Pilot

Tammy,

As far as parking and managing your clock I highly recommend a GPS that has connectivity to your phone. I use a Garmin which has the following functions that allows me to maximize my clock and find parking.

First, it gives me the ETA to my destination. If I have 4 hours left on my clock I pick a destination that's about 240 miles away. My Garmin connects to my phone which gives me real-time traffic and my ETA will change with traffic and as I roll along. Second, it has an up a head function which has truck stops, rest areas, and the custom setting I have set for Walmart. If my ETA to my destination is beyond my available drive time, I can click the up ahead function and find a truck stop, rest area, or a Walmart that I can make within my available time. My Garmin tells me how many the total parking spaces each truck stop or each rest area has. Trucker Path will tell you how many open spaces for each truck stop or rest area.

If you decided on CFI, as with most companies, they want you to be ready to start. From the time you fill out the app and start training seems slow, but it goes from zero to 100 fast. Be prepared for a whirlwind start.

We fuel and get free showers at Love's.

I have a truckers gps because I traveled the East coast with my 40 ft 5th wheel. i always stopped in truck stops to sleep. i know EXACTLY how to manage my time and miles so i basically arrive or stop where and when I i planned. i have done at least 30 multiple state road trip vacations so time management is easy for me. Any wi fi in the trucks for a tv or lap top? lol i need my shows

We provide our own WIFI. Some people use truck stop WIFI, but it is very poor and not worth the expense. You can tether with your phone or use a Hot Spot. I use Verizon for my WIFI and have had really good service.

Managing time within the HOS rules is different then managing time on vacation. To maximize your clock within the HOS rules you want to use as much of your 11-hour drive clock each day. Unless you are running recaps. Regardless, when your 11-hour or 14- hour clock expires you need to be parked. If you choose a "conservative" parking spot you KNOW you will make you may "leave too much time on the table"

I drove 627 miles in 10 hours 41 minutes today. I had over 3,200 miles on last week's paycheck and I'll have over 3,600 on this week's paycheck.

I get those miles by maximizing my clock everyday.

Trust me. You will not make your planned stop on a regular basis. The ability to reset your parking location on the fly is a huge advantage.

Like today. My Garmin added time for traffic so I fluctuated between 25 minutes and 6 minutes of "cushion." I made my planned stop for the day but the up ahead function let me know my other options as I drove.

And if you're running out of your 14 hour clock stopping to check your other options doesn't stop your 14-hour clock. It continues to run while you're checking for other options.

So its 14 hours of driving and 10 hours off?

Managing time within the HOS rules is different then managing time on vacation. To maximize your clock within the HOS rules you want to use as much of your 11-hour drive clock each day. Unless you are running recaps. Regardless, when your 11-hour or 14- hour clock expires you need to be parked. If you choose a "conservative" parking spot you KNOW you will make you may "leave too much time on the table"

I drove 627 miles in 10 hours 41 minutes today. I had over 3,200 miles on last week's paycheck and I'll have over 3,600 on this week's paycheck.

I get those miles by maximizing my clock everyday.

Trust me. You will not make your planned stop on a regular basis. The ability to reset your parking location on the fly is a huge advantage.

Like today. My Garmin added time for traffic so I fluctuated between 25 minutes and 6 minutes of "cushion." I made my planned stop for the day but the up ahead function let me know my other options as I drove.

And if you're running out of your 14 hour clock stopping to check your other options doesn't stop your 14-hour clock. It continues to run while you're checking for other options.

So its 14 hours of driving and 10 hours off?

Managing time within the HOS rules is different then managing time on vacation. To maximize your clock within the HOS rules you want to use as much of your 11-hour drive clock each day. Unless you are running recaps. Regardless, when your 11-hour or 14- hour clock expires you need to be parked. If you choose a "conservative" parking spot you KNOW you will make you may "leave too much time on the table"

I drove 627 miles in 10 hours 41 minutes today. I had over 3,200 miles on last week's paycheck and I'll have over 3,600 on this week's paycheck.

I get those miles by maximizing my clock everyday.

Trust me. You will not make your planned stop on a regular basis. The ability to reset your parking location on the fly is a huge advantage.

Like today. My Garmin added time for traffic so I fluctuated between 25 minutes and 6 minutes of "cushion." I made my planned stop for the day but the up ahead function let me know my other options as I drove.

And if you're running out of your 14 hour clock stopping to check your other options doesn't stop your 14-hour clock. It continues to run while you're checking for other options.

Not quite. 11 hours of driving. You must do that within 14 hours of going on duty. Then ten hour break. There are exceptions for people who run “local” & other types.

Tammy, you've got sufficient time to become really familiar with all the rules we work with daily. The HOS (hours of service) rules are very important. You really should take advantage of your wait time and learn them. Here is a link to that section of the website...

High Road CDL Training Program

Here's some basic information I pulled from that section...

There are three limits and one break requirement which must be followed at all times. They are:

• The 14-hour, on-duty limit
• The 11-hour-driving limit
• The 30-minute break
• The 60/70-hour, on-duty limit

During the 14-consecutive-hour, on-duty period, you are only allowed to drive your truck for up to 11 total hours. Once you have driven a total of 11 hours, you have reached the driving limit and must be off duty for another 10 consecutive hours before driving your truck again. You can think of this as a window of opportunity. You have a 14-hour window of opportunity, in which you can drive your truck for 11 hours. This 11-hour driving limit is also reset when you take your 10-hour break. Both the 14-hour clock and the 11-hour clock are fully reset after logging 10 hours off duty.

Does everybody stop at a truck stop every day to sleep or most of the time?

Well, sometimes. Depends. If I'm close to a Schneider OC or drop lot I'll camp there. I'm not a fan of Schneider's Obetz Ohio lot. LOL! Schneider folks can attest to that. We usually fuel at Pilot/Flying J's so we build up a lot of shower credits and loyalty points. If I overnight at a truck stop it usually be a Pilot/Flying J. They often fill up fast, but I can always find a spot at a nearby TA truck stop.

While I was Walmart Dedicated I slept in a lot of Walmart parking lots. No facilities for the overnight needs tho, unless it was a Sam's Club that opens the receiving door at 0400. You have to check for "No Truck Parking" signs first. Some stores in the Chicago suburbs will boot your tractor and/or you get a $100 to $250 ticket from the local police.

Is it possible to take a shower at least a few times a week?

It's possible to shower every day! It's a question of priorities and preparation. I have a heated shower in my truck:

https://www.rei.com/product/167941/geyser-systems-portable-shower-with-heater

Just stand in a storage tote from Costco while bathing (get the rubbery one, the hard plastic ones crack and break too easily). When you're done, dump the water out and let it dry out on top of your bunk. Store the shower unit inside the tote with clean towels and toss it under your bunk when not in use. Not my everyday option but 10,000% better than wipes or going without when truck stop showers aren't available.

My truck also has cable (not satellite), wi-fi, fridge, freezer and microwave.