Help please, My brain stopped working

Isn't it kinda risky living off your "fall off" hours? I tried it and failed. Takes more experience than I've got, which ain't too #### much, to pull it off, doesn't it?

 

You are technically living off your fall-off hours everyday once you pass the 8th day. It's very possible and happens quite often that a driver can have enough time to pick up another load if it's nearby. Each situation is different. Remember, you make money when the truck is rolling. Everybody is different too and if you're worn out and need a break just tell your dispatcher and they SHOULD give you a chance to reset. I know what you mean ....and if you're tired just ask for a reset. Hopefully they'll let you !

 

Once you get near 70 you can look at your previous 7 days to see what you have coming to you to see how you can run in the future. Short days cause problems. You have a group of full days you can run all you want. Only when you have 2 or more short days together you need a restart. That 6.75 puts a damper on. But like others said you can use tha 3 something to pick up a load, take you a 10 and run 600-700 or so. Once past that 6.75 you can run hard for 4 days.

This is one way to get the big picture of the next week without scratching your head too much. Alot of dispatchers/planners look at your previous 7 this way.

 

It can limit you. Used to be we did not have the reset. In my opinion you are better off with the reset. 70 hours a week can and will take a toll on the body. 34 gives you a few hours of recovery. Nice to not set the alarm. Do laundry, etc.

 

I'd take the rest like I'm about to do in Lakewood Wa. I need a break. Take. Care. TD24 _

 

Hey AT, just wondering if you have ever heard of a "Monthly Log Summary Sheet"? Like you I too am extremely confused in regards on how to safely add up the hours and see how many you have available and when. It's a simple column sheet that keeps track of your monthly hours. I'm currently in school and the book we have has an example of this log sheet where it has four columns: first column is how many hours you were on duty that day of the month, second column is a total of the last seven days you were on duty, the third column is where you take 70 and subtract the number you got from the second column (giving you your hours available for the next day) and the last column is your eight day hour total. Sounds confusing i know, its hard to explain it, but I can see myself using it when i am on the road, tired and wondering how many hours i have the next day. Maybe it will help you, maybe not. Im sure everyone out there has their own way of figuring it out in their own way. Just wanted to throw this out there.

Chuck

 

You are supposed to use the recap, that's why it's there. There's no secret to any of this. You don't even need a monthly tally because it won't do you any good as far as today or tomorrow goes ! You only have to know your 8 day total and where you are on your 70 each day. Very simple. When you do your logbook each day, enter the total hours worked each day in the appropriate box .When you get to the 8th day, the hours at the very top of the recap where it says #1 will "disappear" if you're keeping it up to date and you will notice how many hours you will have available "today". Study the log pages in your logbook on the very right hand side where you have a column numbered 1-7. Just below that it will say total hours worked today. Enter your hours for 'today' in that box. This is where you enter your hours each day at the end of your day. Unless you have consecutive days of zero hours, most of the time your hours under day '1' will be different. Now that I just confused you even more, go look at your logbooks with a fine eye and get used to what you're seeing and read the instructions. When you do your recap, you are counting backwards from today, then yesterday which is day 7, then day 6 and so on,....so that you will start to see that day 1 will be different most of the time. It "falls off" your logbook and "disappears". You'll get it sooner or later.