Trip Planning And Hours Question.

I am running on recaps and my hours ran out for today. I went off-duty/sleeper at 5pm this Wednesday evening. I have a load to Memphis, 900 miles away scheduled for delivery 8/05 @2100 I have an open.delivery window so can deliver early. All miles via I-10, 20, 30 and 40, so easy miles.

My recaps hours are as follows with 0:58 minutes on my current 70/8, and the hours I will pick up at 0000 each following am:

8/2, Thurs. 6:30 hrs (on duty/driving). 8/3, Friday- 5:06 hrs - same. 8/4 , Saturday - 9:06 hrs - same. 8/5, Sun - 11:28 hrs. (8/6, Mon - 8:00 hrs) (8/7, Tues - 9:22 hrs) (8/8, Wed. - 10:59)

If I take a 34 hour reset from now (8/1, Wednes 5pm) to 8/3, Friday 3Am, I'll have a fresh 70 and can get to my consignee by 8/4 Saturday around 1100 am. Maybe I could get another load Saturday.

I don't see the point of running my recaps for Thursday and Friday (11:36 hours total), wasting time and hours each day waiting for 0000 each night to run low (6:30 and 5:06) recap hours and Saturday (9:06).

Now if I wanted to lolly-gag around for the next 4 days and just get to the consignee Sunday at 2100 as scheduled, I could, but I plan for home time after next week.

Using the information I provided, how would you run to maximize time and miles?

If you can fit a reset, and still make your delivery early, that's what I would do. Communicate with your dispatcher , and you can be pre-planned before you deliver.

I would use my recaps and run it in early Sunday. Option two, run on recaps, stop in West Memphis and see if they can take it off of you and give you something better. If you can get there by Saturday and get another dispatch on Saturday, more money for your current pay period. It's up to you. I have an 800+ mile load to Poway, Ca. from Logan, Ut. I ran out my clock today, I can only get to my fuel stop tomorrow and will deliver on time on Friday with zero time on my clock when I get there. I'll be sleeping at that customer. Whatever load I get out of there just puts me further over a $1000.00 gross for this week.

I would get the reset in and see about getting a reload Sat. Even if you can't reload till Mon, you'll have enough time for another reset by Mon. Let your dispatcher know now if you do reset, so they can start planning a reload

Also, when you deliver early call West Memphis for your next load. You will be in their area. You can call there Friday, if you know when you will deliver Saturday and see if they have something to preplan you with.

Don, you will find that every trucker will trip plan, manage time, and set up the truck differently. they have different routines and rituals. some are correct or wrong as long as it works. i tell.people all.the time, ask others what they find helpful and you will create a hodge podge of different drivers info to mesh into your own.

Big Scott, I called W. Memphis today about relaying this load and getting something for the weekend. Dispatch advised me to see the planner when I arrive. Looks like I may be stuck with this load until delivery Sunday night. If so, then a 34 reset is definitely in the works. Crossing my fingers.

Also, when you deliver early call West Memphis for your next load. You will be in their area. You can call there Friday, if you know when you will deliver Saturday and see if they have something to preplan you with.

Looks like I may be stuck with this load until delivery Sunday night.

That's a bummer. I realize this is Monday morning quarterbacking, and hindsight is 20/20. But that's why me personally I would have reset and delivered Saturday. I don't know how CFI works, so my opinion is only a guess, but I think you would've stood a much better chance of getting a new load after emptying early Saturday, vs hoping another driver would be in the area and willing to relay your current load.

Obviously it's easy for me to sit here and say that since I wasn't in your shoes. Like Rainy said, you'll get all kinds of opinions. What's right today may be wrong tomorrow. We just go with the odds, and sometimes lose.

At least you'll have a fresh 70 Monday, so you can run hard till home time.