Staying Off The Clock

I couldn't put it better than Old School but, you will sit from time to time. It's just the nature of OTR trucking. I have found that most of my short runs lead to long runs and I never complain about the short ones. I dont even complain about the short ones when that's all I get, because at the end of the week I still have 3000 miles or just about and more accesorial pay.

There isn't a driver out here that doesn't sit occasionally, its can be frustrating if you let it be. On the flip side there isn't a driver out here that hasn't had to run their tail off for a week or two. I've literally talked to dozens of drivers who have complained about both sitting and working too much. It is what you make it brother. Goodluck out there should you decide to get behind the wheel.

Thanks for all the knowledge guys, the perspectives, for clarifying and what not, thanks

I'll give you today as an example.

I parked last night at an empty lot around the corner from my receiver. I would have parked on site but this customer doesn't allow it. My appointment window to unload this morning was 0600-1800, so I was up at 0430 and nosed up to the receivers gate by 0500 to beat the rush of other drivers. Had I waited longer I would have been behind several other trucks.

Get unloaded by 0630, and dispatched on a new load by 0700. That's when I finally "started my clock". 3ish hour deadhead to the next shipper. Hour and halfish later I was all strapped down and on my way. I parked the truck at 1800, 13hrs after nosing up to the gate this morning.

I wouldn't call this an average day, but typical. Some days are much shorter, some are even longer. It's the life we live. Nothing is really "average". That's kinda why I like it.

I run reefer and i have had 20 hour days and 24 hour days. i have had 4 hour days. it all depends.

you might ask but how??? ive picked up loads that had only enough time to take my 30 min break, grab my fuel and go. i get to the customer just as my 14 is dying. then i check in and wait for a door. an hour later they assign me. then a couple hours into unloading the lumpers want their check. then they come back with my paoerwork an hour after that. then i realize they had damaged product so that is more time waiting for the claims department to decide what to do with the product. But security tells me i cant stay so now i have to drive away and park. yes i napped an hour here or there but didnt really sleep. and if you stay off duty the whole time in the customer, dispatch sees you as getting hours back soon.

it had nothing to do with time management or trip planning.

its about communication and knowing your limits. i told dispatch to leave me alone after that. lol

i have also had loads with lots of time and drove only 4 hours then drove the rest the next day. i get rest when i can.

Big Scott runs dry van and he parks at truck stops in the afternoon to evening 98% of the time.He mostly runs mostly days cause most of his customers are closed at night.

with reefer, some customers might take frozen foods overnight and meats and dairy during the day. so my deliveries are 24/7. because of limited parking, i park anywhere i can...walmart...rest areas...customers.

however, reefer makes more cpm in general and taking breaks at customers often gets me rolling faster. reefer also has set appointment times for the most part, while dry can may have windows. this is another reason why reefer might make more cpm. because of my tighter schedules, i get great bonuses for on time delivery.

its all a matter of preference. if i ran dry van, id probably get used to that i started in reefer and its what i know.

but...my reefer can be shut off so i also run dry loads but get paid the same cpm as reefer. sweeet. lol