11 Hour Driving Time
 

From my understanding of the law, you are only allowed to drive a maximum of 11 hours a day with a 10 hour rest period, and the 10 hour rest period can be split into 2 berth sessions of 5 hours.

If I was to go from Seattle to San Antonio Texas it is 1992 miles using the Swift Terminals as points. I figured out that by the time I hit San Antonio, I would have 12 minutes over the 11 hour mark.

That's with the drive being absolutely perfect. Meaning: no need to stop and use the restroom, no traffic, truck stays at the exact same speed from the time you pull out until you pull in.

I always estimate my trip @ 50mph. That gives allowances for the above.

As for the question, if I knew I could be there in 12 mins, and I was going to be out of time, ya, I'd prolly finish the run. That is, if I knew for absolute certainty that I'd be able to go right to sleep when I got there, not end up loading/unloading when I pulled in, or not being allowed to sleep on their lot.

That happens (and it's happened to me).

11 hours driving time means 11 hours, period!
One minute past the 11 you are in violation! D.O.T. is very clear on this!
Breaking your sleeper birth time will not get you any more time to drive!
How many total hours are you thinking it will take you to get to SA?

Re: 11 Hour Driving Time
 

I beleive you are referring to the "split break"...as I remember it the rules are (1) minimum of 2 hours (2) must be in sleeper berth (3) total must equal 10 hours

hope this helps

I am looking at around 40 hours. Let me give you an idea of what I am trying to do so that there isn't any confusion.

I am starting school next week, and I am working on different aspects of Trucking, and I decided that I would tackle trip planning, fuel stops, and berth time. What I am trying to see is how much time it will take me to get into SA while maintaining the DOT regs. I am basing the trip on 10/hrs @ 50 MPH am looking at how best to approach the run.

So, in essence, I am not actually going to do the run as of yet, but I want to get practice in planning trips so that I don't do something stupid on the road and end up without fuel, or worse, violating the DOT regs... That would be very embarrassing. :oops:

wa.....your 40 hours is good! If your just figuring "drive time!"
Now, like I asked, "how many total hours to do the trip?"
I'm not being a smart azz, just working with you on this! :)
One thing on fueling, the company will usually dictate where you will fuel.
You have the right idea!
Once in school, and then time spent with a trainer, it will get very easy to do. Called time management, can make or break you!

I have to agree with freebird. 11 hours is 11 hours. But, I would finish the trip by adding in a 15 minute on duty/not driving. Instead of going over on hours would be likely to put that 15 minutes somewhere else (on duty/not driving or sleeping birth showing a 15 minute break)

Haha not a problem freebird, you can be as much of a smart azz as you want.

Round Trip will be 79.62 hours (Accounting for Berth + Driving, but not loading/unloading)

The company I am looking to start with, has drivers go to their terminals for fueling so that was easy to get the milage.

The other aspect that I was looking at was time of departure, estimated time of arrival (based on traffic patterns here in the Seattle area). I figure leave before heavy traffic or after (depending on when the truck is expected at it's destination)

Re: 11 Hour Driving Time
 

Actually, having two breaks in the sleeper that total 10 hours does not equal 10 CONSECUTIVE hours as DOT regs call for. As I was told, DON'T even try this unless you have to. It's easy to screw up and not worth the time lost out of service if caught or the money for the fine.