Time management and trip planning...

Yes, I’ll run linehaul so I don’t have to worry about any of that crap anymore

 

It depends on who you run for.

Some places plan for 55mph average. You take longer than a 10h + 30min break then that 55 mph truck will pass you by. Then, the next load you get will assume you were that 55mph truck and are further down the road than where you are now.

Now you are "late" all week with no hope to catch up because you need to stop for traffic signals and your truck won't do 160mph to make the last delivery before the weekend and they are closed.

 

His post is exactly how I imagined it would be as a regional or OTR driver under elogs, which is why I bailed and got off the road before ever experiencing it. No longer being able to get to where I preferred to park, being able to relax and sit down for a nice dinner, etc. The whole thing sounded like #### to me so I ran, I ran so far away...

 

It's what they want to see or only want to see because that math is easier. You slow down and become the "slow" driver then they send you to places that take forever to load or give you the runaround doing "favors". Then you get bent and make a rant about how the company sucks because they make you sit so much.

Not all places, but it's prevalent enough.

 

And Im glad I GTFO while things were simple in 2001, 10, 8, 10, 8 etc.

 

In this post time will be in .25 (meaning 15 min) increments.

I wake up .75 before my 10 hour break is up. I only need .75 to wake up, brew my own coffee, pre trip, eat an apple, and I'll actually stretch and power walk a bit around. This leads me with 1 total hour, .25 into the 14 clock.

I'll drive as far as I can before I get hungry or bathroom. Then I'll make a sandwich in my truck. This will be my 30 min break.

I'll drive the remaining time and find a place to park for the night.

Typical driving day I stop once for my break and a few times for bathroom breaks that are 5 min or less. My goal is to have less than 12 hours from start of day to finish and still drive 10-10.5 hours. Going 70-75 I usually get 700mi. I shower in evening and ita during my 10 hour break. I also have an inverter, fridge, freezer, and microwave in truck with a weeks groceries.

I will also try to park for the night as close to or at my pickup or delivery location. I will load or unload also during my 10 hour break, sometimes it saves a lot of time since I'm flatbed. I work extremely hard but I enjoy being home every weekend.

 

OTR on elogs is not that bad once you get smart about it, and if OTR suits your lifestyle. If OTR does't suit your lifestyle, you have no business doing OTR. Nothing wrong with OTR. Nothing wrong with local or regional. Regardless, just do what you have to do for now, or do what you prefer to do.

I need variety and to not be stuck in the same region month after month. If that makes you happy, more power to you. As far as the OP, seems like he has a pretty good handle on things. Once you learn your roads and what you can expect on a given day in a given season, you can be more aggressive about stretching your days out closer to 10.5-10.9+ hours and not worry about snags, especially in certain western regions.

Biggest factor [once you get into a position to set your preferred start time] is to avoid shutting down past 18:00, but much earlier if possible. I'm a day runner if given a choice, and if so, I like to start by 04:00 to 05:00 and drive 10-11 hours inside of 12 hour window. I will do an 8/2 split only in rare situations where the situation allows for it and it makes sense or is necessary to make appt or beat traffic. Planning to avoid peak traffic periods in major metro areas may be one of the most important aspects of trip planning longer cross-country loads.