Trip Planning Practice #02

In keeping with Brett's vision of educating and encouraging, I decided to post one real trip per week as a trip planning exercise.

This is for newbies who need extra practice, or someone just starting CDL school. Trip planning and time management can be difficult but practice makes perfect, so get a jump on it to make rookie life easier and start earning that money faster.

The "empty miles" is what you will drive right now to your pick up. The "loaded miles" are the miles between your pick up and delivery.

Use your atlas to find your best route, and be sure to add extra time for any cities, mountains, fuel stops, 30 min breaks, and your 10 hour breaks. The weight of the load and terrain can burn more fuel, so be sure to stop and fuel! Use Trucker Path or a truck stop guide book to help you select parking and fuel stops. Be sure to plan to park after the customer. Use a weather app to check the radar ahead.

This load is a meat load, so finding a washout (use google) could be another step. If you are flatbed, then add tarp time instead.

Remember: You can only drive 11 hours per day must include a vehicle inspection, must abide by the 14 hour clock. (see the High Road for HOS , or just ask on the thread if you have questions.)

This is a multi stop load.

Pickup: Dakota City, NE Mon By noon

Delivery 1: Newark, NJ Thurs 0400

Delivery 2: Philadelphia, PA Thurs 0900

Delivery 3: Syracuse Friday 1400

My paid work has been busy, so I haven't had a chance to post my trip plan. But I already looked at the overall route and, with hindsight in my favor, have planned to take a more "southern" route to avoid the snow you ran into in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

In thinking about this, I have some questions about negotiating snow.

When you can't avoid a big snow storm, what strategies do you have to negotiate the storm?

Do you shut down early to avoid what would seem to be the inevitable parking nightmare when you reach the point where you are forced to shut down?

Or what other strategies does driver use when negotiating a snow storm?

My paid work has been busy, so I haven't had a chance to post my trip plan. But I already looked at the overall route and, with hindsight in my favor, have planned to take a more "southern" route to avoid the snow you ran into in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

In thinking about this, I have some questions about negotiating snow.

When you can't avoid a big snow storm, what strategies do you have to negotiate the storm?

Do you shut down early to avoid what would seem to be the inevitable parking nightmare when you reach the point where you are forced to shut down?

Or what other strategies does driver use when negotiating a snow storm?

Pay for parking with rewards points ;)

Parking early or before certain points... example.. Elk Mountain in WY. It's 100 miles from Laramie to Rawlins where the large truck stops are. If i don't have at least 4 hours on my clock to get over Elk Mtn, i park it.

i dont drive mountains at night in winter. most of the time. i have done it, when heavy loaded.

This load is a meat load, so finding a washout (use google) could be another step.

How does that usually go, do they tend to be nearby? Open 24 hours?

This load is a meat load, so finding a washout (use google) could be another step.

How does that usually go, do they tend to be nearby? Open 24 hours?

To add to that does your paperwork tell you if they have washout on site? We do drop and hooks probably twice a day in Dakota City(Tyson) and they wash out our trailers on site before loading so we don't deal with needing that for this particular place. Not sure if that would play a role in your trip planning

Still curious about the washout aspect to reefer... I've seen people talk about the waits involved with getting unloaded, etc. etc., but never saw much indication of how much of a time suck washouts are, if it's more of a hassle if you're running nights, etc.

Kearsey,

I will post my spreadsheet tomorrow, but as I mentioned above, I took a southern route staying the first night in Bloomington, IL. 484 miles for that day. I also have options for overnight around Davenport, IA. Considering the snow you ran into, I expect to maybe need overnight options from 300 to 484 miles.

Next day, Tuesday, I've planned 483 miles staying the night in Wheeling, VA. I plan to avoid as many overnights in the east, as I expect overnight parking will be difficult.

Next day, Wednesday, I plan to make it to Newark NJ and still have enough time to make it to make it to Molly Pitcher for overnight.

Next day, Thursday, I can deliver to Philadelphia, early morning and make it to Syracuse, NY in the same day.

And trying to be like my hero Turtle, there is a go-kart track at the Flying J off exit 123 east of Indianapolis. So for my 30 minute break that day, I can go drive go karts.

There is a Big Dog Tire and Trailer Washout in Syracuse.