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What would you do...routing/timing question.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by ncmickey, Jul 7, 2014.

  1. Jul 7, 2014 #1
    ncmickey

    ncmickey Road Train Member

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    Jun 21, 2013
    Durham NC
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    I am leaving Toledo Ohio on Friday evening around 10 pm. I HAVE to be at the Virginia Beach convention center on Sunday morning at 8 am. It's about 660 miles..... I will be putting in about 6 hrs on duty not driving before I leave at 10 pm Sunday night...
    My route is pretty straight forward. 80 to 76 to 70 to 270 to 495 to 95 to 64 to 264...
    Could go 80 to 76 to 70 to 81 to 64 to 264 also...
    I can leave Friday eve after the show is over, around 10 pm. Drive a few hrs... pull over for my 10, continue to the convention center Saturday night and stay at the dock there...
    How is parking late night on that route? On a Friday eve, Saturday early morning.

    Or leave Toledo early Saturday morning after some sleep in the hotel and just go for it...all the way to the convention center and stay in the parking lot..
    Maybe do a split.... leave Saturday morning around 6 am, drive till 2 pm...take 8 hrs break, drive 5 hrs... take 2 hrs... Finish up and stay at dock....

    I ask only to see what other experienced drivers do. As a new driver, I like to see others opinions, since I don't know ####.....
    Some background. I have been driving 6 months on a theatre tour... fresh out of school. I have been pulling a 28' for most of the season...but now I'm pulling a 53'... which I have exactly one week experience pulling. So far, it's been good. But parking at a crowded truck stop at 2am scares me with so little experience. I've gotten use to that 28' and could almost pull it through a McDonald's drive through I was so comfortable with it. So far, the 53' seems way easier to back up... but I haven't done it in a low light, exhausted state yet....
    I am not scared at all... but I have had no trainer after school...and I have asked tons of questions on here and to other drivers. I try to double think my routes, situations and planning..
    I have learned so many great lessons.
    My gut says leave Friday night. Drive to 76/80 around Youngstown, OH, stay at the large service area there... take a 10, drive the rest of the way to the VA beach convention center and sleep there for Saturday night.....but like I said...I like to see the thought process from other drivers....
     
    ncmickey, Jul 7, 2014
    ncmickey, Jul 7, 2014
    #1
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  3. Jul 7, 2014 #2
    hawkjr

    hawkjr Road Train Member

    1,652
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    Feb 28, 2010
    Virginia
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    495 around DC to the 127 on 95 in VA could be a parking lot on a weekend. My suggestion, drive to the last service plaza in OH on the Pike for the night & get up & leave in the afternoon.
     
    hawkjr, Jul 7, 2014
    hawkjr, Jul 7, 2014
    #2
    ncmickey Thanks this.
  4. Jul 7, 2014 #3
    HotH2o

    HotH2o Road Train Member

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    Sep 23, 2012
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    I've had success using findfuelstops.com to find truck stops, rest areas and scales. Just look up the route you'll be taking and it lists a lot of the truck stops, etc.
     
    HotH2o, Jul 7, 2014
    HotH2o, Jul 7, 2014
    #3
    ncmickey Thanks this.
  5. Jul 7, 2014 #4
    ‘Olhand

    ‘Olhand Cantankerous Crusty

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    Jan 18, 2011
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    Since you are hauling the show&you can run Toledo~Va Bch in one legal shot......&knowing how traffic gets in the DC area~~~&across 64 to the beach.....&since obviously tolls are NOT a concern.....id leave toledo around midnite fri~~take an easy ride over to Breezwood Pa around 5.5 hours runnin easy......by time you get there~~the early bunch will already have started easin outta the TA(which is a pretty decent stop) id go to bed chill whatever.....and plan on leaving sometime between 10&midnite Sat nite.....that way time you get down to DC area things ill b bout thin as they are gonna be(better around4/5 but that might jeopardize ur 8am arrival)....Still should put you in Va Beach w/couple hours to spare(2get a nap) and you havent worked to hard since im guessin from your post you have some kind of on duty responsibilities during load in........
     
    ‘Olhand, Jul 7, 2014
    ‘Olhand, Jul 7, 2014
    #4
    ncmickey Thanks this.
  7. Jul 7, 2014 #5
    ncmickey

    ncmickey Road Train Member

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    Durham NC
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    I've been using an APP called ' Trucker Path' that I learned about here. Works great. Can see all truck stops, rest areas, weigh stations, Wal-Mart's, etc on your route. Some have reviews and services listed, like number of parking spots and what restaurants etc. You can also look at a satellite view and see the parking layout and such... helps for making smart decisions...like one truck stop has 150 parking spots with a bunch of pull through spots or the next exit has a stop with 50 spots with most looking like a blind side back in.....
     
    ncmickey, Jul 7, 2014
    ncmickey, Jul 7, 2014
    #5
  8. Jul 7, 2014 #6
    ncmickey

    ncmickey Road Train Member

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    Jun 21, 2013
    Durham NC
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    Yea, I have less to do on load in...but will need to put in about 3-4 hrs starting at 8 am. Most of these convention centers have union crews and I just supervise the unload. They try to keep me off the truck...but it's my truck and I'm driving it...I do all the strapping and strapping. Then I just need to assist with setting up some monitors and help the stage manager lay the dance floor...all easy as hell...i find it hard to believe they pay me extra for it...
    I like your suggestions for the route/ times...so thanks for taking the time to answer
     
    ncmickey, Jul 7, 2014
    ncmickey, Jul 7, 2014
    #6
    'olhand Thanks this.
  9. Jul 8, 2014 #7
    FatDaddy

    FatDaddy Road Train Member

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    Katy, TX or Swedesboro, NJ
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    I would take this suggestion. You'll hit Breezewood and there will be plenty of parking there at 5-6 am, and its a nice truckstop with plenty of food options inside or even within walking distance. Then you leave there in the evening so that you aren't hitting DC or 64 headed to the beach during the peak hours where you will be sitting in a parking lot .
     
    FatDaddy, Jul 8, 2014
    FatDaddy, Jul 8, 2014
    #7
    ncmickey Thanks this.
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