I need a hat, a chain for my wallet & a can of snuff.

Whizzer said:
Sure kicks the devil out of the thought some people have that truck drivers sit on their butt all day and drive. :rolleyes: A week of sitting around New Hampshire might not be too bad as there are plenty of things to see and do although they might involve some, can you spell, driving? ;)
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Yep, it's a good thing my rental car has unlimited mileage.:) I really enjoy driving around the back roads of NH, and Mass. I will leave early Fri morning for a 150 mile trip on the back roads to Southwick Mass just to checkout the new hauler my buddy drives for the Kawasaki team that Eli Tomac rides for. Then I will drive 150 miles back to NH to watch a Fri night race on pavement at Lee USA Speedway. Then depending on the weather on Sat I will either drive 90 miles to Winchester NH to watch the ISMA cars on pavement at Monadnock Speedway, or drive 2 miles to watch dirt track racing here in Epping NH at the Star Speedway. It's definitely going to be a busy weekend with a lot of driving and a lot of eating.:D If you know of any other cool things to do around here I'm always open to suggestions.:)
https://promotocross.com/race/southwick
https://leeusaspeedway.com/
https://www.monadnockspeedway.com/
https://www.starspeedwaynh.com/​
 
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Motocross always excites me. Dirt track does as well. Pavement, not so much. Nothin' better than going to a dirt rack race, getting home around one a.m., and taking a shower to see how much dirt ya brung home witch-cha. ;)
Of course, if pavement is all that's available, then that's good too!
 
Nitro Dude said:
Yep, it's a good thing my rental car has unlimited mileage.:) I really enjoy driving around the back roads of NH, and Mass. I will leave early Fri morning for a 150 mile trip on the back roads to Southwick Mass just to checkout the new hauler my buddy drives for the Kawasaki team that Eli Tomac rides for. Then I will drive 150 miles back to NH to watch a Fri night race on pavement at Lee USA Speedway. Then depending on the weather on Sat I will either drive 90 miles to Winchester NH to watch the ISMA cars on pavement at Monadnock Speedway, or drive 2 miles to watch dirt track racing here in Epping NH at the Star Speedway. It's definitely going to be a busy weekend with a lot of driving and a lot of eating.:D If you know of any other cool things to do around here I'm always open to suggestions.:)
https://promotocross.com/race/southwick
https://leeusaspeedway.com/
https://www.monadnockspeedway.com/
https://www.starspeedwaynh.com/​
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ACT race at Star Speedway or ISMA at Monadnock Speedway gets my vote! :booya: :D
 
Had to wait 1 1/2 hours this morning for the lab results to come back before I was allowed to offload. As in the offloading time, it took 4 hours. I then got in about 380 miles of driving putting me about 520 from home.

I'm currently parked in a rest area to do my 10 hour reset so I can start a new day. I should be about to get underway about 3am. That way I'll get home early afternoon tomorrow.

Goodnight.
 
Nitro Dude said:
It sounds like dpk will get home just in time to enjoy the weekend...after he finishes his honey do list.:)
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Ain't that the truth!

About 15 minutes from hitting the road. Should be just in time for the early Cincinnati morning traffic but other than that, it should be okay.
 
What's with the ten hour reset? Is it a requirement you must rest ten hours before you can drive again? If so, how many hours are you permitted to drive before you must stop? There is so much more to this than I eve imagined. We had a log book and drove long hours. I do not recall there were mandatory lengths of time to rest and limits on how long you could drive and the log book was a joke. We filled it out when we got a chance and then pretty much put in what might be considered satisfactory.

Good to know your timing worked out for the run so you can enjoy the weekend at home. Thank you for the updates and information. Really enjoy reading if the experience you and Nitro Dude have.
 
I know on our shipments from Georgia to California have gone up 40% to 50% since the digital log went mandatory.
Lot of companies now have two drivers in rigs instead of one.

Anytime the Feds get into your business it cost you money. The one size fits all is their motto.
 
Whizzer said:
What's with the ten hour reset? Is it a requirement you must rest ten hours before you can drive again? If so, how many hours are you permitted to drive before you must stop? There is so much more to this than I eve imagined. We had a log book and drove long hours. I do not recall there were mandatory lengths of time to rest and limits on how long you could drive and the log book was a joke. We filled it out when we got a chance and then pretty much put in what might be considered satisfactory.

Good to know your timing worked out for the run so you can enjoy the weekend at home. Thank you for the updates and information. Really enjoy reading if the experience you and Nitro Dude have.
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We are only allowed to drive for 11 hours within a 14 hour clock and then we have to take 10 hours off duty or at least 8 hours sleeper berth and 2 hours off duty. We also have to take a half hour break before 8 hours after you start your 14 hour clock. We also have to do a 15 minute pre trip and a 15 minute post trip every day. After a total of 60 hours on duty not driving and driving we have to do what they call a 34 hour restart. That means we have to take 34 hours off duty before we can go back on the clock. The 34 hour restart may affect dpk more then it a affects me because when I return to the shop I'm usually there for at least 2 days and when I am at the race track I'm usually there for at least 4 to 5 days. I don't know if dpk has any other restrictions because he has a hazmat and tanker endorsement. The major problem with the 14 hour clock is that it causes drivers to have to race the clock and not stop and take a nap if they get tired because the 14 hour clock keeps ticking even if you are asleep. Eventually I think some of these rules will get changed...or at least they should imo.
 
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Made it home with over a couple hours to spare. Could have easily made 600+ miles today. Empty anyway.

@Nitro Dude 's description of the clocks mirrors what I would have had to say. There's good an bad with those clocks. A few weeks ago I made a run to Eastern PA for a drop and hook. Everything needed to go smoothly to get there and back before my driving time would expire. When I left my pickup point to come home, I had about a half hour to spare. Needed to say, things didn't go as planned and my driving clock was going to expire. I had to find a place to stay before my time expired. I had three service plazas on the PA turnpike between me and my time expiring. No spots were available in the first two so I continued to drive. When I pulled in the 3rd plaza, the very first spot was empty. I pulled in and switched over to off duty/sleeper birth for my 10 hour reset. Early the next morning, as soon as the reset occurred, I headed home.

This morning, like that morning, I sat there looking at my clock to reset so I could start my day. As soon as it reset, I started my pre-trip. When that was up, I was on my way. I posted a picture earlier in this thread of what I knew as being called a Qualcomm. It displays all sorts of things including all the clocks that @Nitro Dude mentioned. I'll take some pics next week when I'm back in the truck of the clock screens. I can post a pic of today's load too so you can see it represented in graph form.

The 'good' about the clock is that you can't really be overworked. Times are set in stone. There are flaws though like @Nitro Dude mentioned. The 14 hour clock continuing to run even though you're testing. Once that 14 hour clock starts, there's no stopping it.
 
Thanks to Nitro Dude and DPKimmell2001!!! Great explanations, both. Keep the stories coming. I really enjoy your posts.
 
The ELD thing has screwed alot of people up. Like @Nitro Dude said, he's off driving duty more than he's on, so he's not affected as much. But DPK hit the nail on the head, this is why the side of the road/service road is covered in parked trucks these days. Everybody maxxing out the clock and just parking-in-place once the timer is up.
 
At the very least, the 14 hour clock needs to be extended for the mandatory half hour break. I liked it years ago when you could split your sleeper berth times. You can go over hours when looking for a safe haven to find parking, it's risky because sometimes what the DOT considers a truck stop is mostly a place the sells diesel with a handful of spots that was filled up by noon. But they fine ya and say you should have parked there instead of where you found a spot. Happens a lot in California.
 
StandOnIt said:
At the very least, the 14 hour clock needs to be extended for the mandatory half hour break. I liked it years ago when you could split your sleeper berth times. You can go over hours when looking for a safe haven to find parking, it's risky because sometimes what the DOT considers a truck stop is mostly a place the sells diesel with a handful of spots that was filled up by noon. But they fine ya and say you should have parked there instead of where you found a spot. Happens a lot in California.
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Texas generally allows parking at the dead-end of service roads or on the shoulder just past an exit, from what I have observed being popular options.
 
StandOnIt said:
At the very least, the 14 hour clock needs to be extended for the mandatory half hour break. I liked it years ago when you could split your sleeper berth times. You can go over hours when looking for a safe haven to find parking, it's risky because sometimes what the DOT considers a truck stop is mostly a place the sells diesel with a handful of spots that was filled up by noon. But they fine ya and say you should have parked there instead of where you found a spot. Happens a lot in California.
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"Happens a lot in California", weeeeell, imagine that. There is no doubt in my mind this is a fact. That there is even business done in California amazes me.
 
Magnethead said:
Texas generally allows parking at the dead-end of service roads or on the shoulder just past an exit, from what I have observed being popular options.
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yeah no problems in Texas. Texas is full of roadside parks out west and south on the way to McAllen
 
StandOnIt said:
yeah no problems in Texas. Texas is full of roadside parks out west and south on the way to McAllen
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Yea but here in the suburbs, not as many options. See alot of trucks parked anywhere I can fit. Going down hwy 67 towards Glen Rose the other day (30-90 mins SW of FW) I saw a couple trucks parked in the grass on the side of the road, and in one area where there was a service/access road that branched off, there was a rig parked off the side of it
 
Yesterday's run was out and back to Cleveland Ohio to pick up an empty trailer. Got some hours in but that was about it.

Today's run was loading up near the home terminal and then heading east to East Stroudsburg, PA. I'm currently staying about 30 miles shy of my delivery point for 7am tomorrow.

Only 430 in the afternoon and the lot here is almost full. There's maybe 70 or so spots here at this location. PA has got a lot of truck stops, rest areas and service plazas. Still, there's never enough spots.

Fired up the television. Scanned in around 20 channels. Found the women's soccer game on. One thing I will never get about this game is the clock. Makes zero sense to me and please, don't try to explain it because this is likely the last game I'll every watch.
 
Woop! Moved to a new notch in my belt buckle today..... In a good direction. Been trying to make it a habit of eating a little better. Smaller portions, more balanced, etc..... A little tough to do but doable none the less. I've given up about 25 lbs since mid March.

Getting ready to head out in another half hour or so. Never been to the location that I'm going so I don't know how this is to be offloaded. Don't know how tough it is to get the truck/trailer oriented either. Every new place presents a new challenge.

If all goes well, I should be back on the road heading home by 10am. Off tomorrow. Not sure about Friday yet.
 
East Stroudsburg, eh? My Bride graduated from East Stroudsburg State University. It is only about twelve miles from where a family member lives in Hope Township, and the business in Hackettstown, New Jersey. Know the area well. Use to race stock cars at Lehighton back in the late fifties and rarely missed a race at the original Nazareth Speedway where Mario Andretti got his start.

Have a fun day off!!
 
Whizzer said:
East Stroudsburg, eh? My Bride graduated from East Stroudsburg State University. It is only about twelve miles from where a family member lives in Hope Township, and the business in Hackettstown, New Jersey. Know the area well. Use to race stock cars at Lehighton back in the late fifties and rarely missed a race at the original Nazareth Speedway where Mario Andretti got his start.

Have a fun day off!!
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I've only been past here before. Looks like my stay is a little longer than anticipated. Even though the guy signed off that they could accept my entire load of their product, they have run out of room in their storage tank. I know have to wait for them to use some in their manufacturing process before I can continue to offload. Oh well, overtime!
 
Loaded this morning @ 8am after an hour and a half drive. My 14 hour clock is about to expire so I've pulled into a rest area for the night. Little did I know until consulting Google, apparently you're not allowed to stay overnight in Indiana rest areas unless they're on a toll road. I guess I'm going to find out how well they enforce that rule. I'm unable to drive so it's kinda a catch 22.

Delivering tomorrow morning in Newburgh, Indiana.

Trying out a 12 volt cooler this trip. Seems to be working well so far. Purchased it on Amazon last week. I put about a dozen water bottles and some food items in it this morning.

I'll going to be doing some system/over the road things this week. Not sure where I'll be going after I unload tomorrow morning. I'm to call the Cincinnati dispatch tomorrow after unloading to find out where I go next. Most of these miles should be loaded miles. That's a good thing $ wise.

That's it for now.
 
I hope you bought a compressor fridge, the other keeps it about 20 degrees cooler than the ambient temp, runs all the time and is a power hog. But they do cost quite a bit more but they sip power. A pretty good one for the money is the Apicool brand.
 
StandOnIt said:
I hope you bought a compressor fridge, the other keeps it about 20 degrees cooler than the ambient temp, runs all the time and is a power hog. But they do cost quite a bit more but they sip power. A pretty good one for the money is the Apicool brand.
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No, I went cheap but it seems to be doing it's job. Didn't measure the temp but everything in it is cold. A decent fridge runs some $'s. Possibly a good future investment but for now, this will do.
 
DPK, what's the deal when you run loaded versus empty or bobtail? Aren't you still on the clock?
Sounds like you are getting your own little home sweet home set up in the tractor. ;)

Keep the reports coming. I learn something with each one and follow your travels. That thing with Indiana sucks. Just what are you supposed to do if you get to the fourteen hour deadline and there are no places to stop? Is there leeway?
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
No, I went cheap but it seems to be doing it's job. Didn't measure the temp but everything in it is cold. A decent fridge runs some $'s. Possibly a good future investment but for now, this will do.
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yeah the first one I bought was one like that. Be careful, it will run down your battery pack pretty quickly and leave ya stuck needing a jump if your batteries are old..guess why I know that one.:dunce:
 
Whizzer said:
DPK, what's the deal when you run loaded versus empty or bobtail? Aren't you still on the clock?
Sounds like you are getting your own little home sweet home set up in the tractor. ;)

Keep the reports coming. I learn something with each one and follow your travels. That thing with Indiana sucks. Just what are you supposed to do if you get to the fourteen hour deadline and there are no places to stop? Is there leeway?
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Any run I make that is less than 180 miles round trip is hourly. Doesn't matter if I'm loaded/unloaded it bobtailing. Anything over 180 miles I get paid by the mile. Loaded pays the most per mile. Unloaded or bobtailing would each pay the same lesser amount. As time goes on, I'm moving on to do more loaded miles. There's kind of a probation period where they keep me local, (hourly), at first. As I prove myself, they give me longer runs. I'm now into some system or over the road runs. This week I started at my home terminal in Western PA. I loaded there and then headed to Southern Indiana. After I unloaded there this morning, I took the empty tanker to Cincinnati. That terminal will clean that tanker for it's next use. When I arrived in Cincinnati, there was a travel order there for me to hook up to a loaded tanker and haul it to the Scranton PA area for delivery tomorrow. That's going to be about a 600 mile trek tomorrow. Loaded..... From there I don't know where I'll be going next but I should be back home Friday. Soon I'll be going out longer than a week at a time. More loaded miles!

Nobody seemed to care that there were a bunch of us starting overnight in the Indians rest area. I think there too many of us to deal with. Yeah, you have to stop when the driving time or 14 hour clock are close to expiring. There's always somewhere to park. Even on and off ramps. I don't want to do that but sometime I won't have a choice.
 
StandOnIt said:
yeah the first one I bought was one like that. Be careful, it will run down your battery pack pretty quickly and leave ya stuck needing a jump if your batteries are old..guess why I know that one.:dunce:
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Yeah, you get what you pay for. That's for sure.

I don't worry a lot about the batteries as I don't shut the truck off all that often for any length of time. Just weekends and when I fuel. Along with loading and unloading if I'm not using my onboard air compressor or pump.
 
You really make it interesting when reading of your experiences. Thank you for the explanation on hours, time, pay., etc.'
The thing of never really knowing where they might head you next is interesting. Start out in the morning going to Indiana, then Cincinnati, then Scranton is quite a run and nice that you'll get home for the weekend.

Keep the reports coming!!

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So..... The grand total to get here was 571 miles. Not too bad being loaded. The trailer that is.

Here's the kicker. When I scaled in they told me they don't have the room for my delivery. It will be 72 hours or 3 days until it can be offloaded. Waiting on a call to see where they want me to take this load. It may be one of our terminal in Jersey or back to Western PA.

Also, I have 58 minutes left on my driving clock and I'm 57 minutes from the closest truck stop.
 
And here I sit. No decision made on the load. Looking at it from their point of view, it's probably cheaper to pay me to live in this parking lot for 3 days rather than have me haul it anywhere. If that's going to be the way it ends up, I hope to relocate to a better location for the wait. Amenities are lacking here. Boredom isn't. I get 4 television stations. 3 shopping networks and what I call the 'Blue Bloods' channel. All Blue Bloods, all the time. I'm now in my fourth consecutive episode. It's the ion network. Tomorrow's Law and Order. Can't wait.
 
That's when you wish you had unlimited streaming data and netflix/hulu, I guess.

Or a box set of That 70's Show.
 
How does it happen that they have you deliver a tanker that the customer can't receive for 3 days?
 
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