Hey, Im new to the forum, and the trucking world. I just have a simple question, when you guys are out on the road pushing to making your delivery on time, but you start hitting your max drive time and have to pull over. Are you guys always prepared for that? Or are you able to get to a gas station or store for food or anything that you need until your rest period is over? I’ve always wondered with seeing so many along the highways at night and figured there’s got to be something that you guys do other than walk.... Just curious all feedback is welcome and appreciated.
Don’t drive until you have 0 minutes left. If you are an hour away from your destination, and you have 20 min of drive time remaining, and you in Anytown USA, find a spot to park in Anytown and do your rest/break, etc. I worked at a company where a couple drivers routinely would drive right up to 0 min., then hit the shoulders and call in, when 5 miles back they passed a truck stop.
Most drivers are also smart enough to carry canned foods, case or jugs of water, extra meds, blankets, cell phone bank charger, etc just in case. You don't want to get stuck in Phoenix at 115° in the middle of summer with your truck broke down or you not planning well. Same thing with -40° weather like in Fargo. Also, most drivers plan out their trips. Take into consideration weather, traffic, average speed, construction, etc. I learned to average about 500 miles in a day (drive time). Truck speed 55 MPH depending on area, but also consider where you are driving and how heavy your load is and when you are pulling up hills, mountains, etc because your speed will typically be lower and most company trucks will be governed. I've seen/heard of a lot of them being governed around 65 MPH. Most guys/gals sitting on the side are because they didn't plan accordingly, but there are also others who prefer not to park at truck stops whether it be they feel more secure, don't like the crowds, some women refuse to be around male drivers, etc etc. Some trucks have a toilet, shower, kitchen so they don't really need to go to a truck stop. I'm sure more seasoned drivers will know much more and better than me and if I'm wrong, I'd glad to get any feedback or corrections as well. Ask questions. There are a lot of good people on here and very knowledgeable ones as well who most are more than willing to help you with questions and succeed, myself included on both asking for help and helping with what I know
And just as @Lazer stated, don't drive until you have no time!! That's just ignorant. Oh and some companies also allow you to use PC (personal conveyance). This should NOT be used because you didn't plan accordingly and also you cannot use it to advance toward your destination (basically using time on PC because you ran out of drive time to get to your delivery/pick up). That's a BIG NO-NO!!! I don't know a whole lot about it, but that is a basic understanding I suppose. Like I said, I'm kinda new myself So welcome to the club, bud Oh and PC is at the companies discretion as far as I know. I worked for one company where if you abused it, they would take it away permanently from said individual driver.
Most days I push my drive time to where I have 30 minutes left to get somewhere and get safely parked. I am also not a truck stop parker. I do my grocery shopping during my time at home or my 10hr breaks. I keep 2 cases of water on the truck at all times plus a pantry full of food and the fridge full as well. I normally don't park on the shoulder if the interstate unless it is a very wide spot. I usually find an open area to park. If I find that the place I am parked at is a little unsavory I will PC to a better location but I am in my own truck too. I also keep a fresh 5 gallon bucket under the bunk that has 2 x nitrous bottle blankets wrapped around it and I plug it in to my inverter so I have warm to somewhat hot water when I need to get cleaned up if there aren't any showers.
It's all about trip planning. And, it's just not that complicated in practice. You know where your hours are. It very seldom has any benefit to run your clock dangerously low. It's simply a macho thing, not a smart thing. Alot ends up being personal preference. I'm one that likes to park at truck stops. I prefer to go in and get a coffee in the morning instead of having to brew it in my truck. Subjectively, I also feel safer at the majority of truck stops or rest areas over ramps and assorted 'quiet' remote places. I stopped once on a ramp, didn't sleep well at all. Worried about my safety. Objectively, probably doesn't matter. But, it's just how I feel about it. Also, being a reefer jockey, I don't avoid the noise, I am the noise (to very loosely paraphrase Heisenberg from Breaking Bad). I do seek out other reefers and park with and by them when possible for the courtesy of others. I found there were alot of things I fretted over before I became a driver that ended up not being any issue or problem once I was a driver. Most of the stuff I was concerned about, simply worked themselves out. Running my clock was one of them. Personally, when I'm simply running without having a delivery or pick up that day I generally run at least 500 miles, usually between 550 and 600 and use about 9.5 hours of drive time. I tend to try and stop before I have less than an hour of drivetime left. That in general. I have gotten myself down to around 2 minutes on my clock to get to a truck stop and had to PC around in the truck stop to get parked. But, numerous factors justified running my clock that close. I seldom do it. If I don't have legal time to get to a place, get loaded or unloaded (they're 'supposed' to get that done within 2 hours) and then get to a safe place to park, by my standards, then I'll stop short and not try to deliver, even if it makes the load late. And yes, I have done that! If the place takes too long and I run out of time while there, I use the PC exception for safe parking. But, it is never my plan to have to use that exception. Safety is 1st priority, being legal is 2nd and getting the load there on time is my 3rd priority. I'm grateful I work for a company that actually seems to support my priorities.
How new are you.? Just asking. You got a lot of info in your responses. Stuff that took me months to learn. That was a great question. I start looking to stop for the day when I have 45 mins left, if the shipper or receiver do not have over night parking. I stop 3.5 to 4.5 hours in for my 30 min break.
