[60363]

I wonder if experienced drivers can share their tips on how to spread driving time into manageable chunks. I mean if let's say you have to do 500 miles today, how do you do it? Do you drive for 10 hours without stopping? Do you stop every couple of hours? Every 3 hours?

I actually know a guy who can drive without stopping for ... 12 hours. Another guy told me he usually stops for 1 hour every 3 hours.

Thanks!

[yoopr]

Stopped long enough to refill the Thermos and head on out again
Used to run by your town long time ago when I ran QEW pretty often

[60363]

I spend more time in U.S. than in Cambridge, ON (2 weeks on the road, 3 nights at home). But it's a great little town.

[TruckinRanger]

hey yoopr I know you still drive through his little town the U.P. was just annexed by Canada. LOL. I try to get where I have to go as fast and as safe and as legally possible. I don't like to prolong my day

[Uturn2001]

What I like to do is drive about 3-4 hours, take about a 15 minute break, drive 2-3 hours, eat "lunch", then drive 3-4 hours and shut it down for the "night".

There are times, however, when I get into what I call Robodriver mode and just keep punching out the miles until I start feeling tired and then take a break. Other times I can't seem to get motivated at all and will end up stopping an hour down the road for a rest break.

[Highwayman]

I usually drove 2-3 hours, and stopped for a half hour or so.

It's insane to have to do all your driving in one spell.

[GMAN]

Everyone has a different physical clock. I don't necessarily have a specific time to run or stop. However, I do try to eat at about the same time each day. It helps me to do that. I find where I need to go, plan my route and plan where I will stop along the way. I try to make the most of my stops. In other words, I try to eat and take care of other personal business when I stop for fuel. When I do my planning, I know that it should take me a certain number of hours to travel say.....500 miles. Travel times will vary according to where the pickup and deliver are. It will take longer to make a delivery or pickup in Ohio than in Texas. The main reason is the speed limit. I plan accordingly. If I get tired or need to stop, I do. I just do what I must to make my delivery or pickup on time. I always try to be early. I don't waste a lot of time in truck stops. I never play video games. That eats a lot of time and money. Once at the consignee or shipper's you can do what you want. It takes a lot of stress off by taking care of business first. There are days in which I don't feel like running more than 300 miles. Other days I could run for 18 hours straight.

On a health note......it is actually best to stop about every 2 or 3 hours to stretch your legs. It helps prevent blood clots. At least that is what I read. Truckers sit a lot in one spot. We need to move around and keep the circulation going. :shock:

[TK THE TRUCKER]

If it's a normal day and I need to run more than 450 miles I take how many miles I want to cover and divide by 3. So If I want to run 600 miles I'll drive 200, take a break, 200 more, take a break, then 200 more and be at my destination for the day. I don't like taking breaks longer than 15-20 minutes unless it's for a shower or groceries. I like to start my day and get it over with asap. If I stop for a sit down lunch or something it makes the rest of my day tiring. The most I've driven in one stretch is 7 hours. I have the same problem as Uturn. Some days I can do that deal and other days I'm like " Are we there yet ?" after only driving an hour.

[yoopr]

and then there were days when after getting up I've driven 2-3 hrs and was dead dog tired and crawled into the bunk for a few hours.
Bottom Line-It all comes down to time management-You have a set time(Usually) to get to a location and it's up to you to figure out your Free time and what it takes to get you to your location safely.

[Aligator]

I rolled out at 6:30 Sat morning. I had loaded at 12 midnight.
Stopped for small breakfast at 9:30.
Lunch and 10 min nap at 12:00
Break and 30 min nap at 3:00PM
Break and one hour nap at 8:00PM
Arrived at destination at 3 AM......

Total distance: 1066 miles in 21 1/2 hours. I never broke the speed limit. Don't need to. Weather was clear, roads good, traffic light because it was Saturday.

I don't usually do that, but I can because of my catnapper's nature......everyone's different, though, so be aware for signs of "microsleeping".
Know your body and its tolerances.