How much night driving?
 

D you OTR drivers simply run by how your log book plays out? Or, do you try to plan mostly day or night driving? I would prefer to do most of the driving during the day but have no idea if that's possible. Just curious if you guys have established some sort of routine that you follow.

When I was driving, I wished I could have drove in the day and sleeep at night. But it turned out, I drove all night, Unload in the AM, and reloaded in the afternoon and did it all over again.

Driving at night is my favorite although driving during the day or night is usually based on what time your load picks/drops and your available hours.

One thing to keep in mind is that with a LEGAL logbook, you will have 10 hours off duty and then 14 hours to get your work done. This is a 24 hour cycle, so if you can ever get it going with the right hours, you can usually maintain that for at least a few days before you get a screwed up load or unload appointment that messes it up.

I've learned to kinda take care of myself on this. I do everything I can without getting fired to keep my hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. I do have to vary this by an hour or two either direction many times to meet the appointments, but I can usually get it back in my time frame within a day or two. Of course, I think it might be easier for flatbedders to do also. Most of our pickups and deliveries are during the daylight hours.


Arky

On 4 lane divided hwys I can drive either day or night doesn't make a difference. But on secondary 2 lane roads I prefer days only if I can help it. You get RVers pulling their overloaded trailers weighing down their bumper and it turns their low beams into high or the people who drive with their improperly aimed fog lights on as extra headlights.

That's pretty much my policy as well:

2 lane roads, daylight only.

4 lane highways (2 lanes in each direction) 24/7


As far as the log book, i will drive my maximum 11 hours a day; It's all about productivity.

If this means going into darkness, so be it.

Alot of it depends on the company.

When i was delivering cars/trucks it was pretty much daylight extending into the night to about 9,10,11,12,1am, 2am depending on when my hours ran out. Although you could adjust your own schedule to run only in the daylight if you started out early enough-----i.e, 6, 7am.

Makes no big diff for me.
I haul Reefer mostly...and lots of these are scheduled for afternoon Shipping...or even night Recieving. My schedule basically dictates how I will run. On outbound long hauls...I can plan my Pick so I am loaded and rolling for daylight hours...and my schedule is somewhat flexible from there.

After being out doing several drops and or reloads...it becomes more...Git 'R Done...whatever it takes.

I plan and schedule my runs, and have become very good at that, as you will too. You get to know what roads are tough to run...and what times are best to hit them. Like City crossing, or certain areas under construction...even tracking storms ahead.
If you can plan this for your advantage...that's smart...but sometimes, you just have to take what comes and deal with it.

For instance...I'm in L.A. area now. ( Ontario TA...:lol:...:shock: )
With my reload...I am going to miss the morning commute enroute to Irvine. I have an afternoon Shipping appointment. Once I am loaded and rolling...it will be Peak rush hours heading north out of the L.A. Basin ( creep and crawl at it's finest...:? ) to Hwy. 40...and from there most of my 1st day of travel will be at night. Oh well... :lol: ...Git 'R Done!

I run from 6am til about 3pm. The only time I stop is for fuel and to use the bathroom. Other than that I dont run nights and I wont run nights.
If I got a 1230am delivery, I push it out til 6am.
My dispatcher knows this and has no real say to the contrary.
I drive the truck, he doesnt.

You may need to "get it done" if its day or night driving. When you get tired get to sleep until you wake up, no alarm clock or coffee to keep you going.

I been to places they receive during the night, and ship out during the day. Seen signs at them stating. "No receiving during the DAY period, No exciptions.."