Series 15: Time Management & Trip Planning

15.1 How do you plan trips to maximize your time?

Time is money in trucking, and poor planning will cost you both. I always started with the basics: route, fuel stops, rest areas, and delivery appointments. A good GPS helps, but nothing replaces reviewing the route on a map and planning around traffic patterns, construction zones, and weigh stations. The key is to plan for efficiency but expect the unexpected. Build in buffer time because delays will happen — and being early is always better than being late.

15.2 How do you balance hours-of-service with customer demands?

This is where smart time management separates a professional driver from an average one. You can’t bend the clock, but you can manage it. I learned to “run legal” while still keeping my customers happy by planning ahead. Use your driving hours when you’re the most alert, take breaks before you’re exhausted, and never let a shipper or receiver pressure you into breaking the law. At the end of the day, you’re the one responsible if something goes wrong, not them.

15.3 What are some strategies for reducing stress on the road?

Stress comes when you feel like the road is controlling you instead of you controlling the road. My approach was simple: stay ahead of the clock. Plan your day the night before, know where you’re going to stop, and don’t push yourself into situations where you’re racing against your logbook. I also used small tricks like keeping healthy snacks within reach, listening to audiobooks, and using rest breaks to stretch. If you’re calm and in control, every mile feels easier.

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