Question, can I just take a nap break anytime ?

In my opinion the new log rules are not very conducive to napping. That 14 hour clock likes to keep ticking.

 

Some of us hillbillies been saying this since the ELOG #### came around.

 

You are given appointment times. You are expected to adjust everything so you meet those appointment times. If you don't meet appointment times, expect to have so much time to nap, you may go broke. Be prepared to drive as many hours as you legally have remaining to drive.
The regulations allow you to drive/work about 70 hours per 8 days. That's almost 2 full times jobs per week. Companies and customers are not going to shift their work so you can work a schedule that is comfortable for you.

 

Dude, aren't you an owner of a company, do you even drive a truck? I don't think you do. What a dumb statement to make, getting rest when you need it is EXACTLY the right thing to do so that you don't hurt yourself or others.

I'm LMAO at all the Super Truckers or owners who don't even drive a truck telling other drivers not to take naps. Get out of here with that nonesense. I did local P&D work and I tell you what, I was exhausted working 12 - 14 hour days with only one tiny 30 minute break the whole day. Screw that.

One of THE reasons that I went back to OTR was that so I could take it easy and take naps when I wanted to. I take at least one nap almost every single day, not including my 30 minute break. I can't tell you how beneficial 15 - 20 minute power naps are.

To all of those complaining about ELD's, the recent rule changes implemented in I think it was late 2019 or perhaps 2020 sometime, have been phenominal in helping with flexibility! I don't understand the drivers on here who say you can't take naps because of the 14 hour clock ticking.

I do reefer work and I use the spit sleepers all the time now that you can take the shorter break first. A few days ago (before the storm hit) I was an hour outside of Chicago at 5:00pm eastern (Indiana) time and 4:00pm Chicago time. I took me a nice 3 hour break complete with a Subway dinner, a shower, internet surfing and a great 45 minute nap. By the time I woke up at 8:00pm eastern time and 7:00pm Chicago time, I hit the road and it was smooth sailing through Chicago since the rush hour traffic was gone.

So to all those saying naps are impossible with the ELD's, I have a feeling some of you are not taking advantage of the current rules like you can be doing.

Oh and by the way I RARELY start driving immediately after my 10 hour sleeper birth break either. And I STILL can EASILY fit in a 15 minute nap a day, usually two or three and that's not including the 30 minute break. Oh and last but not least, I ALWAYS park at secure parking facilities when I shut down for the night (truck stops or rest areas, rarely a shipper/receiver) and I never park on ramps. Still time for my nap breaks throughout the day.

To the OP, yes, take as many naps as you need! There will be some days when your schedule is really tight but in my experience, that's not a daily occurence by any means. I would say that the majority of the days that I drive it's no problem to take a few 15 minute breaks throughout the day to take a nice nap, not including the 30 minute break. That's one of the great things about OTR is that it's more flexible so you can nap when you need to and drive when you want to, unlike local work where you get one tiny 30 minute break where you have to eat your food as quickly as possible, use the bathroom and before you know it your only break of the day is over.

 

All I have to say is that's the only way to hit Chicago.

 

Even just sit for a bit and let your brain catch up with you helps sometimes.

 

Remember the thread about how this guy took a graveyard job and complained about how horrible the trainer was for ‘forcing him to drive tired’?