Most Effective Trip Planning Strategies For Truckers

Freight transportation is complex, which means it’s no surprise that trucking trip planning is an important skill. Planning a trip helps truckers make sure the load gets where it needs to go, and determine when it needs to get there or how long it takes to get there. The right plan can be the difference between a successful trip and a nightmare. When it comes to planning a trucking trip, there are several key strategies that can help you get the load where it needs to go in the safest and smoothest possible way.

Trip planning is an important skill for every trucker. There are factors which can be anticipated when you are driving across the country, as well as unforeseen circumstances, which makes planning an essential tool for any driver, new or veteran. There are several ways to plan your trucking route and make sure it goes as smoothly as possible. You want to focus on three of your main goals in your trip planning:

• Ensuring Safety and Preparing For Unforeseen Circumstances
• Avoiding HOS Violations
• Delivering or Picking Up Your Load On Time

To make the most of your trip, and keep things moving smoothly, your planning should include the following steps: 

Check The Weather

You will ideally want to check the weather in the areas you will be driving through multiple times, including early in your planning and during your breaks. Weather can be a significant obstacle to drivers, especially when you are trucking through areas with heavy hurricane or storm presence.

You will want to know ahead of time if the route you are taking has bad weather, so you can adjust and prepare. Planning your trip while taking weather into account will also allow you to know if you should leave earlier or later, in order to avoid any hazardous weather. You can also contact your dispatcher and let them know about bad weather ahead and come up with a plan to either wait it out or adjust your route. Sometimes you are able to adjust your path to avoid a storm and sometimes you can’t, but knowing what’s coming is key.

Use Multiple Apps For Direction

You want to use multiple weather and GPS apps, in order to have the most efficient trip. You can use Apple and Google maps, as well as apps like Atlas, to get an idea of where you are heading. Most apps may give you a generic route, so it's still important to look for road closures or construction, ahead of time. Many apps will also give you ability to see where nearby truck stops are and where you can fuel up, which can be beneficial if your option A does not work out. These apps should be consulted ahead of your trip, so that you are not checking your phone while you are driving.

You will also want to jot down in pen and paper the directions to your route, in case your phone dies or you are unable to access your phone due to needing to drive. Using post it notes or papers glued near your dash or in corners of your windshield, just in case.

Plan Your Route

The key to successful trip planning is to look into where you are heading early on, so that you know what to expect. You want to look for road closures, construction areas, high traffic areas, low bridges, border crossings or tolls, in order to better prepare for the trip ahead. Remember that you have hours of service to follow, so you will want to know if there will be delays or detours you should be taking, in order to plan ahead and also make it on time for your delivery.

Always have a backup plan. Consider whether you need to leave early to beat traffic or if you can go around major cities, to avoid congestion. Since you are driving a semi, some of the roads Google maps may show you could be less accessible to you, or you may need to take detours, so you want to know ahead of time. 

The miles you can drive per day depends on your HOS availability. One key factor to planning your route is understanding how many miles you can drive per day or per hour. Generally, truckers can go about 50 miles within one hour, on a highway. You will then need to calculate how many hours you’ll be driving that day and you'll get the amount of miles you can cover each day, ideally.

Schedule Your Breaks

Most truckers will need to stop to fuel up, as well as take their mandatory 30 minute break each day. In order to stay in compliance with HOS regulations, you will want to plan ahead of time where you may stop for fuel or a break. Ideally, your breaks should coincide with your fuel needs, because you do not want to be making extra stops for fuel and then a break, as this could affect your hours. Knowing where to get the best fuel prices can also save you money, so a little research can go a long way.  Try to give yourself a small cushion of extra time, in your planning.

Your breaks should be planned along your route, and you should also have backup options of places to stop at, in case your first truck stop is not an available option. Some truck stops will be busier than others, so it’s always good to have a plan B in order to avoid wasting time searching for another rest spot.

Bring Extra Supplies

In addition to your usual emergency supplies, you will also want to have extra food, water and materials you may need, in the case of delay or having to stay somewhere for a while.  If you are driving through remote areas, anticipate that in the worst case scenario where you may end up stranded, and prepare for the possibility just in case. You should anticipate that sometimes mechanical breakdowns or delays may occur, and not always in the spots you plan, so it’s important to stay prepared and have enough on board with you to get you through.

Know Where You’re Staying

You should plan your stopping point for the day, and research potential places you can park at. It’s important to find well lit, safe areas, and places where parking your semi truck is legal. Truck stops usually get busy, so you can look into either reserving a paid spot somewhere, and even arranging with your company or shipper if you are spending the night at the shippers. It is ideal to have multiple options for parking, as you do not want to spend time searching for a safe spot at the end of a long and exhausting day.

Whether you're a company driver or a solo operator, one of the most important skills you can ever learn is how to make better plans for your trips. The trucking industry is layered with complex rules, regulations, and expectations. Trip planning is one of the most important factors in the success or failure of any trucking business. There are many things that can go wrong on a tricking trip, from road closures to weather-related issues. When you're on the road, you need to be ready for anything, and preparing ahead of time can ensure that you tackle whatever comes your way with ease.