How Often Do Drivers Make Pitstops

Im just wondering how often you stop during a day ,for how long,and what kinda miles do you normally get with that routine?

i was taught in private school to take a break every 3 hours or 150 miles. i feel like it works for me since i get tired pretty easily and my body gets stiff. is nice to go for a short walk and feel the fresh air if just for 10 minutes, plus i have tb lol

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

12/16/2017 - unless OOIDA can get the federal court to suspend the mandate - and their last attempt was denied.

In all honesty - big brother feces aside (from the I run 3 paper logs crew) - Even smaller fleets or single independants can get compliant for around $20 a month per unit - with an ELD that plugs into your trucks ECM port. The folks that are going to have a REAL HARD TIME, are the ones that are running REALLY REALLY OLD TRUCKS that don't have ECM ports (or that aren't ODB-II complaint to talk to the interfaces). Folks that are running EOBR's are going to have to upgrade to ELD's by 12/2019.

The days of paper logs are OVER. Aside from the rampant cheaters - the technology is going to make compliance even easier. No more sweating chicken coops. Here's my phone ossifer - there's my logs, there's my ELD Dongle. What's the email address you want them sent to?

Rick

I know I will learn this while training but why would e-logs affect when you can stop and for how long? Can't you press a button saying not driving or something along the lines?

For example, say you wake up at a truckstop 10 miles away from shipper at 8am on elogs. Soon as you start driving your 14 hour clock starts and you don't get loaded and rolling till noon. Well you just burned 4 hours of your 14 sitting at the shipper. If your on paper logs you could start your day when your leaving shipper, just have to show some time for pretrip and loading.

That's just one example, of course you can really get creative running paper. Elogs don't allow you to edit the drive line. 🚛

I know I will learn this while training but why would e-logs affect when you can stop and for how long? Can't you press a button saying not driving or something along the lines?

Yes you can. But paper logs allow you to CHEAT. Multiple log books, not keeping it up to current duty status (don't get caught for either one). Outlaw types can get real creative with log keeping. It just doesn't work quite as well nowadays, with plate and number readers in weight stations - they know where you are and where you've been and when. And if you're running Pre-Pass - most major states have roadside readers that track the trucks movements (and they don't have to red/green light them to read them).

The E-Logs make it real easy - but typically if you're just stopping for 5 minutes, most folks don't even bother. Or they'll go off duty, and let the E-Log put them back On Duty/Driving after whatever period of speed/time/miles it changes - to eek out that extra few minutes on your 70.

I have a buddy that's doing his first week OTR - and I'm trying to teach him how his clocks work, how to work his QC (which he finds creepy since I've never driven with one - like "DUDE, how do you know so much about this stuff").

The point is - take a break WHEN YOU NEED TO. As your trip planning gets better - you'll use your time and clocks effectively enough that stopping for 10 to drop a load and grab a coffee isn't going to hurt your ETA that much.

Rick

Matt asks:

I know I will learn this while training but why would e-logs affect when you can stop and for how long? Can't you press a button saying not driving or something along the lines?

It's not e-logs that "make" you go or stop. The e-log machine just records whether you are driving or not. Rick describes that you need to select Off Duty, or the log will show you are On Duty Not Driving.

In reality, you can stop as often and for whatever time you want, as long as you make your appointments and stay within 11 hours On Duty + Driving time each day.

It's a bit more complicated than this, but you will learn all the details in your class. For now, you can study the Hours Of Service part of the High Road Training Program.

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

I think you missed the part about "I wonder". Old School I believe you, that you work for a great company with great communication skills between drivers. That adjustments are constantly being made by driver and dispatch to be safe and efficient. I was merely speculating that it's *possible* some of the problems on the road are caused by pressured drivers without the experience to handle 14 hr days straight through, or to tell dispatch "I can't do that", etc.

And I'm not under any illusion of avoiding Big Brother permanently. It's coming all right.

Strangely enough, Big Scott posed almost the same query as this just now on his own thread. Hmmm

I will be really honest. You should stop and walk even if only around the truck every two hours, and that doesn't come from my knowledge about trucking; it comes from first hand experience with a DVT (blood clot). When I was like 20 or so I was a gamer and sat on my duff for a long period of time until I got a DVT in the leg. I had no idea that's what it was. I just thought I had hurt my leg doing jumping jacks that night. About three days later my leg was swollen to twice it's normal size and felt like my skin was a sausage casing that was being overstuffed with meat with each beat of my heart. I was in agony. I ended up with a very long hospital stay getting shots around my belly button and damn near lost the leg. Ever since then the varicose veins which remained all around my ankle make you want to vomit when you look at them and I have to wear compression stockings to keep them from getting worse. Keep in mind I was like 20 when this happened and quite dumb, but can you imagine being 21 and getting ready to, umm.. have relations, with a girlfriend for the first time and you take off your pants and she asks, "What in the world are you wearing stockings for? You some sort of pervert?"

Old School...its not a myth. What happens is the dispatchers are new and trying to impress their bosses.

Three times in the last year I dealt with new dispatchers who either denied me a repower or "explained" to me how I could drive and park close to a customer and get in on time.

Let's just say it turned out in all three situations I was right...and I messaged them telling them I know my job and next time I make a request I expect it to be met.

The one guy left me such a detailed explanation that I messaged back "omg...I just almost rolled the truck from laughter. After dealing with all this crazy traffic and horrible drivers that tried to kill me today I needed a good laugh. Parking....after ten PM.....in a major city...please tell me.another joke". I also told thiabguy not to give any rookies advice as it could put them in unsafe situations.

Just the other day I asked for a repower and offered to take it to a terminal to make it easier for the dispatcher. I was denied. He said I had an hour more than necessary on my clock to get it in. I explained I had to go over hills in the dark on slick roads, and 45-55 mph construction that would slow me down. Again, repower denied. I violated to get it in, then told him " you have a tough job and are stuck between customer service and the drivers. But now you see I know what I'm talking about. Next time I'm denied a repower, I'll park and don't care if it's the middle of nowhere and ten miles from the customer. I'm not violating again. You can see I didn't stop for a restroom or even to fuel, which I shouldn't have to do. Not to mention the fact it is illegal, and a safety issue to ensure I'm well rested and don't kill myself or others. I hope things get easier for you in your new position ".

So yeah....new drivers get pressured by new dispatchers. Experienced drivers or new drivers with big mouths like me don't. Lol they just argue back and do what they want.

I will say this....I have had to reword several of my messages before I hit that send button. Cause i get mad and my Jersey comes out. Even so....not once has my FM called or messaged about these situations. So he doesn't care what I say or do. As long as I'm safe and on time :)