What Are Your Preferred Hours To Run?

What does your preferred schedule look like if your load doesnt dictate the time of day you're running? Why?

Given the nature of my job I primarily start my day between 11pm and midnight. Occasionally I'll get started around 2am but it's not very often. At first I hated it but I've really began enjoying it.

Pros : the biggest pro is definitely the lack of traffic. It also makes getting into the docks at stores much easier not needing to worry about 4 wheelers doing silly things. If I need to stop at a truckstop I can pull up to the line at the pumps and run in without needing to worry about holding anyone up. Lastly it's much easier to take an hour nap on my 30 minute break if I need it when it's still somewhat dark. Being in a daycab I unfortunately can't just crawl in the back and close the curtains. Instead I lay on a wood box between the seats and get a snooze in if its needed. Usually I'll do it at the store, or a truckstop if I know there will be plenty of parking available. I try to avoid taking a spot in a truckstop where parking is limited when an OTR driver may be needing it for their 10.

Cons : somedays it's hard to stay awake. Thankfully I have phone numbers for other guys I work with so I can call them up or pull over and take a quick 15 minute nap. It's harder to see anything that may be in the center of the road. Winter time is definitely my least favorite to drive at night. It's usually much colder so black ice is more of a factor and you may come up on snow/ice covered roads with little notice. Lastly all the people that insist on keeping their high beams on when approaching oncoming traffic.

I wish we worked overnights where no one was on the road or in parking lots

Sadly so few routes were like that.

18:00 - 19:00 to 07:00 - 08:00.

On my usual account ( when the world isn't in a silly panic) I run almost exclusively in the Northeast on a dedicated Sysco account. Should go without saying why I prefer these hours. Haha.

The bonus to me is, I've always been a night owl anyway so my body likes this schedule as well.

I like to sleep late compared to Rob. Barring appointment schedules I like to start my day around 3am. When it's time to pull in 12-14 hours later (2pm or so, I have my choice of truck stop parking. And no wait for a shower.

I have grown on day driving since coming to this Walmart account for traffic reasons. But I'm flexible, I will drive whenever they need me to drive, I switch my shifts around at least 2-3 times a week.

I drive wherever I have miles and available time. My own preference is to start by 3 or 4 am to avoid traffic. Can definitely make better time running nights but if you get sleepy, and need a nap, parking can be tough to find until after daylight and don't even try pulling into a rest area during the night. They'll be so packed in you may not be able to get through or out of one during the night.

Give me an 0300-0400 start time and I'm a happy guy.

Usually start around 0300. Days are all 12-14 hours so gets me home for dinner every night. Less traffic in the morning is a plus and by the time I finish unloading my first run the rush hour crowd is clearing out.

I like my current 1:45 AM gate time, I miss most traffic and I don't have to be in bed until 5:30 make it easier for me to sleep.

Usually I like to be rolling around 0400 give or take a half hour. Stopping around 3 pm gives me easy truck parking in truck stops or rest areas. My truck is self sufficient so only need truck stop for showers and fuel... Sometimes schedule dictates driving times... I also enjoy less traffic in early morning driving.