England trip planning

The first problem is you choose england to work for.

What I do in trip planning is my company would plan the trips at 50-52 mph they would tell me what roads that I was suppose to travel on.

I would refiguare the trip at 60 mph if there were not any mountains to climb.

I had a computer program made by rand mcnally and that also helped alot before I accepted a preplan.

I had on were they wanted me to pick in denver co. and take it to Bossier City La they were going to give me 2 days to get there so I punched it up on my computer and it showed 24 hours driving time they way the company wanted me to go. How ever I could of been there with 17 hours driving time taking another way that was aprox 100 miles more.
So I called my dispatcher and told her that it is not possible for me to legaly do it in the ammount of time because it delivered early the second day and I could not pickup untill late.

I told my dispatcher that I could do it if they allowed me to route myself the faster way.

Well they pulled that load off of me and give me another load.

I have since left that company due to a few problems with them even though it is a good company to work for I belive that it was just my dispatcher that I had issues with. I also had issues beeing out for 4 weeks at a time.

 

I find using the map in the front of the Atlas (the one with all the interstates, showing the entire US) is very handy: locate where you are, and where you need to go. Then, by looking, you can figure what looks like the shortest and quickest way there (And notice, the shortest way is not always the quickest, and vice versa). Then once you have an idea on route, use the mileage chart in the back to get an approximate mileage; divide by either 50 or 60, and that will get you an idea of how many hours of travel you can expect.
Now, since I tend to travel the same lanes a lot, I have a good idea about where to sleep, fuel, shower, etc; if I am going a new way (or to a new area), I bust out the truck stop guide and see what stops I can expect (BTW, a CAT scale guide can help a lot too, since they show mom and pop, and off-brand T/S's as well) to help plan where to stop; if required, otherwise I try and sleep at customer's if at all possible.

Hope this helps, I know it barely scratches the surface, there is more that goes into routing, but some of those things are tough to explain (at least to my sleepy brain they are), so hopefulle someone else can add some.
Good luck!

 

No problem, if you search the old threads, some of the more experienced drivers had added tips on trip planning. Good luck finding it though, it had some kinda funny name to it (I will search for it as well).

MGassy- you're smacking him for going with England, and you went with May? I don't know bud, doesn't sound right. And you aren't with them anymore? Who are you driving for, if you don't mind me asking?

 

I never ask for routing. I tend to travel the most practicle shortest route. Some of the companies have prefered routes because of available services, or unavailable as the case maybe. I have never had a problem because of it. I tend to stop for showers in the middle of the day they are less busy. Also try not to hang at truck stops. Unless you need a Hood or bumber replaced.