3 drop load?

Thats a rough one. I personally cant stand multiple drops or picks, especially when they are spread out. Expect to lose at least another full day for these types of loads. Shippers and receivers are usually where the hangs up occur.

To expedite the process, try to be in communication with the receivers.

Hurst

 

Try planning for 15-20 drop LTL furniture loads lol.
I usually drive to my first drop, take a 10, and roll from there. Of course most of our drops are furniture stores so only open normal business hours and not really a line of trucks waiting to unload. Pull up, drop the stuff and roll out. Sitting at the truck stop by 5pm.

 

Do 'em all the time. What's the problem?

I'd start by notifying each customer and verifying their address & business hours.

Are you familiar with the freight? Allow an hour at each one to unload.

Don't over think it, get after it.

 

Doing a 2 stop for Costco. It helps that I'm allowed to start a 10 right here at the first Costco where I'll unload at 4am.

I guess that my recommendation; find out if any customers allow truck parking.

 

As a company driver I hated multiple stop loads. As an o/o I like them. Good way for me to put several hundred $$ in my pocket. Having a good GPS helps a lot. I plan my route on my gps beforehand and able to ser how much distance is to next stop. I like calling receivers in advance to let them know im coming.

 

Did 22 drops the week before this past one. Receiving hours are pretty much between 8 and 4 for all of them. You go till you can't go anymore and then continue on the next day.

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Your first drop is 650 miles. What does your truck average on the highway? Best to think 50-55 mph including slow downs, stops, etc if you run a 65 mph truck. So that's 12 hours driving, so it'll be a "first thing in the morning" drop on Day #2. Border crossing could be a delay. Current weather could be a delay. Definitely plan for Tuesday morning.

Second drop is about 200 miles from Drop #1. So probably just under 4 hours driving (mix of state highways and interstate). What kind of product are these drops? What's your unload times look like? You should be able to bang off both these drops on Day #2 if everything lines up.

If you have time on your clock left, you start heading towards Drop #3 and stop where you run out of time. Then continue on on Day #3. It's likely going to be 8.5-9 hours driving, so you'll want to get as much driving done as you can on Day #2.

Deliver day #4 and reload, two days back to London. Six day week. Lots of mulah. You'll also gain two hours once you hit the Canadian border that could get you home sooner.

In summary:

Day #1: Drive to drop #1
Day #2: Deliver drop #1, drive to drop #2, deliver drop #2; possibly drive to drop #3
Day #3: Drive to drop #3
Day #4: Deliver drop #3, reload; possibly drive back home
Day #5: Drive home
Day #6: Drive home

EDIT: Oh yes, and don't forget about calling the customer if you get delayed. Depending on what you are bringing them, you might be able to convince them to hold a receiver back beyond their hours and still unload you.

 

Definitely call in advance, I use google maps and google earth to get a view or where I'm going and make sure I can get in and out easily. Sometimes also helps cause you can see trucks parked there or where you can park across the street or where ever close by so maybe you can get by without having to start your clock until you have to.