Managing driving hours as an OTR driver

Successful drivers think like a businessman. 

• Your dispatcher controls your loads. 
  
• Your log book controls your driving time. 
  
• Your hours available are a commodity to be used economically. 
  

As an example - plan your trip arriving outside the customers area as close as possible before your appointment. Shut down and start your break, then use the time at the customer as part of your 10 hour break.

Attend to things before you start your 14 hours, e.g. get tractor or trailer service or repairs done, shower, meals or shopping, do this during your 10 hour break.

If you have a load and you can legally arrive early, call ahead see if they will take you early. Also try your dispatcher, see if they will T call your load instead of sitting on a load. When you’re under a load your dispatcher may be distracted with other drivers and not realize you could arrive early. It’s in your company’s interest to keep you rolling and you will earn more money in fewer days away! 

Now is the time for you as a driver to let the FMCSA know how you feel about the proposed Hours of Service regulation changes!!!

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/hos-proposed/comments.aspx

These changes will be published in the Federal Register on December 29th; FMCSA will then accept comments on them for 60 days (February 28, 2010). The agency is subsequently expected to publish a final rule by July 26th, 2011 (with an effective date several months later)

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/hos-proposed/hos-proposed.aspx