How to Trip Plan - Teach Me?

Charlotte, NC to Dallas, TX Live load on 1/21/14 0800 EST Live unload Dallas 1100hrs 1/23/14 CST. Depart 1000 EST drive approximately 530 miles to Meridian MS. shut down for 10hrs. Depart Meridian MS at 0600 CST. Drive 500 miles. Arrive Dallas, TX at 1400 CST Dallas area TA. (stay in truck do not associate with locals) plan depart time according to CST for appointment be at least 30 min early smile at receiving clerk.

 

Without going into logging basics (another topic perhaps) ... I try and operate under the time zone I'm heading to a make allowances when/where necessary.

Assuming a single drop (no stop-offs in between)

Things you need to know to trip plan

• How many hours you have left in your 14/11 (how far can you go before you have to stop)
• How many hours you have available on your 70 (can you run max hours tomorrow and next days, or are you limited to your log recap hour limit(s))
• How many hours you will pick up tomorrow .. the next day (if you're 70 is running thin)
• Time you begin the trip (24 hour format)
• Distance to the delivery as well as how much of the trip is interstate vs. 2 and 4 lane roads (used to establish an "average speed")
• Appointment Time if applicable
• Any potential weather delays?
• Is there a place to park if you arrive early?

Things to allow additional time for

• Fuel stops
• Meal stops (30 minute break)
• Mandatory 10 hour break when needed (10 or however long it'll take you to get out of bed and get moving)
• Traffic congestion
• Getting lost?
• wintery roads, heavy rain, high winds
• if an appointment, early arrival at receiver (1 hour? 30 minutes? 2 hours? all depends on what you may know about the destination and preference)

I could go on. This is a time consuming topic and there may be blogs and other web pages devoted to the subject that could be found with a Google search. If you have some basic problem solving skills, you can use the info above to guide you through the processes and know what to look for and think about as you progress through the process.

 

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...193192-real-time-trip-planning-roll-dino.html

Do your home work read this thread. Your trainer will teach you as well. Any more advice you need after the 3rd consultation. It's 10.99 a minute.

 

Map, ruler, pen.
Draw a line.
Your not always going to follow the straightest route, there will be restrictions along the way. Get used to looking at Randy McNally before Gps. If you gps your way around the country, you'll miss a lot better ways. Plus if you map it out, you'll actually learn the routes.

 

I hope this trip plan stuff gets easier cause I have to do a trip plan myself for class

 

so you if you trip plan and say your going from Georgia to California since California is 3 hours behind Georgia use the California time to plan your trip so u will arrive in California on time ? but you do your log book from your own time zone is this correct

 

The way you trip plan is to buy a laptop. Get Co Pilot 9 from Diesel Boss. Enter data. Write down results.

Do not worry about trip planning in class. All you are trying to do is get your license. Trip planning becomes natural with experience. I figure I can drive 500 miles a day. So it I have to drive 1400 miles, I will be there on the third day. Provided the creek don't rise.

 

Yes that's correct.

 

well we have to worry about it in my class we get graded on it