How Often Do Drivers Make Pitstops

No stones here. And yes my trainer was a go in the parking lot kinda guy. He would have to go so bad sometimes he'd have me pull onto the shoulder on the interstate. Basically stop when you need to. If you're stopping every 30 min your paycheck will suffer. Gotta keep the wheels turning.

I like to get 3 or 4 hours or better between stops usually. But if I'm on a short load with plenty of time I'll stop more. I like to stop just before arriving at a shipper/receiver that has a history of taking a long time to get in a bathroom break and something to eat.

If I'm driving through the night and drinking coffee or energy drinks, there will definitely be more stops.

Are you still able to get a good amount of miles during the time?

I like to get 3 or 4 hours or better between stops usually. But if I'm on a short load with plenty of time I'll stop more. I like to stop just before arriving at a shipper/receiver that has a history of taking a long time to get in a bathroom break and something to eat.

If I'm driving through the night and drinking coffee or energy drinks, there will definitely be more stops.

Taking breaks during your day doesn't effect your miles really. You have 3 hours in your 14 you can't drive so if your total combined break time doesn't exceed 3 hours you won't lose your 11 drive hours. The biggest effect on burning your hours is sitting at shipper/receivers for hours after your clock has started.

I get good miles overall, some days better than others but overall weekly average is good.

If I start between midnight and four am I usually take a two hour break after about three or four hours of drive time. Sometimes I break during the morning work traffic. This actually let's me drive more.miles than not taking the break. My trainer stopped every two hours....the next trainer never stopped unless for fuel...and our 30 was during fueling.so not much of a break.

I don't have a routine other than...if I'm tired I stop and nap. I can run 600 miles only stopping for the 30 min one day and the next stop several times just because.

Interestingly enough I rarely ever used to drive more than two or three hours without a break. Of course I was always on paper logs so I could write down anything I wanted to. But I felt a thousand times better if I took short breaks more often, as opposed to longer breaks less often. It never ceased to amaze me how refreshing it was just to pull into a rest area, go inside to get a drink and use the restroom, and then sit for just a few minutes on the bench and look at the trees. Get back in the truck ten minutes later and many times I almost felt like I was starting my day all over again. I was completely refreshed and ready to get back at it.

It depends on the weather and terrain too. Fighting wind or snow can drain me, especially up and down hills. Even a quick nap of 30 every couple hours will do.

I think the trick is to know your body. Know when you usually get tired and never let yourself get to that point. I have friends that talk about dozing off...will never happen to me. Long driving without breaks can make you zone out too...and that is dangerous so its not even just about fatigue but alertness

Interestingly enough I rarely ever used to drive more than two or three hours without a break. Of course I was always on paper logs so I could write down anything I wanted to. But I felt a thousand times better if I took short breaks more often, as opposed to longer breaks less often. It never ceased to amaze me how refreshing it was just to pull into a rest area, go inside to get a drink and use the restroom, and then sit for just a few minutes on the bench and look at the trees. Get back in the truck ten minutes later and many times I almost felt like I was starting my day all over again. I was completely refreshed and ready to get back at it.

^^^^^ This...

I tend to try and "Iron Butt" road trips in the car - but find I'm a little more alert and attentive, if I break it up every few hours with a quick stop to drain the weasel (even if it is against a tree or tire) do a quick walk around and stretch.

It's bad news for your urinary tract, if you try and "hold out", because you think you're going to lose miles/time by pulling in/over to take a leak. Or you could adopt the more disgusting habit of TRUCKER BOMBS. That old gatorade bottle might come in handy at 3AM in the truckstop, when you just don't feel like getting dressed on walking 100 yards just to go pee - but if you're juggling a bottle while you're enroute, just to not stop for 5 minutes and use a restroom - probably not good.

Urinary tract infections are more common with professions like truckers, secretaries, etc. - folks that sit for long periods of time. Not to mention Deep Vein Thrombosis (clots in the legs caused by immobility). Always good to get out and move around for awhile - versus trying to iron butt every minute out of your 11.

Now obviously - cooling your tires on the shoulder is easier for men than women - zip & drip is easier than having to drop trou to relieve yourself.

As Chris says - you have 14 in which to drive your 11 (actually - it's 13.5 counting your mandatory 30 minute break) - not counting getting screwed over at shippers, in the fuel island, etc. Throwing a quick 10 minutes in every two/three hours or so, adds an hour into that 14 that you're not actually rolling.

Flatbedders get to do it every 150 miles/3 hours for load checks - by regs.

Rick

Interestingly enough I rarely ever used to drive more than two or three hours without a break. Of course I was always on paper logs so I could write down anything I wanted to. But I felt a thousand times better if I took short breaks more often, as opposed to longer breaks less often. It never ceased to amaze me how refreshing it was just to pull into a rest area, go inside to get a drink and use the restroom, and then sit for just a few minutes on the bench and look at the trees. Get back in the truck ten minutes later and many times I almost felt like I was starting my day all over again. I was completely refreshed and ready to get back at it.

I drive for a small company that still uses paper logs. After reading here so much the pressure on the bulk of you for having to manage the Big Brother clock so tightly, I appreciate more and more every day that I have the same freedom you describe above. I, too, normally drive for only a few hours at a time and take mini breaks if needed. I rarely will drive for more than five or six hours at a chunk. It's great to able to take naps and move on to finish out the clock instead of being forced to push the limit just because a computer is overriding your body.

I am apprehensive about the day that the paper goes away and I have to force my bathroom and sleep habits to conform to the wisdom of bureaucrats. I often wonder if the roads are less safe because of inexperienced rushing drivers maximizing a clock because a dispatcher says they have to. Not that anyone wants to go back to the days of meth headed double log booking driving either....

I often wonder if the roads are less safe because of inexperienced rushing drivers maximizing a clock because a dispatcher says they have to.

Vendingdude, you had a pretty decent post going until you dropped that little bomb. It's truck stop myth and lore from the excessive numbers of under achievers out here who keep these myths alive. The only drivers I know who get any kind of pressure from their dispatchers are the ones who don't seem to have any self motivation, and need to be prodded into some form of productivity.

I've received over two dozen messages on my truck's computer during the month of January encouraging, and a couple of times demanding, that I shut down and call in with a new ETA so they can re-schedule the load. These large carriers are so laser focused on compliance and safety that they sometimes take all the challenges out of this job. I also regularly receive little thank you messages that go something like this: "Helluva job you did on that load last night! If I could clone you we'd all be making more money."

I'm not bragging, just telling you how it is. I have a feeling there are plenty of others here who can substantiate what I'm saying with their own experiences.

Enjoy your illusion of being free from "Big Brother" while you can. The clock is ticking on the government mandate.