Trip Plan...CA To IL

Yeah my codriver taught me that, hence my comment about not overworking the truck through mountains. They are generally supposed to adjust to compensate, but often don't and lose power. can be really hard on them and cause more wear if you strain the motor. We believe in driving our company truck like we own it, because main

Sheesh, accidental press of submit..

Maintaining a truck in good condition saves the company money which in turn helps drivers by allowing companies to offer better pay or benefits. Some drivers don't think about stuff like that or sadly, don't care.

Sheesh, accidental press of submit..

Maintaining a truck in good condition saves the company money which in turn helps drivers by allowing companies to offer better pay or benefits. Some drivers don't think about stuff like that or sadly, don't care.

I really like your comment about driving your truck like you own it. I treat whatever truck I'm assigned like it belongs to me, which in translation means I kinda baby it lol. It's hard not to get attached to a truck you cruise all over the country in. I recently had to say bye to my Cascadia. It was actually pretty emotional haha, especially considering it was my first truck and I made some great memories in it.

Anyways, how do you not overwork the truck? Do you just not go over a certain speed (except on downgrades), or do you shift a certain way when climbing? Take more breaks? I've always just drove it hard and kept an eye on the temperature to make sure it doesn't overheat, but...I'm a newbie so I didn't know any better.

My trainer told me to never run your AC going uphill because it will burn up the motor faster.

So, we're on I-70. Isn't taking as long this time. Only 4 hours for 220 miles. Kinda glad we listened and went this way this time. We're not as heavy, and we did it at night this time. But I still wonder myself if my memory of how long and how far last time is faulty.

Yes, our DM is aware of what's going on. We keep communication lines wide open. We left so late because there was an issue with the load we brought into CA...the appt was wrong and it wasn't a drop like the assignment said, it was a live unload...for the next day. Unfortunately, that messed up picking up this load. We were on two loads art the same time, which isn't usually done. And, we are already dispatched for the next one when we drop this one in Illinois.

Good to know about the hills. Guessing I shouldn't floor the throttle up the hills when cruise is on to get that extra little push? I would hate to think I'm killing a brand new truck. I have been turning off the a/c though, does that redeem me a little bit? And again, the scenery is stunning!

Thank you again for the advice!!

I'm understanding here that we shouldn't care when the load gets there, just follow their routing, no matter that it's probably the slowest route cuz hey, it's the fewest miles. Sorry, it's been a very frustrating 24 hours...especially the last 11. Not trying to be difficult, it simply baffles me that we wouldn't try to be as efficient as possible. I'm also not the "shut up and do as your told type," if there's a better way to do something.

Going to sleep now...gotta drive in 3 hours. Be safe..

It can be very frustrating especially with hills and weather slowing you down. Our dispatchers get messages that say "out of route". If a driver does this too often they get pulled in for a talking to. Supposedly the routes are planned for fuel economy as well as speed. They also try to keep us off toll roads as much as possible

US 65 is one they send me on all the time out of MO that winds through small towns and up and down steep but short hills.... not like an interstate. That took me double the time at night :(

Another road the make me take is 322 going through PA.... I kid you not it has a runaway ramp in the middle of a small town!!!

Just do your best. If rhe load was delayed before you got it there isn't much you can do. If there is construction and have traffic.... it's beyond your control. Just always put it in writing on QC.

IF I decide to go out of route...I tell them that too. "Going I20 because US 287 is unsafe at night. Will add 40 mikes but save 2 hours".

Always use the word unsafe in these types of sutuations. It is not lying and you do determine what is safe for you. There was no way I was taking a US route through AL when I could easily go the interstate and be safe at night. I've done this in winter too.... smaller roads won't be treated.

Oh Rainy, I know 322 in Pennsylvania, quite well in addition to more gnarly 2 lane roads.

Oh Rainy, I know 322 in Pennsylvania, quite well in addition to more gnarly 2 lane roads.

Yeah well... when. We get our routes it will say I80 E. 92 miles, 322 E 132 miles. No exit number. Guess how many times 322 and 80 intersect??? Enough that I wound up on a 20 mph section with a 10% grade. Thought trailer was going to roll over tractor. One of the few things I dislike about prime. But I deal with it lol