34 hours = The Law or Optional ?

Even if you use up your 70, or close to it, you can chose to run recaps and not have to do a 34. Running recaps means you can drive/work whatever hours you drove/worked 8 days ago. Some drivers prefer driving/working 8.75 each day than running out your 70 and then getting stuck at some random truck stop for almost 2 days.

All of te options sound very confusing before you start working. It gets much clearer very quickly once you start.

 

9 days ago

 

It takes more than 5 minutes to do a proper PTI. Sure the "short" one can be 5 min. But the full one is for sure longer.

 

I like the way you are doing that. I run mostly on recaps, but am quite haphazard about hours. I just run as many as I need to maximize miles during the beginning days of the trip, then have a low hour day at the tail. In effect, I'm getting days with low hours in my recaps. But for the most part it works well this way. Typically the planners give me trips that account for hours I have available, and they do a good job. I stay on recaps and use all my hours typically. But I might try your approach and see if I like it.

 

Yep, I go months without a 34 at times.

 

You do you...... I'll do me. An extra 10 or 15 minutes off of my 14 doesn't affect my day or paycheck a bit. I prefer to know my equipment is in good working order daily. BTW.....I stick my steer tires EVERY MORNING. Those are pretty important to me and the motoring public. I think it takes about 10 seconds to do both. I'm also the only guy you hear doing an airbrake test at midnight before I roll out of the truckstop to start my day.

 

My DM and the load planners have learned to watch my clock and plan me accordingly. I always send my DM a QC message the day before my delivery with an ETA/PTA. I will always add.......starting recaps in 2 days...watch my clock for next pre plan. Or..... Need to take a 34 after this load delivers. Find me a load with an extra day or two. Trust me, they appreciate the heads up. There are 20 or 30 other drivers on their board they have to babysit. I save them the time and effort of doing the math on my clock. I rarely wait for a pre plan. Usually have one the day before. I have also learned to give an update in on Friday morning. We all know what night and weekend dispatch can turn into.

 

The law=