How often do you stop?

Rather than continuing to derail another thread, I figured I'd start one of my own. MNdriver had mentioned having discipline to sit in the truck for 2-3 hours before stopping, and I was kind of shocked. Where I live now (and where I learned to drive), the idea of stopping in less than 2-3 hours of driving was unthinkable. I'm talking places where you drive an hour away just to see a KMart or Wal-Mart.

So, barring medical issues*, how often are you folks stopping? I swear I am not trying to be judgmental or anything. This is just really foreign to me and I am trying to get a bit of knowledge that I may not have.

And when you stop, is it just to run into a bathroom, or are you getting personal errands done and so forth?


*By "medical issues", I am including temporary food-related needs to stop.

 

when i pulled vans/reefers i wouldnt stop at all during my 11-12 hrs of driving, sometimes i'd stop for 2-3 min ONCE to go to the bathroom if i HAD to.


when i was pulling flats/steps i would stop every 3 hours to check my load (federal law)



the sooner you finish your 11 hours the sooner you can start and finish your 10, and get rolling and making money again.





American Trucker

 

About every 3-4hrs. Just quick 15-20min tops.

 

Keep the left door shut, I start, drive my 11, take a 10 hour break, exceptions are fuel, deliveries, and an emergency bathroom stop.

 

Like AT said, I do flat/heavy haul. Gotta stop & make checks. Other than that I would do 11 straight.

 

Every 3-4 hours for me at an easy on/off rest area for 10 min bathroom break and to do a walkaround of my truck/trailer. Gets the blood flowing so to speak and I think it helps to keep you alert. I'm in no hurry and don't need to maximize my hours to make good money.

 

I drove team and would always try to run 5 hours or about 300 miles straight. Would utilize my stop to the fullest either fueling or switching drivers etc...

If you are just taking a leak you want to really aim for a pickle park or something quick. If you are talking truck stop break, every time you leave that interstate in a big truck you are typically taking up at least 20-25 minutes of your driving time by the time you get back on the interstate and are back up to speed.

It sounds petty but in a day it can add up and in a week that's a lot of time accrued! Every minute counts out there so make the best of your time. Stopping every two hours could be very costly! Be smart about it, don't drink so much coffee/water/fluids while driving. Also in the same breath don't dehydrate yourself to make time!

 

I average about 4 hours. Any longer and my knees and rear starts to hurt. Just stopping to walk around the truck is often enough. Depending on the dynamics of my load and appt times I generally do 2 4 hour shifts then stop for a 10 hour break.

 

By law, I stop every two hours because I haul Haz-Mat in a tanker. But since I am paid by the hour, my pay continues so stopping doesn't effect my bottom line. First stop is a safety check/bathroom. Second is fuel and a 30 minute lunch. Third is the customer. Fourth is a safety check/bathroom. Fifth is pre-loading. Sixth is parking the truck and heading home. Repeat Mon-Fri and home around 3 pm every day. 11 1/2 hours and call it good.