I have asked this question to several drivers, including former trainers, and got vague answers/am still confused about it.
How much is a company driver free to choose what time of day they drive? I really don't function as well 3rd shift, no matter how well rested I am. It's not night driving itself, it's my body clock. I'm significantly less alert from midnight to dawn, no matter how much sleep I've gotten. And so, I would prefer to drive during the day as much as possible. How is your day-to-day schedule determined, as far as dispatch and whatnot?
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Picking operating hours (not HOS)
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by finsternis, Jul 30, 2017.
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If you want to be top driver you get good at running the maximum possible
You will be given pickup and delivery times, some loads you can calculate you may be able to run during your preferred time of day, other loads have less transit time and you are supposed to run when legal regardless of time of day. If you get known as the driver who only drives between 8 am and 6 pm you will be given loads that go less average miles per day and your pay will suffer as a result.
After you've been out here a while you learn what areas of the country to run at what hours of the day in order to maximize your productivity. Maximizing your productivity translates to more money come payday as well as more home time when you get there. Use your time poorly and the opposite happens. There are scores of drivers that use their time poorly then wonder why they can only manage to squeeze $500 paychecks.miss elvee, Big Don, LoneCowboy and 2 others Thank this. -
TROOPER to TRUCKER, diesel drinker, Florida Playboy and 1 other person Thank this.
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You are free to drive whatever hrs you deem fit........as long as you make pick-up/delivery times. A BIG problem in this industry is driver gets empty at 8 am then sits all day and gets dispatched at 5 pm for a 500 mi next morning delivery. Now you must drive all night after being up all day.
truckerman75103, diesel drinker, 22dragoo and 5 others Thank this. -
It depends on the company. At Bison a driver can chose not to run nights. I rarely run past midnight,and if I do it's by my choice. My paychecks don't suffer because of it. I've been there 12 years and make well over $1200 week.
driverdriver and finsternis Thank this. -
Usually deliveries are with in normal business hoursbrsims, SidewaysBentHalo, austinmike and 3 others Thank this. -
So it's really just a matter of being wise about time management?
"I would suggest not entering this profession." Would you? Pretty rude response imo. I've worked 18 hour days in the oilfields of North Dakota before I was a driver, so don't think I can't "hang". I asked a simple question about a preference. I'm new to this, and I feel like no question is off the table. -
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