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Workin' Them Hours - Teams

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by ed28560, Jul 28, 2009.

  1. Jul 28, 2009 #1
    ed28560

    ed28560 Bobtail Member

    36
    52
    Apr 29, 2009
    New Bern, NC
    0
    I was told by an instructor that, if your on a team, it's actually a good thing if you both run out of hours (on the 70) because it means you're running alot.

    I've been told by some drivers that there is a way to work your hours (legally) so that neither of you run out of hours at all and still get acceptable number of miles in on each shift.

    Some say to drive ten or eleven hours then switch out, others say to run a set twelve-hour shift (beginning/end times vary depending on the source.)

    I'd like to know what insight and/or advice some of you have for the best way to work your hours when driving team so that you maximize your time and miles without throwing yourself off on needed rest/sleep.

    My thought so far is a 12-hour shift. That would allow for 10 to 11 hours drive time with one to two hours fueling/breaks, etc. The truck would then be running 22 hours per day (eleven hours per driver.) Some of the leftover 2 hours would be used for the fueling/driver breaks, but some would also be used between shifts when changing drivers. This could also be used for showers, etc. But somehow I don't think it would work quite as efficiently as planned.

    Any advice?

    Thanks in advance, everyone.
     
    ed28560, Jul 28, 2009
    ed28560, Jul 28, 2009
    #1
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  3. Jul 28, 2009 #2
    L.B.

    L.B. Third Generation Truck Driver

    2,654
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    Jul 23, 2007
    Middle GA
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    If you average 8.75 hours of actual driving per day you will never run out of hours and the truck will be moving 17.5 hours per day. Of course there will be times when you need to push harder but if you can stick to those hours you will never run out.
     
    L.B., Jul 28, 2009
    L.B., Jul 28, 2009
    #2
  4. Jul 28, 2009 #3
    ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    Sep 23, 2007
    Ask my GPS...
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    When I teamed, the 12-hour shift routine seemed to work better. It allowed you to get comfortable with your sleep cycle, which is more important than anything else, IMO. 10-on/10-off has you constantly changing your sleep cycle, which really isn't a very good idea, but does mesh-up with the HOS rules a bit more...

    70hrs/8days is an average of 8.75 on-duty hours per day, but that's an average. Coupled with loading/unloading and everything else that goes on you're going to be above and below that as well.
     
    ironpony, Jul 28, 2009
    ironpony, Jul 28, 2009
    #3
  5. Jul 28, 2009 #4
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,660
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    May 28, 2009
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
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    Ya gonna' have to be flexable when driving a truck, team or solo. You got different load times/unload times, waiting for dispatch etc. Your day can start/end at any given time. :biggrin_25518:
     
    Allow Me., Jul 28, 2009
    Allow Me., Jul 28, 2009
    #4
  7. Jul 28, 2009 #5
    msmspilot

    msmspilot Light Load Member

    296
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    Aug 25, 2008
    North Mississippi
    0
    The best way to work a team schedule is to do what works for you and your partner. My wife and I tried a couple of different schedules before we found one that worked. Once we did, the miles worked great. When we tried something that didn't work for us, we knew it. Neither of us got good sleep and we didn't get good miles.

    It took a few months for us to sort it out, but we're rolling good now (when the truck/trailers aren't broken).
     
    msmspilot, Jul 28, 2009
    msmspilot, Jul 28, 2009
    #5
  8. Jul 29, 2009 #6
    Orange Truck

    Orange Truck Light Load Member

    147
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    Jul 5, 2009
    Rockton,IL
    0
    You sure do need to be flexable. It might look good on paper but in the real world it might not work out as well.
    My wife and I at one time did 5 and 5 . It worked great for us. Then they changed the law and we did 10 and 10. Neither one of us could do the 10 hor shift. We quit running the west coast or runs that have more than one night. I could not take all that time in the sleeper and she could not take all that time in the drivers seat.
     
    Orange Truck, Jul 29, 2009
    Orange Truck, Jul 29, 2009
    #6
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