How often do you stop?

Same here!

 

Do most drivers end up at truck stops at night? Like they plan the route they take to get them to a truck stop when they are done driving for the day?

Also are there times drivers stop sooner than there 11 hours because there isn't a truck stop they would reach and it would put them over time so they stop short of the 11 hours?

 

Yes im sure most drivers strive to end their day at the Truck Stops. I can say in all my time OTR that i can count how many nights i spent somewhere OTHER THEN a truck stop on my fingers...i like to shower everyday.

Yes, there will be times when you cant go to the last min of your 11 and have a truck stop right there, this is where carefull planning comes in, also with experiance this will become much easyer to do. For Instance if you watch my video series on my YouTube Channel of my trip from Conover, NC to Modesto, CA you'll see how many hours i drove each day, and where i stopped. The reason i did it like that is because i was running off my recap i had a Coast to Coast load that i needed to get there ASAP. Had i done a reset before leaving i would have gotten their a day later.



American Trucker

 

I just like to stop someplace where I can use a restroom if at all possible. I prefer rest areas and pull outs on the two lane roads though.

Lately, I have been making it a point to take the roads I haven't taken before and see how short I can make a run. Finding out I can really cut some serious miles (over 200-300 at times) out of a run.

 

So the CDL book is incorrect? It does NOT specify ONLY IF ONE IS DRIVING A FLATBED. Here is the quote:

"Safety Inspection. Drivers of trucks and truck
tractors when transporting cargo must inspect the
securement of the cargo within the first 50 miles of
a trip and every 150 miles or every three hours
(whichever comes first) after."

And here is the link http://www.flhsmv.gov/handbooks/EnglishCDLHandbook.pdf
See page 13, first entry. Are you saying the book is incorrect? Not looking for an argument, just clarification as it does not make an exception for flatbed, it simply refers to "when transporting cargo." Cargo is defined as anything a truck is hauling, correct? What am I (or you) missing?

 

Theres your problem thats a FloriDUH book, those are not FMSCA Regs. You need to look in the little Green Book the FMSCA Regulation Book, that lists all the Law's/rules that we must follow. So to answer your question YES that book is wrong.




American Trucker

 

What kind of Securement Checks could one possibly do when Pulling a Van or Reefer

 

If it's wrong, it needs cleared up at the state level but I'm going to assume this is the law in Florida until I hear back from them. Riddle me this, states can enact their own laws in excess of federal law (such as weight restrictions, etc.) so is it not possible this is a Florida requirement above and beyond federal law?

 

Make sure the load hasn't shifted, pallets or boxes, not tipped, etc.

 

that can change in a heart beat with a step on the brakes.