Working with a Dispatcher

True. My numbers for 62 mph versus 73 mph are showing a difference of about 660 miles after 6 days of work. This is all good for company drivers, but if it’s your truck and planning to keep it as long as possible, it may not be worth it. Running at 73 versus 62 will mean an mpg reduction of 1.1 and more wear and tear on the entire truck like tires, brakes, shocks, air bags, and the engine itself. The other significant point to mention is the safety aspect as you need more distance to stop. Then there is the possibly higher likelihood of getting a speeding ticket if you aren’t paying attention and more so than someone who drives at 62.

 

When this subject of MPG comes up, it is inevitable that someone will say "well it depends on how the truck is geared" True, absolutely. The thing is, however, every engine made by ALL OEM makers has an optimum RPM. Stay under that RPM and you can do long term damage, get past this RPM and you WILL use more fuel. Then people forget the curtain of air a CMV pushes when it is on the road. This is one of the reasons this industry moved from those godawful* cab overs to these newer designed tractors. As I said in my post #10, time is not the only metric used.

* My personal opinion of a cab over. I never did love them. Your opinion may differ and I respect this.

 

Buy a 3in1 printer scanner copier. Hotspot your smartphone. Get an email address from your dispatcher/travel agent/broker...etc.

 

Usually the ones driving 70 or even 75 will stop, grab a shower, reteraunt lunch, while the 60/63 mph guy cant afford to stop, just hit a rest area, off duty after about 7 3/4 hours, run to the bathroon,wash hands, go maker a bologna or potted meat sammich, and a diet sams cola.
Then its time to go, finish out the day with seconds remaining, and be ahead or same shutdown locale as speedy.
Mathmatical figures are for dispatchers trying to get that extra mile, while it looks good on paper, it doesnt always work. Slow poke isthe one at end of day on the shower list

 

You have way oversimplified this. Most of the time when a solo driver gets a dispatch the load appointments are set up in such a way a driver based on the company logging rules can make that appointment. I have no opinion when it comes to how fast a driver goes. A driver should obey that posted speed limit as well as their company set MPH on logs. The point of my comment was more to speed and time is not the only thing to take into consideration when operating a CMV. When I was an active driver most of the time I was in a tractor set at either 65 or 64 MPH. I never really had much trouble finding parking for the night and had time to eat properly and take care of my personal hygiene. I can only speak for myself.

 

This reminds me of a movie..

 

You’re reciting the same story that mega companies tell their drivers so they won’t feel bad for being governed. Now, it is true that some super truckers may not advance the load much at the end of the day, but personally, if you see me going 70+, that’s because the load needs it for on time delivery, and you bet I will be putting in as many miles as legally possible in a day. You may see me again on the road, but that’s only because I stopped to fuel and took a 30-min break to kill two birds with one stone. The next day, however, you probably won’t see me again as I will be at least one hour ahead. By the way, my normal speed is 62 mph.

 

So many different things are part of timing. That 2 and a half hours I mentioned for a 1000 mile run. I am leaving the same shipper and going to the same place 1000 miles away. What if I get out of the shipper 3 hours before someone that will drive 70? From the start, I am ahead of you. The same can be said for being stopped for say 45 minutes by the DOT, OR a major traffic backup. What if my delivery appointment is 1 PM and yours is 3 PM? This is why I stated there is more than just speed and time on this subject.

As a general dry van OTR driver, I could spend 2 or 3 days driving in the New England states. If I can drive 70 and spend 3 days in NE and another driver that can drive 60 spends 3 days out west. Who will most likely get more miles in those 3 days?

Back in my last year, I rushed like a mad man getting to a Sunny Delight warehouse in Jersey, only to be told after I dropped to go sit because there was no freight in that area. I remember spending 2 days at the last truck stops on I-78 before crossing the river going into Pa.

 

With some companies a preplan is nonexistent.