Where is everyone #5

Yes PPG is important, but Time is more important than Money. I fuel at certain places because it saves time. In OTR, there are certain areas that you have to time correctly, otherwise it kills you time wise.

Greatest example I know is the STL metro area and Okie City. In the winter hours, if you catch the STL evening curfew, you are stuck until 0900 the next morning. You will automatically get caught in the Okie City curfew that starts early. And then you're stuck until 0900 the following day.

This gets even more crucial when your load is so big or tall or wide or long or heavy that the SUPERLOAD rules apply. Your run time is shorter. Your parking places get fewer. Fueling becomes more crucial. Loves, PFJ? Shower points? The only Pilot I know of to get the really big loads in is the one at GrandIslandNE. FlyingJ? The one in Illinois off the 255 Loop near St Louis. Usually, it's going to be a Petro. Petro's usually have the biggest lots of the big chains. But there are tons and tons of mom and pop places. The average driver does his trip planning by locating a Loves/PFJ along his route. That's an incredibly foolish thing to do if you need 2/3 parking spots.

Now, some times, the best place to park is a giant weigh station or Co-op place. You may have to get up early, and bobtail 20-40 minutes for fuel. Regardless, it's easier to start your day by getting up and fueling in the dark and when the sun comes up, you have to hit it and run all day. Dropping that trailer and bobtailing for fuel during your drive time is a huge waste of time.

Main thing is, you have to be able to adapt according to the load. If not, you end up as one of those people at a big chain truck stop who cant get out the lot because the load wont fit through the exits until everyone in the truck stop finishes their 10 hour break.

 

I’m actually thrilled he posted some ‘somewhat ‘ real numbers.

I didn’t realize it was that mediocre, given all the hype. But then you have to factor in being left with zero equipment equity at the end of it, and it becomes sad.

Still - must keep sticky fingers OUT of thread .

 

Summed it right up there Six. I go in to a load as topped up as possible, and from there on it’s all about curfews and time.

Same as running extra miles. Last load I saved 36 hours by driving another 120 miles. Permit cost be darned.

 

@catalinaflyer

Any wings I need to be aware of on the move Monday morning near Savannah?

 

That I wont know until I find one I suppose. It's a 93 model 3176L(?) So the closest equivalent to that in a larger displacement.

 

You're right. Every time you read about an owner op chasing miles and complaining about money, you know he "did not get it.'

 

She's out helping our neice switch back to shoes from ice skates now. She wanted to wear my Stormy Kromer hat. But she wouldn't let me take her picture. I told her it looked good on her but she didn't even want to look in a mirror. Guess she doesn't want it burned into her memory either.

 

Or going to an N14 even. I just figured cat would have been a more direct swap.

 

Maybe she's holding out for a Floyd R. Turbo hat ?

 

handsome couple!