Trip Plan My Load For Me!

This is another series I'm going to be doing about trip planning along with my "What would you do??" series.

Rookies and soon to be drivers, lets trip plan this load! This is a real load I got a few days ago and bad trip planning would cause it to be late - that's the only loads they give me it seems. So, let's get our practice right now before we hit the road! Same as last series, experienced drivers, lets give them all a chance to figure it out. Experienced drivers, comments are welcome, but no advice.

Folks, I know trip planning is difficult before we even know anything. Believe me, I know how it was like being in your shoes. But its actually very fun. So lets give it an effort and feel free to work with each other and ask questions if you want.

There's a prize too! Whoever answers every question I ask and provides me with what I want to hear will get me as a personal assistant. I will give you my personal number and whenever you have a question you can ask me for a quick reply - in school or on the road doesn't matter. I will make myself available for you and can help you with things when you're on the road if you would like. You're basically getting me as a mentor for free.

Now, I'm throwing some tricks in here. My goal is to really get you thinking and paying attention to the small details.

We start our trip planning at our shipper.

Here's your load:

Appointment time: 10/22 @ 1700 Pickup: Spencer, ID

Appointment time: 10/23 @ 2200. Delivering to: Henderson, CO

Freight: 47,500lb of potatoes.

Shipper has onsite scale, nearest Cat Scale is out of route by only 22 miles.

Here's what your Hours of Service look like when they just finish loading you and you're ready to roll - or should you roll? You've been on SB for 2 hour and it is currently 1900 local time.

8 hours of 8 hours. (30 minute break clock)

6 hours and 27 minutes of 11 hours (11 hour drive time)

4 hours and 53 minutes of 14 hours (14 hour clock)

1 hour and 21 minutes of 70 hours (70 hour clock)

Recap: 10 hours and 44 minutes.

1. Give me two different routes you can take from the shipper to the receiver. Whats the miles difference? Which one is better and why? Please be specific.

2. Should you drive right now or should you wait? If so, why?

3. Can I make this delivery?

4. What are some challenges you'll face with this load?

Folks, we are here to help you guys out. So lets all participate in this and solve it. Whoever answers everything I have will get me as a mentor. Its better to learn it now than on the road. Messing up on this load on the road will cause you to be late. However, messing it up here will only serve as a learning experience! Good luck!

Here's my somewhat uneducated answer.

1. Give me two different routes you can take from the shipper to the receiver. Whats the miles difference? Which one is better and why? Please be specific. Here's the two routes only 31 miles difference. I would say the first is the better route because for one it's shorter and another it is mostly interstate so less turns,small towns, stop lights, maybe livestock, and slower speeds and the interstate should be in better conditions compared to some of the local highways on the other route.

2. Should you drive right now or should you wait? If so, why? I would wait you've been in sb two hours might as well make it the 10 hour break then do the drive all at once in the daylight.

3. Can I make this delivery? Yes without a doubt

4. What are some challenges you'll face with this load? Mountain passes and then maybe some traffic getting into Henderson. Weight and balance

Drive 661 miles, 9 h 52 min This route has tolls. Spencer, ID

Head north toward I-15 N 121 ft / 3 s Follow I-15 S to W 145 N in Bonneville County. Take exit 128 from I-15 S 60.7 mi / 49 min Get on I-80 E/U.S. 30 E in Rock Springs from US-26 E and US-191 S 257 mi / 4 h 20 min Follow I-80 E and I-25 S/U.S. 87 S to Nome St in Adams County. Take exit 38 from E-470 S 342 mi / 4 h 41 min Take US-85 S and E 124th Ave to Brighton Rd in Henderson 1.5 mi / 2 min Merge onto Nome St 0.2 mi

Merge onto US-85 S via the ramp to Commerce City 0.5 mi

Turn right onto E 124th Ave 0.6 mi

Turn left onto Brighton Rd 0.1 mi Henderson, CO

Drive 692 miles, 10 h 41 min This route has tolls. Spencer, ID

Head north toward I-15 N 121 ft / 3 s Continue on I-15 S. Take ID-33 E to 9th N in Sugar City. Take exit 339 from US-20 E 70.2 mi / 1 h 2 min Take ID-33 E to US-191 N/US-26 E/US-89 N/W Broadway in Teton County 72.7 mi / 1 h 23 min Follow US-26 E and I-25 S/U.S. 87 S to E 124th Ave in Adams County 548 mi / 8 h 14 min Continue on E 124th Ave. Drive to Brighton Rd in Henderson 0.7 mi / 2 min Turn right onto E 124th Ave 0.6 mi

Turn left onto Brighton Rd 0.1 mi Henderson, CO

Very good Ed! Anyone else?

Remember, pay attention to the small details.

How much time do you get back on your 70 clock for 10/23?

Also where's your fuel at? Are we going to need a fuel stop?

Recap: 10 hours and 44 minutes. That's gir 10/23.

Fuel stop is in Fort Collins, CO.

Ok so being a local driver I have ZERO experience doing this, but here it goes.....

1. Give me two different routes you can take from the shipper to the receiver. Whats the miles difference? Which one is better and why? Please be specific. First route option would be mostly all interstate and my preferred way. 757 mi 10 hr29min 1. Turn left on Dubois/Idaho Falls/I-15 600 feet 2. Exit right following the sign Cheyenne/I-84 E (EXIT 340) 240.2 miles 3. Freeway forks, keep left to Cheyenne/I-80 E 39.0 miles 4. Freeways merge and become I-80 E 0.4 miles 5. Exit right following the sign Denver/I-25 S/US-87 S (EXIT 359A) 387.3 miles 6. Exit right following the sign Airport/Limon/Broomfield/E-470 (EXIT 228) 79.7 miles 7. Ramp forks, keep left to Denver Int'l Airport/Limon/E-470 TOLLWAY 0.2 miles 8. Exit right following the sign Brighton(US 85)/Commerce City (EXIT 38) 8.0 miles 9. Enter ramp following the sign Commerce City/US-85 S 1.0 miles 10. Turn right on E 124th Ave/CO-22 0.6 miles 11. Turn left on Brighton Rd. Second option: More mountains and with such a heavy load not ideal. 702mi 11hrs26min Continue on I-15 S. Take US-26 E, US-191 S and I-80 E/U.S. 30 E to WY-789 S in Sweetwater County. Exit from I-80 E/U.S. 30 E 399 mi / 6 h 14 min Continue on WY-789 S to Craig 91.6 mi / 1 h 27 min Follow US-40 E, CO-9 S and I-70 E to E 104th Ave in Adams County 207 mi / 3 h 39 min Drive to Brighton Rd in Henderson 3.2 mi / 6 min Turn left onto E 104th Ave 0.4 mi Take the 2nd right onto Brighton Rd 2. Should you drive right now or should you wait? If so, why? Yes I would leave now. If i'm reading this right you have 1hr 20min of drive time left. It approximately an hour to Idaho Falls where there is a Loves RA with Cat Scale and it's right off of our primary route. This will give you a chance to scale to see if weight has shifted also get fuel is needed and park for the night. Only problem I see with this is it's during peak resting hours so finding a spot may be difficult. This should wrap you up around 2050 local time.

3. Can I make this delivery? Absolutely. If taking the first route I suggested and was able to make it to the Loves you will have enough drive time the following day to make it to the receiver.

4. What are some challenges you'll face with this load? Well first will be route decision. If taking suggested route you will be cutting your time close and not leaving much room for traffic delays and such. Alt route puts you into the mountains with a heavy load and may slow you down even more.

Like I said though I've never done this before and if I stay where I am I will never have to, but I wanted to give it a shot. Can't to see what my grade is!!

2 attempts only huh? I guess I'm wasting my time trying to introduce you to real life situations on the road?

Does no one else want to plan this out? You're going to be clueless about trip planning when you go solo and this really is a great chance to get some experience with it.

The answer has not been said. It's still up for grabs.

What a GREAT thread and learning opportunity!

Believe me those getting ready for school try this you will be well ahead in your class. When it comes up the first time in class almost everyone has the deer in the headlights looks lol.

Woody

I'd like to see someone trip plan a 12 stop tire load that I do lol. That's some fun stuff.

Daniel B. You just punch in the address to the Receiver in the GPS and go right? What's this trip planning you speak of? I have the almighty gps I don't need to trip plan lol. (Extreme sarcasm) don't take seriously. I know someone was about too.