Picking operating hours (not HOS)

I'm with you on the night driving, not a fan of it and I haven't had a problem sticking to daylight hours. It really all depends on how the load is scheduled. Our loads generally have "windows" when it can be picked up and delivered since I am only dry van but refer loads tend to be more specific on times. I run plenty of miles and don't need to put myself or anyone else in danger by trying to drive tired

 

I'd suggest staying away from reefer if you aren't comfortable with night driving! Now I know that someone is going to come on here and tell all about how they run reefers and never drive at night. Whatever dude.
Fact is that most reefer work demands night driving to make early morning appointments.

 

Can't answer that question. I rarely do 3 am deliveries. If I do,dispatch knows that my 10 hrs off starts after the delivery,so they have to find a drop and hook someplace that's a 24/7 or give the load to another driver.

 

As you can see by the responses the answer is that it depends. Reefer probably isn't a good idea.

Some companies can't plan worth crap and will try to force you to run tired to cover their mistakes. Try to avoid those.

In other cases it may be the last minute load they're trying to get covered or there was an unexpected issue that delayed it. I'll try to run those ones if I feel I can. If not I will give realistic expectations.

Unless it's a crap company that can't plan I don't think trying to keep a fairly regular sleep schedule and to avoid running certain hours (midnight to dawn in your case) should hurt you at all.

Being late on a regular basis will hurt you. Committing to a load and then not delivering on time will hurt you. But if they want to you do something that you know won't work, and you let them know right away what you can do, a decent company will work with you and keep you busy.

 

Pulling an ice box 9s how I figured out I was actually nocturnal,

 

Actually companies frown on job hoppers because they know they're not going to put up with the lying and any unnecessary bs

 

Yes I've been fired a couple times because I'm not a weakling , have a mind of my own and know how to use it.
Matter of fact 2 companies heired and fired me repeatedly. Why? Because I'm not afraid to open mouth and stand up for myself ,rehired because I'm very good at my job,
Always on time , I don't tear up equipment,don't get tickets ect. ect.

I could continue but my 30 is up an I'm going to roll.

 

That's one perspective. I'll offer another one, which I'm not saying applies in your case since I really don't know.

I know people who have had many jobs due to them seemingly looking for something that qualifies as lying and unnecessary bs. If you go looking for something you'll find it.

I'm talking about guys who fly off the handle and quit over the fact they were the one stuck with the crappy run that day or some other short sighted reason to go and prove the grass next door isn't really greener.

Freight varies and in many cases your pay cheque will not be the same every week. We always have a slow period at the beginning of the year and every year there's guys who seem surprised by it even though it was the same last year. And every year at least one quits in a fit right about the time it picks back up.

In other words, job hoppers are often short sighted hot heads.

 

As much as its worth in my experience it depends more on the company's customers than anything else. When I worked at Swift a lot of customers are 24/7 so we were expected to be as well. Many days were 8am delivery and 6pm pickup at the same location. The company I work for now has most customers receiving during daytime hours and that's when I do my driving. On the clock about 4am or 5am and shut down by 6pm most days, some earlier. I average 2700+ miles a week and over two years with this company I have zero days I've driven overnight.

 

Yep. I almost had to drive after sundown today!