Best hours to drive/rest?

To put it simply, if YOUR body clock and work schedule permits (you are able to sleep properly during the daylight hours)... drive at night as much as you can.
1/3 the traffic... coops closed... when you're ready to park in the a.m., there are plenty of spots available...

Very few of us have this schedule available to us. If this is an option, take it. Your production each day will be greater.

Easier said than done without help on a daily basis. Humans are made to sleep at night.

 

Well said. I second it.

 

You pretty much nailed it. Another advantage is when you take your 30 minute break then rest areas and truck stops have parking.

Running OTR hauling general freight your schedule will be dictated by customer requirements. However, whenever possible I gravitated to a wee hour start.

 

...no, don't let your company dictate what schedule you work. You dictate it yourself if you want to at least be in control of anything out there. Don't take BS appointments.

 

For me 4 am is the sweet spot, a little night driving followed by mostly daylight driving . Normally my day ends right before the "truck stop rush hour" starts

 

when i run at nite i take my 30 min break after i get fuel since there is usually no one at the pumps, also i dont fuel in the major cities if i dont have to, i also look at the google maps of where i might fuel and pick the easiest ones to get in and out. weekends are also better to drive at nite with summer traffic, unless you like the scenery. good luck and if u run at nite you can listen to "it was the dark of the moon on the 6th of june in a kw haulin logs" lol

 

While there is much truth in what you say, IMHO if a driver wants to maximize income you need to be willing and able to run any load, anywhere, at anytime. Carrier terminals are often depressing places, full of drivers complaining about low pay, but also telling why they aren't making good money: won't go west, won't go east, won't drive at night, etc.

Trucking is a job where you can work very little and still be employed.

 

Exactly right.

Be the one that'll go anywhere and do anything and you'll be surprised at how much better your loads get.
You go to the top of the radar when good stuff comes up.

 

I don't agree. If I start my trips at 3am on Monday I'm pretty sure I'll end up doing a 34 by 6/7pm Saturday. Been planning tomorrows 34 at a Hooters since Wednesday. Lol