On My Own & Driving Solo

Omgoodness I had no idea solo would be so different from teaming! I have to rethink how I run because the full-out way I'm used to has run my 70 down in one trip and now I don't have enough hours to finish the next load they have me. I think I learn more each day now, 7 months in, than I did in training. I'm sitting here in my truck...four hours now when I should be sleeping...trying to wrap my brain around all the little things that make a big difference in the end. Like driving 8 hours instead of all 11, or doing an 8/2 split instead of 10 straight. How do I work laundry in, or showers for that matter? Trip planning, scanning Trip paks, scaling, trailer washouts, and on and on and on! Precious sleeping time is ticking away while my brain goes in circles....maybe I will think more clearly if I actually got some sleep. Oh...and my first backing didn't go very well, but I finally got the trailer somewhat squared to the dock without squashing anything, and it only took 30 minutes.

Night all!! Hope to have more time soon.

Running recaps can be a little funky lol. When I run recaps, I try not to run my 70 all the way to 0. Having a few extra hours can be nice if you ever have a day you want to run really hard so you can take it easy the next day. I'm running recaps this week too. This load is going to burn up my 70 almost completely, so I'm planning on getting it there as soon as possible and then taking most of the next day off to let my hours come back a little. That's just how I like to run though. Everybody's different.

As mentioned before, just take your time and relax. That is key. There is never anything that is so important that you have to forgo safety.

If you feel a situation is not safe, stop and assess.

Sambo, I never compromise on safety, at least not knowingly. You and Paul both mention taking it easy...how do you do that? I see that I have to get cross country in three and half days..please show me how to not run full out 'coz I'm missing something here. If I do 8.75hr shifts like my DM suggests, I won't make 2200 miles in 3.5days. At least I can't figure it.

Hey Phoenix, those are great loads you're getting! You can't do those kind of loads on eight and half hour days. Just run 'em as hard as you can and if it screws up your re-caps, take a well deserved 34 hour break somewhere. Running solo is just different and you'll have to figure out what works best for you.

Here's a tip that will help both you and your dispatcher. Try your best to keep up with how your hours are being used. Learn to realize a few days ahead when you will be out of hours. That way you can give your dispatcher a "heads up" message a few days in advance of needing to take your 34 hour break. This will help your dispatcher know how to plan properly for you.

I pretty much run like that and I'll catch up on much needed rest and undone tasks like laundry or grocery shopping while on my 34.

It helps at first to write down in a notebook how many on duty/driving hours you've used up at the end of your shift each day. Keep a running total going and count ahead so that you know when you're going to run out of legal driving hours. That way you can tell your driver manager a day or two in advance, "Hey, when I MT out this load I need to find a good truck stop so that I can take a 34 hour break and reset my clock. I'll send you an updated PTA once I get settled in for my break."

I also run on re-caps at times, but as a solo driver getting long hauls with tight time frames you have to manage your clock in a way that may include taking those 34 hour resets at times.

I actually prefer running full steam ahead and getting in a 34 hour break each week. I enjoy the break, catch up on things that need to be done, and it keeps me fresh to really work hard when I'm working.

You need to do split breaks. And if you can't do it with split breaks than it can't be done.

Sambo, I never compromise on safety, at least not knowingly. You and Paul both mention taking it easy...how do you do that? I see that I have to get cross country in three and half days..please show me how to not run full out 'coz I'm missing something here. If I do 8.75hr shifts like my DM suggests, I won't make 2200 miles in 3.5days. At least I can't figure it.

Sambo, I never compromise on safety, at least not knowingly. You and Paul both mention taking it easy...how do you do that? I see that I have to get cross country in three and half days..please show me how to not run full out 'coz I'm missing something here. If I do 8.75hr shifts like my DM suggests, I won't make 2200 miles in 3.5days. At least I can't figure it.

The only way to do 2200 miles in 3.5 days is to run your 11 hr clock down every day. What Old School does is pretty much the easiest way to manage your clock--just run that 70 down as quickly as possible and take a 34. I tried that for the last few months and finally gave up on it--I'm a wimp who'd be falling asleep at the wheel by the 4th day.

To run recaps, if you have a run that has extra time on it, you can run fewer hours per day and take more than 10 hrs off each day. Or if you have a really tight run like yours, you can run your load as hard as possible and then set your PTA out a little bit after your run to give yourself a little break during the week.

You need to do split breaks. And if you can't do it with split breaks than it can't be done.

Sorry Isaac, split breaks won't really change anything here. 2200 miles is 2200 miles, no matter how you split it.

You need to do split breaks. And if you can't do it with split breaks than it can't be done.

Isaac, can you explain that one a little further?

The 8/2 split doesn't add more time on your clock, it merely allows you to spread the time around a little differently. Maybe that's what your talking about, but I just can't tell what you meant.

You need to do split breaks. And if you can't do it with split breaks than it can't be done.

Ok I was thinking about this.. I see what you're saying and I've done it myself. If you do 8/2 splits you can take avoid taking an additional 30 minute break each day by timing your breaks right. So technically, you can get there faster.

I just don't think it would do any good here since, if I'm understanding her situation right, she is running low on her 70.