Trip Planning for Newbies

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Supraman, Mar 13, 2009.

  1. DirtyBob

    DirtyBob Road Train Member

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    Indiana
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    If you're worried about them not waking you up at your appointment, set an alarm. Pretty simple solution. It sucks if you wake up and they're not ready for you but it's better than them saying the load is late because you were sleeping.
     
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  3. scottied67

    scottied67 Road Train Member

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    california norte
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    Had something similar, ran out of hours while getting unloaded. Parked in their parking lot outside the gate. They sent their little rent-a-cop to bang on my door to evict me from their property. I said call the cops if you're serious. Cops show up and I explain I don't want to be there, rather be at the truck stop getting a hot shower and hot meal, please escort me to nearest safe haven-- they did.
    I knew this was going to happen several hours earlier, called FM, he said, 'you shouldn't have taken that load' 00 very helpful.

    That's pretty cool! I do something similar, just with a blank log sheet but it can get confusing with dots all over, I like the color coding-- will steal it.
     
  4. Yodler

    Yodler Light Load Member

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    :biggrin_25523: There was no parking lot outside the gate, just a regular local road, 2 lanes, barely 12' feet wide, no traffic though at 2 am. No place to even think of parking. :biggrin_25513:

    Oh, yea I would tell that FM something; wasn't I assigned to that load in the first place? Office people sometimes forget what it's like out on the road. :biggrin_2556:

    About the trip plan: I'm giving it out freely. I don't think Schneider has a copyright on it, I just created it from scratch, because it was helpful, and the copies we were given had faded to the point of barly visible. I made it look a little nicer too. You can't steal what is given! :biggrin_2559:
     
    scottied67 Thanks this.
  5. Little Joe 2012

    Little Joe 2012 Bobtail Member

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    Feb 16, 2012
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    Trip Planning Principles: When you get your load assignment do the following:

    -Check # of miles on trip + deadhead miles (from QC) or Dispatcher. Divide the total miles by 50 (conservative miles per hour average you can drive in a day). Example: 1200 miles divided by 50mph = 24 hrs of driving required to complete this trip.

    -Divide 24 hrs of driving by 10 (conservative hours of driving in a 14 hr day), now you have 2 days of driving 10 hours plus another 4 hours on the third day. Add 1 hour of on-duty time every day for pre/post trips/fueling and now you need 27 hours to complete this trip. So you need 27 hours total working hours. Don't forget to to add or subtract the time zone changes.

    -Now you have to compare this to your available hours based on your 70 hour recap. Take the hours available from your log re-cap and adding it to the hours from the days that will roll off (remember you pick up the hours from 8 days ago every day at midnite), as you make the trip gives you the total on-duty hours avail for this trip. If you have multiple stops make sure you have the right number of hours avail on any given day to meet the delivery time for that day. Now ask yourself, do I have enough time to complete this trip, legally, safely and on time? Do I have the on-duty and driving hours avail to complete this trip legally? If the answer is no contact your dispatcher or send a msg via QC and tell him how far you can and when you could get the it to the drop point. Don't turn it down, try to run with it as far as you can go legally and safely. If you turn it down you might just "sit" there for a day or two.

    So remember, total number of miles divided by 50 mph will give you the total number of driving hours required to deliver the load. Divide the total number of driving hours by 10 and the result will be the number of days required to deliver the load. Add 1 hour for meals, fueling, and pre/post trip inspections per day and then add or subtract time zone changes. After you do this, check your recap hours avail and see if you will be picking up sufficient hours every day to complete this trip legally and safely by the scheduled appointment time. Now go to your road atlas, you know that in 10 hours you will be driving approx 500 miles. Now figure out from point A to point B (500) miles, look for a truck stop where you will spending the night. Easy way of doing this: Go to page 3 of the Road Atlas, with a ruler, start at point A, wiggle around turns on the interstate, every inch equals approx 150 miles, this will give you an approx rest stop at point B. I have a GPS on my truck but I never rely on it. This is old school trip planning and I have never been in trouble doing it this way. Good luck to you!
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2012
  6. Ranger70

    Ranger70 Light Load Member

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    Aug 28, 2010
    Joliet Il
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    Little Joe, good stuff. There was a thread on here a few months ago with that same basic formula, all old school stuff ,that is worth its weight in gold.A lot of guys I know could use this kind of info. Trip planning and even planning their day right can save alot of time, and in the long run make you more money.
     
  7. diesel1985

    diesel1985 Bobtail Member

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    I have read all of the info on this page ....and regardless of what ANYONE may tell you.......if you have a TRUCK GPS or any at all.....being from the northeast I wouldn't trust it 100% and would buy a new Road Carriers atlas every year, and keep in contact with D.O.T. and local police where you are going because regardless if you dislike them or not......they WILL gladly help you if you are lost or ANYTHING else before having to write the report
     
  8. diesel1985

    diesel1985 Bobtail Member

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    Also when planning how long it will take you to get.........where ever it is you're going....average your speed at 50-55 miles and hour....this will allow for anytime spent on small state and US highways as well as construction....
     
  9. diesel1985

    diesel1985 Bobtail Member

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    Sep 7, 2013
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    And as far as the problem of being over your HOS after delivery... If you are not allowed overnight stay at your consignee..ask your company if they will allow you time to get to a "Safe Zone." I have had this situation happen before and I was with a company that I won't list (because they aren't too liked).....but all I asked for was time to get to a safe zone and they gave me directions to the nearest one.......
     
  10. DRVNDRVR

    DRVNDRVR Light Load Member

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    Aug 16, 2013
    Central Oregon
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  11. diesel1985

    diesel1985 Bobtail Member

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    Sep 7, 2013
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    Thanks for that info! As long as they are truck friendly the info will be appreciated, at very least by me
     
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