under 72k 98% of the time. The only thing to push it close was rolls of paper and super sacks of some chemical

Chebbydriver7195 · Apr 4, 2019

gentleroger said: ↑

They actually do - part of the program is to minimize fuel stops.

We have done time studies on some of the most ridiculous things - including the merits of time studies.
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Then why the hell would I get 3 or sometimes even 4 fuel stops when I only need 1. It doesnt make sense at all it doesnt save money when in driving an idiotic way to gett to said fuel stops.

CrappieJunkie · Apr 4, 2019

Chebbydriver7195 said: ↑

Then why the hell would I get 3 or sometimes even 4 fuel stops when I only need 1. It doesnt make sense at all it doesnt save money when in driving an idiotic way to gett to said fuel stops.
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They do the fuel stops that way to force you to take that route.

Do this:

CrappieJunkie said: ↑

Do what I used to in that situation. Tell then you want to fuel at one place and one place only. Stopping multiple times is holding you up. Then pick a truck stop on 80 that you cant get to on the route you take. Sell it really good that you want to get there ans get the job done for them. Make the company believe it benefits them. They should change it. They may not. Worse they are going to say is no.
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rbrtwbstr · Apr 4, 2019

I worked for a company that tried telling us how much fuel we were allowed to get. One place that sticks in mind was the Peelot in Perrysburg, OH. 50 gallon max.

Their theory behind that one was fill the truck at the yard, go pick up the load, deliver it, come back to Perrysburg, grab 50 gallons to get back home. Which was ok if you went back home. However, most times, we'd pickup near Perrysburg, headed for Jersey. They then wanted you to come across 80 with your allotted 50 gallons, and full up in Jersey. This was in 2009, and the trucks had Cat engines. Very thirsty ones at that. So that didn't work out as planned.

After a while of this nonsense, and being tired of sitting in line at the fuel pump for 45 minutes every time I went there, I just said screw it, and filled up. They raised cane with me the first time, after that they never said a word.

zep1218 · Apr 4, 2019

Chebbydriver7195 said: ↑

Then why the hell would I get 3 or sometimes even 4 fuel stops when I only need 1. It doesnt make sense at all it doesnt save money when in driving an idiotic way to gett to said fuel stops.
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It's about the kickback they get from the TS... Not the the price of fuel..if I'm not mistaken.all megas pay the same price for fuel. But,I've been wrong before.

Omega7777 · Apr 4, 2019

Upinsmoke said: ↑

Sounds like celadon
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nope. we are teaming there

gentleroger · Apr 4, 2019

Chebbydriver7195 said: ↑

Then why the hell would I get 3 or sometimes even 4 fuel stops when I only need 1. It doesnt make sense at all it doesnt save money when in driving an idiotic way to gett to said fuel stops.
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Just because Schneider does it one way doesn't mean every mega does it.

Every company looks at the variables and decides which ones they will emphasize to maximize profits. Companies like KB are all about keeping the truck moving and appointment times. MV and Nussbaum are all about fuel economy. CR England is teaming cheap new drivers.

Not knowing which mega you work for I can't comment on the why.

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