Here is the situation. You get a load, you get underway at 7p (CDT) and the load delivers by 15:30 CDT the next day. You have to drive 617 miles, of which 319 are run within states with a 55mph speed limit. the rest of said miles are run at however fast your truck can go....lets say 62mph.

Now i know the answer is it is POSSIBLE, if you keep the doors closed, and never stop for a break, and drive 11 straight hours and speed a little. Cause the way i figure, if you estimate your speed as 55mph, it will take 11.21 hours to drive 617 miles.

but in your opinion....is it reasonable to expect this load to be on time?

 

Possible yes, realistic no.

 

yeah, that is what i was thinking.

i should also clarify, that you had to also do everything legally. I mean, i think i was running 57-58 at times with the cruise on when the speed limit was 55mph....but i never would ever consider fudging my logbook to 'allow' myself to drive an extra hour just for the sake of getting the load dropped on time. From what my DM told me this morning after i sent in my Macro saying i was running late on order, he asked me "is there any way of delivering on time?" and i said there wasnt because i just parked it after reaching my 14hr limit. I took a 3 hr nap just after 1a, because during my 10 hr 'rest' while i sat at the terminal, i really didnt get much sleep because i had to sleep with one eye and ear open waiting for my QC to BEEP telling me the load had arrived at the terminal.

But regardless, the nap i took is irrelevent. If i didnt take it, i would have run into HOS issues with my 11hr drive clock. Seeing how it played out, my 14 hr clock only kept me from driving 15 minutes of my 11 hr clock. how far can u get in 15 min. 18 miles?? I was 55+ miles away from the drop.

He also told me the previous driver took a service failure on the load, and that is the real reason this load didnt make it on time. It was recheduled for 730a tomorrow morning, and i am 2 miles from the drop....

yeah, i know technically it is possible. one would have to run straight 11 hours, with no stopping..etc. I would HOPE that the company would see that, and understand that is not 'safe'.

 

It's tough when your dispatcher cannot get the idea of the HOS rules that drivers have.

However, I also think that this run was taken with no time for error...such as traffic and fuel issues.

The is why a pre-trip plan is needed....to plan how many hours are needed, then to add at least 2 hours for room....


For example...This trip is 617 miles to drive. You figure a driving average of 55 MPH, no matter what the speed limited is. That means it will take you the 11.25 hours that you figured above.

You need to take a 2 hour lunch break in the middle...

You also need to add another 10 hours for your break,since you would go over your 11 hours of driver per 24, even if it just 15 minutes. But you were also having your truck loaded, unless you went to line 2 while that was happening, and you still have a problem with the 14 HOS rule.

Then at least another 2 hours for a cushion for unforeseen problems, like traffic and such.

Total time needed is 25.25 hours total, and that's when you are able to leave the dock loaded. This is what you tell the dispatcher you need for time for a legal, and safe trip.

Will they be happy with that?? No, they will only see that there trip takes 11.25 hours to make. However, do not leave their failure to understand HOS rules and regs. be your problem. If they were stupid enough to take a run under tighter hours, then that's on them.

Always plan out your trips. And always include loading time, which at some places, could take all day, or as fast as hooking up a trailer. And you need to know that information, too, so you can plan accordingly.

Proper Planing Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

Good Luck.

 

It looks to me, like the dispatcher figured since it was a drop & hook at the terminal, that you would drive for 11 hours, have 30 minutes for fueling the truck, take an 8 hour break, then deliver the load.

Could that have been done legal? Yes. Was what you actually did the safer of the two options? Yes.

You didn't say where the load originated. But the dispatchers did know..and they had to of known at a pretty decent advance time, that they were going to have to swap out tractors to get the load delivered on time.

Most dispatchers figure 45 miles per hour for drive time, plus 4% extra mileage, since the rated miles are usually HHG. Those whom plan deliveries for 55 mph speeds and HHG miles, are begging for trouble.

 

Especially in a 62 mph truck.

It's funny though....I wonder if the same people who know that it is impossible for the truck to average 55 mph when they are planning a trip, attempt to log the entire trip at 55 mph to "save hours" on their logbook.

 

but the kicker is that it would have taken over 11 hours to get the load to the drop, given i drove straight without no breaks. the only way to drive 617 miles in 11 hours is to average a shade over 56mph. That is not stopping in ohio or illinois. and MAYBE stopping for 15 minutes in indiana or iowa. But that is pretty much 'keeping the doors closed'.

The load i picked up was a T-call load at the terminal, so waiting to get loaded isnt an issue.

Seeing how the load was late at pick-up (the previous driver getting a service failure for either a late pick up, or did not make the ETA at the terminal), this load was in jeopardy of not being 'on time' from the start.

How do service failures work anyways?? who issues them...and why?? (well i know why...but just talking the logistics of it) Is it because the customer complains, or does the company issue a SF 'just because' you were late?

 

Does not look good from the standpoint of HOS and or sanity.

.... I for one am learning to put myself first,

its your career down the drain should anything go haywire.

(Just a thought)

 

I dont know if its something new...but the company where I work broadcast a message the other day stating

the DOT can now pull you in and get your request Qualcomm records on the spot without any court order.

As I see it its just one more nail in the dispatchers coffin...they are going to have to tighten up

and get more realistic.

Gotta run legal in this day and age

 

Kevin, with Swift, every time you Qual in arrived and you are after the scheduled delivery time, you get a service failure, UNLESS, you let them know before hand that you will be late and give them a reason, such as an accident, traffic tie up, etc. You need to have a verifiable reason just in case they call you on it. Then it isn't a service failure. Your DM or someone can change that status on the load. The bigger the need for a timely delivery or prior service failures will get you a good look over. HTH