PackRat's 2020 Daily Driving Diary

Hey Pack Rat, I have to ask a newbie question. How were you able to drive the trailer back with a broke off air fitting?

Hey Pack Rat, I have to ask a newbie question. How were you able to drive the trailer back with a broke off air fitting?

???

Do you have an example?

Packrat we're still waiting for you to answer a question from a couple days ago J.D asked

So, rookie question-- Could someone explain about "running recaps" and how they affect things so much? --E.Z.

I don't run recaps so others will be able to explain it more in depth. The jist of it is at midnight you gain the hours back on your 70 that you worked 8 days prior. Some drivers prefer to work 7 shorter days and never need to take 34 off, others prefer to run out their clock daily then take a 34 each week. This is one of those things you'll learn more seeing it in action. Our logging device takes care of all the calculations and shows what time you have available.

Rob explained it very well.

We have 70 hours for use in an eight day week. To drive the same equally for all eight days equals out to eight and three quarters hours each day. This is a combination of On Duty and Driving status on your HOS logging.

So after I've driven for eight days, on one minute after midnight (0001 HRS), a driver will get back the time used on Day One. This is added to whatever time is left from their 70 hour clock.

An exception would be if there is no time left on their 70 hours. An example would be if the driver used 11 hours each day for six days, then only has four hours available on Day Seven. Another exception would be if the driver had at least a 34 hour reset in there. An example would be if a driver was on hometime and not driving for five days. Another exception would be if your truck was in for repairs for two days.

Here is an illustration of my current HOS, showing the hours I have coming back for recaps the next eight days:

11/9 Sunday: 2:57 remaining from 70, then 8:35 from recap = 11:32 to start.

11/10 Monday: 8:13 coming back.

11/11 Tuesday: 5:47 coming back.

11/12 Wednesday: 8:24 coming back.

11/13 Thursday: 8:41 coming back.

11/14 Friday: 9:51 coming back.

11/15 Saturday: 8:45 coming back.

11/16 Sunday: 8:47 coming back.

The schedule of the particular dispatch governs everything, so some days achieving the ideal "8 3/4 Hours" is impossible. It's always my goal, though.

I drive every day barring weather, sickness, mechanical problems, or unforeseen problems such as slow loading/unloading at a shipper. I average more than 11,000 miles every month without requiring a reset, and I've driven as long as 73 consecutive days solely on the recaps method.

After my days off in January, when I hit the road again I'm aiming to go 90 days driving on recaps to start 2021.

Clear as gumbo mud from the swamp?

Hey Pack Rat, I have to ask a newbie question. How were you able to drive the trailer back with a broke off air fitting?

I little bit back in your diary you had a trailer air leak, you had called road service and they broke the fitting off in the air tank. Memphis area I believe. Then you said you just drove it back to the lot. Just wondering how you could do that with out being able to build air?

???

Do you have an example?

That trailer was pulled about 100 yards or less to a different location, out of the way, in the customer's lot. I had to pull it from the dock. The air had to build up, then I would move it a short distance until the brakes automatically engaged again due to low air pressure. Once the incompetent mechanic broke the fitting off, I had moved it to a location not blocking any traffic in their lot.

That was a Conway trailer. I had to drive back the next morning and retrieve it.

I've tried to expel everything related to cfi out of my head. 4 1/2 wasted months I'll never get back.

Hey Pak Rat You are working for Crete now not CFI

Getting better miles, how is dispatch? Enjoyed the daily log, sounds a lot like my days... Stay safe winter is coming round again.

Yes, I'm at Crete. More miles, all pre plans, more everything and better everything from my view. I have the best dispatcher I've ever had here. This one has a spine and common sense, both. That other place was a waste of my time and talents.

Boy, I had one this morning in San Jose, California. "We get big trucks in here all the time...."

Back in off the street; box truck on my left side in dock 12 (he moved after I was docked); a fire hydrant on one side of the driveway and a tree on the opposite side; I get the end dock which is the furthest from the street; 10 feet of the parking lot dug up in front of the hood for pulling forward. Topping it off, I had an "audience" of about a dozen observers. I got docked in 10 minutes with two pull ups and three GOALs.

Boy, I had one this morning in San Jose, California. "We get big trucks in here all the time...."

Back in off the street; box truck on my left side in dock 12 (he moved after I was docked); a fire hydrant on one side of the driveway and a tree on the opposite side; I get the end dock which is the furthest from the street; 10 feet of the parking lot dug up in front of the hood for pulling forward. Topping it off, I had an "audience" of about a dozen observers. I got docked in 10 minutes with two pull ups and three GOALs.

And there's FedEx with a PUP. Hell, ya! ;)