I need some serious help here Ladies and Gentlemen!

[Jumbuck]

OK! I have jumped into this expediting thing with both feet. So far I like it but I am confused about a serious issue. I am being given runs that I am finding it hard if not impossible to meet the delivery times. How fast do you guys drive? I don't mean to sound dumb but I am running 72-74 MPH and still find myself late on many occassions. Now a LOT of it is construction as we ALL know, but Gees it seems like I can't even go around the freakin' block without running into road closures, lane closures, dead stop traffic, and I swear they somehow know where I am going and then run out and tear the road up before before I get there! They have roads shut down that are out the middle of NO-WHERE! Can you guys and ladies give me some insight as to how I should approach this thing? I mean it seems like everyone but me is taking it easy but I am running like a man with his you know what on fire? This can't be the way its supposed to be done...is it?
I know I ask a lot of questions but this one has me baffled. Any help or insight on how to do it right would be greatly appreciated. I want to make it clear that On-Dekk is not on my back pushing me I guess being new maybe I'm pushing myself too hard. Thanks for reading this
Jumbuck. Oh and by the way...I MUST be going too fast because I passed a great many expediters Load 1...Panther... 1st Express etc and they didn't know me (no signs on van) but it looked like they were happily enjoying there ride and not a care in the world and I am running full bore chewing my fingernails hopeing I make it on time. Am I killing the job or just killing myself? Okay...thats all. Thanks

 

[jjoerger]

FedEx bases there times on 47 MPH. We drive 62-64 and stop every 150 miles or 3 hours to do our freight securement check.
In 3 years we have 100% on time pick up and delivery.
If you are running that fast and are still late there is something wrong with the way the times are being calculated.

 

[xiggi]

I do not speed. 64 or 65 mph top speed. Do you use a gps to find your route or are you spending time mapping one out or something? Our carrier figures 50mph and that is enough time. If your not double check the time they are giving you to deliver and also the distance your actually going, if there is a big difference talk to your dispatch about it. At those speeds I am guessing your in a van is that right?

 

[paullud]

We run 67 max but usually 65 and 99% of the time we deliver hours early. I saw what you are experiencing happen before when I was running TT and it was because the company was getting the freight off of load boards. The company would sit and wait on a load to force the broker to up the price because the broker was in a bind when it started getting late. I would ask your company what the speed is that they have calculated the loads at to see if they are even planning things out.

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[Jumbuck]

Yes. A small wheelbase sprinter. Yes, I use a GPS but I swear sometimes it seems like that is against me two. It takes me down some of the weirdest roads. It is a Garmin Nuvi 1450LMT. It sometimes takes the dumbest routes, but it always finds the adress okay.

 

[Jumbuck]

Where ARE these load boards that I hear so much about?

 

[mcavoy33]

You know what I would do, drive at your own pace and be late a few times to test out what happens. I've never gotten in any trouble any of the times I've been late.

 

[scottm4211]

Make sure your GPS nav settings are at "fastest" and not "shortest" route. And based on your other thread about winter driving I'd say you're with the wrong carrier as they seem to be pushing you too hard. That won't end well.

 

[Dakota]

I second the GPS setting to fastest not shortest route, shortest route will take you down all the back roads...and all GPS's get wonky at times, that is why God gave us a brain
Most route times are set for between 45 and 50mph
are you stopping alot or taking breaks?
I would discuss this with your company, speeding should not be needed or expected EVER!!!

 

[moose]

I'v been driving 72+ for the first 4 years of trucking.
i was always late, and after 5 years i was a very sick over weigh driver.
some one million mil. ago i slowed down to 59MPH, and was never late since . my blood pressure is down, and i can do this for many years to come.
i can almost care less, for delays in traffic.
the only one's that makes money, when drivers speeds are the shippers, the drivers are the onlyone's to loose money if they speeds.
one of the problem in trucking is the understaffed shippers/receivers, which is why EOBR'S are being shoved down our throat. by speeding we only makes it worst, allowing them to closed early. and abused our time.

and keep that drivers door shut .
'slow & steady wins the race'.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Jimbuck..you a company driver? Or do own the sprinter and an O/O?

 

[golfournut]

Check you GPS settings. Make sure you have it set for toll roads and U turns. If you don't have it set for U turns, it will usually take you on a route to make a right turn into your destination. It could be as little as a couple of blocks out of route or miles depending on the del. Location.

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[greg334]

I have one bit of advice - relax.

Don't be in a hurry when planning the route, maybe even using those old fashion things call maps may help. Don't be in a hurry to deliver, when they give you the miles, divided by 45 and see how long it will take you and TELL THEM.

RELAX.

By the way, with all these van drivers claiming they drive 65, it seems I get passed by a lot of them as I do 63.

 

[Jumbuck]

You see????That's why I LOVE this forum. I can't tell you guys (meaning Ladies Too) how much your excellent advice means to me.I know you might get tired of answering the same old questions but dang it when you are new at something you DON'T know what the norm is. I know 2 people will move a box from point a to b in very different ways. But what I want is to move the box in the BEST way for me. IE I don't want to be the only smuck out there running like a mad fool thinking I HAVE to do this to keep my job when EVERYONE else is taking it easy, not getting their blood pressure and stress level up and enjoying their job. Thats why I like to talk to everyone who can surely "show me a better way" Thats why the call it "experience" You have "shown me a better way" But I would like to make it clear that the company is in NO way pushing, encouraging, implying or suggesting that I go one mile over the speed limit! On the contrary...It's ME who was putting the pressure on MYSELF to be good at what I do. Not get too physological here I've always been that way but Oh at what cost to my health and happiness. Thanks to all of you, I know how it is supposed to be done. I just want to fit in and now I think I can. Well people I guess you helped with flying colors...Keee-rist!!!! I feel LIBERATED!! Just me! Thanks and thanks again for ALL your help and I can testify thisforum does EXACTLY what it is supposed to do.

 

[Doggie Daddy]

Where ARE these load boards that I hear so much about?

They are kept in a hermetically sealed mayonaise jar on Funk and Wagnalls back porch.

 

[geo]

my gps is a garmin 465t, sometime i think it has sents of humor on how it routes me, i go the way i want and it reroutes me

don't speed as it will cost in long run at 70mph it cost 4 miles per gallon to go down the road
65 is about best speed
when i was fedexcc was stopped in a road side insptection
and trooper in new york, ask to see the route that fedexcc
had route me, and issuse them a ticket for encourage driver to speed

 

[Ragman]

Where ARE these load boards that I hear so much about?

They are kept in a hermetically sealed mayonaise jar on Funk and Wagnalls back porch.

 

[Brisco]

From what I gather, you're running for a shylock operation that is promising their customers delivery times that cannot be met or accomplished in "the real world"..........

Ever ran a Bank Route for the "Federal Reserve"? I have....and let me tell you....aint nothing worse than a snot-nosed tie wearing FDIC Employee sitting in an Office in Atlanta Georgia trying to tell a Guy from Texas how the back roads of Texas should be ran and how much time it takes to run from town to town. They look at a Map, sees that it is about 36 miles from Graham TX to Jacksboro TX, and figures you should be able to run from Graham to Jacksboro in less than 30 minutes at 70mph.

What they are not seeing is the 2 little towns (Bryson & Senate) where you have to drop down to 35mph for about 2 miles each. That 380 is a little 2 laned curvy-hilly road with maybe 2-3 areas where it is safe to pass a slower moving vehicle you happen to come upon. They do not know about the old timey Farmer Pharts in that area that DO OWN that road and who drive that road 40-50 MPH whether you like it or not. They have never heard of "Schlumburger" Oil Field Services that runs convoys of 15-20 Trucks carrying Heavy Equipment down that road 2-3 times a day, etc......

In other words, it would take an hour or more at times to run from the checkpoint (Bank) in Graham to the checkpoint in Jacksboro which would cause my phone to light up cause the driver sitting in Decatur was getting tired of "waiting" on me most of the time. I argued with them constantly over this.....It was a good $30 an hour contract for that year, but told 'em to shove it when it came time to renew the contract.

So a little advice.....turn off the GPS (still worthless for OTR use). Grab a Road Atlas, use Interstates/Major Highways going from City to City. Turn the GPS back on when you get close to delivery point for help. When Dispatch calls you for a 700 mile run that needs to be done in 10 hours, kindly tell 'em it will be done in about 14-15 hours, and if they have a problem with it, to find a "Fool" that will try to get it done in 10 hours.

It is up to YOU to keep yourself and others safe while out there. Sounds like to me that whoever you're running for could care less about safety...know what I mean.

 

[cheri1122]

Jimbuck: I know exactly how you feel: the delivery time is what you agreed to, and you will keep your word, no matter what. But there's only one way to make up for lost time: speed up, and as that isn't always possible [Brisco nailed it, lol], when it is, you go even faster, and either way, you're a nervous wreck.
Stop it, before something worse than a speeding ticket happens. Remember when Dominoes' promised "15 minutes or it's free"? They found out how bad an idea it is to rush drivers the hard way [tickets and crashes], and I keep that in mind whenever I'm tempted to go faster - it's just not worth it.
If it's a consistent problem, either the miles or the times given are off - usually, it's the time, and the carrier should adjust it or accept it being late. I'm glad to hear they're not pushing you - that's a good sign.

 

[Jumbuck]

Thank you. As I said, it's NOT the company, it's ME! I am putting the pressure on MYSELF to make a good impression but as you said I've got to "stop it" and I will. Thanks...