They had me run a load from Plymouth, MI to Bedford, PA (pd miles- 388 ), and then I got a load from Lock Haven, PA which I just T-called here in New Boston (pd miles- 496). So I got my hometime request right on the day I asked for it! Imagine that. Doesn't happen very often. Be back on Monday.
We'll be in Pottsville sometime(?) Friday. We were to deliver at 1000 Friday but right now we're at the shipper in W Monroe LA and we'll be here waiting until about 0100. (Live load was scheduled for 1900...ain't happening!). Spent this morning in the backwoods of SW Arkansas. Dropped at Nashville AR at 0745, picked up a trailer and began the journey to W Monroe. We left Nashville at about 0845 and didn't get to the shipper in W Monroe (about 180 or so miles away) until 1530. I love Swift routing! Never a dull moment, right?
That's the kind of driving that really teaches you how to truck. Anyone can shove these beasts down a freeway- it takes balls to take one onto a 2 lane narrow hilly curvy potholed cowpath with drunken hillbillies and grandpa on his tractor getting in your way. Count your blessings, Sonny, it's valuable experience!!!
"Speed Limit 55", "Reduced Speed Ahead", "Road Construction Ahead", "Stop Ahead", etc, etc.....all in the space of a mile. And then for mile after mile after mile. My downshifting's getting better though!
I was talking to a friend who has been out here since '84. Coming from wisconsin to Covington IN for a fuel stop. From there down lots of no freeway stuff to I-24 and down to Albany GA. I entered the shortest route into my GPS. Then taking 70 (where I fueled) to Indy 65 to 24 then to 75. The shoretest route was the Maptuit route exactly. The other one was 40 miles longerm and 4+hours shorter than the Maptuit route. Wanna guess which one I took?
If I would have done the Maptuit directions it would have been a service failure for me. Bad enough with the weird fuel stop. Should have gone 94 to 65 and fueled in Indy. Much shorter.I was running back roads in Indiana and Illinois to get to Covington.
holy cow, don't YENS read the map, are yens using map software, i hope i'm wrong but gee, get the DELUXE MOTOR CARRIERS ROAD ATLAS ( LAMINATED ) RAND McNALLY, easy to read, not like the cheap paper book maps, find where you are and where you have to go, bingo jump on the interstate and go, those back roads will slow you down, remember just because its shorter do's not mean its faster, be there and yes tryed it, from 1992 to 2004 get the big laminated map
Some carriers route the shortest for mileage tax. Pain for the driver though as the backway short routes don't take into account construction et....
As what was stated in the above post... Most carriers tell the driver that they have to drive a paticular route. The driver better drive that route or face consequences like being charged for out of route miles or terminination. And sometimes running the back roads are MUCH MUCH quicker then running the interstate. But some drivers are scared to get off the big four lane to find out... Those same drivers are the ones who push the idea of staying on the interstate & running 400 miles more then what they need just so they can stay on the interstate.
