How do you plan/prepare for this?

What I do is look at when it has to be there, the total miles, and figure a steady pace to run it. If it's an appt load, it makes no sense to kill yourself. I'm on a 1000 mile run now, with 2 days to run it.... 500 per day. I'll look for a resting spot somewhere around that 500 mark, and usually its predetermined. You have to set realistic goals when trip planning as you only get 11 driving hours. I normally don't drive past 600 miles daily, unless I have to. I always run somewhere in 500s range. That's a full day, and you've covered good ground.

 

The load decides.

 

That's not always feasible, unless you're pulling flatbed. Most of those loads pickup and deliver in daytime hours, with few exceptions. If you pull reefers like I do, be prepared for deliveries in the wee hours, or driving during the nights. Dry van isn't quite as bad as reefers but you still have occasions that require night driving.

 

It won't be as hard as you think. I don't get more than 6 hrs of sleep a night so there is a chance I could grab a nap. If loading takes too long, and that day time run looks to evolve into a night run, then I'll go for that nap.