Where do you find the time?!

being solo. i can tell you, it's not easy. our company runs. most of our drivers however can't run that hard. and they do shower every day. but then they complain about the low paychecks and quit. if i'm not driving. i'm either sleeping, unloading, or reloading.

i shower on wednesday. home on the weekends.

least your a van. cuz being a flatbedder can get dirty when most of the loads are tarped.

 

Waa. Think. You can find the time. If not learn to take care of your SANITARY NEEDS.

 

You need to learn the ins and outs of those loyalty cards. DH showers 90% for "free" and stops where his next shower is, take advantage that your teaming with someone you can shower with, a 2 showers for the price of 1 thought. That and hopefully some of the drivers here will give you better advice on how to pick your loads, schedual, route and time them to get this stuff in.

 

You are trying to deal with Plus-1 scheduling without knowing how to deal with the Plus-1 system

The system will try to get you to commit to the tightest time frame possible while staying something like legal and safe.
It gives you the earliest pick up and delivery times, while leaving out the customers windows of time for the load.

Whenever you get a preplan, you must first evaluate the plan before you commit to it.
YOU have to figure the time it will take you to get to the shipper, all of your needed breaks for pre-trips and meals and fueling and sleeping and pissing and anything else you need to get done - and within those conditions the time you can get to the receiver.

Then, if you can't do it within the pplans time frame, you respond with a 'no' on the Mac 9, giving your ETA times.

If your times match up with the customers needs it will be kicked right back to you with those times, asking that you commit to the load.
If your times do not match, the load will be taken off you.

Simple.

My first response to most pplans is 'no'.
I will not run myself ragged day in and day out.

I like a 12 hour sleep break, because I need time to both wind down and wake up enough to drive safely. And I really need at least 7 hours of good sleep. Minimum 2 hours on each end.
I want an hour for a decent mid-day meal, and at least 2 15-20 minute short breaks in a full 600+ mile / 12-14 hour day.
If I need to shower and/or do laundry, I add in at least another hour - 2 if I need both. Because I'll not lose sleep to do those things.
I also factor in the roads I'll likely be driving on. If it is going through a lot of towns that will kill my speed, I add in some more time.
Load weight is another factor if there are hills and mountains on the route.

That is the way I work it to stay both safe and sane.

And to this day, no one has complained to me about my work habits.

 

Nice schedule. Would not fit probably for those who spend hours on end at docks and still cover some miles,I am one of those.

 

The first couple weeks are always crazy. Even experienced drivers starting with a new company will scramble a bit until they get the comfortable.

 

Pay attention to what Moose is saying and add that you, not the system, need to set your PTA. Set it to give yourselves the kind time you need. Also, you get a shower credit every time you pump 50+ gallons which you can redeem for 2 team showers. You might want to give each other a break from each other now and then. I have yet to meet a woman who didn't appreciate some alone time in the bathroom; most are too polite to say, "leave me the hell alone!"
Frank

 

Ditto what ac and moose said...that is plus1 bs right there..can tell by the times...when you kick the load back with a mac 9 give yourself a generous several hrs of room...it dont have to be how you are doing it..but u are in control of it...just need to learn how...u will understand soon..and dispatch nor planners will tell you that!...