Wish I knew this before I did Linehaul, governed at 62 mph.

I did nighttime linehaul for nearly 14 years, the key is to get a ‘good days sleep’. That is the biggest challenge. If you are committed to stay in the LTL gig, try to transfer to P&D shift at your company.

 

You have the wrong attitude for a linehaul. Linehaul is one step up from a factory job. You do the same thing, over and over, hours are pretty cut and dry, and equipment is usually top notch. Many find that rewarding, like a factory job, they have a life outside of the truck. 62 is fine, in fact, what's the rush, slow it down, you're being paid by the hour. Special perks go along with that job, you aren't some random O/O they will never see again, you are part of the "team", and today, a good place to be. P&D( pickup and delivery) is okay, but many P&D drivers grab the linehaul as soon as it opens. P&D takes a special attitude as well, I liked them both. If you want a fast truck, be some beer hauler, or flatbed, they have fast trucks, they have to, they have a long ways to go and uncertainy once they get there, but linehaul? No hurry,,,it's a better life, trust me.

 

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This is not linehaul, but the trucks are governed at 75 mph.

 

The vast majority of the industry, including linehauls, is 62-68mph. The difference between them is negligible.

I run the same routes, everyday, at 67mph. When I come up behind a 64-65mph truck, I drop the cruise a couple and hang out. Whatever hundreds of feet I might gain over the next hours is negligible, in the big picture. All it takes is one snag along the way and that advantage is negated, anyway. Plus, all those fast trucks trying to jam along I-70 are being held up, the whole way. It isn’t worth it. A slow truck provides a worry-free experience, because you’re not part of that left-lane jam fest. Hang out in the right lane and relax. It’s not so bad, if you’re not enviously looking to your left.

 

where i live, delivering to target stores or delivering from amazon warehouses. this offers shorter work weeks more work-life balance. like 3 or 4 day work weeks or more or less, and shorter days. combined with lower pay rate though.

 

It's the same thing I hated about linehaul. Then tack on pets or kids that don't understand you have to sleep when they want to see you. You then also have to decide if you want to invert your sleep schedule on your days off or if you just don't want to have a personal life.

I guess it all depends how bad you need a job. But you wouldn't be the first one to quit over a week/life/sleep balance.