Question:
When carriers and drivers plan there trips what are they looking for
(1)The shortest route or
(2)The easiest route
Thanks
IF YOUR NOT IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL GO HOME!!! Loner

Answer:
None of the above. The answer is:
(3) The route that uses the least amount of line-3 time.
Not the "shortest", because a few more miles of interstate may get you there faster than stop/go traffic on some two-lane roads -- longer distance but less driving time.
Not the "easiest", because too much interstate can increase your driving time if you use it too much to avoid a shorter, quicker way to get there.
If all else is equal (no snow, ice or known traffic problems) I go for the route that uses the least amount of driving time. This creates the highest pay per driving hour for the load's paid miles. Eating-up your limited driving time with too many extra miles (easiest) reduces your pay/profit.

Answer:
yup, or in other words, the most coest effective efficient way to get you there. less time on line 3 means you can do more work, thus being efficient.
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people

Answer:
...I did have a load a couple weeks ago that picked-up in northern California and delivered in Denver. It had special routing down through LA and Phoenix...chips! (low altitude routing so the bags of chips don't burst at higher elevations)
Got paid for every extra mile -- nice load.
Carriers will also sometimes route you off the best route to fuel at one of their terminals or fuel stops. They save a few cents on cheaper fuel to make-up for the extra miles, but the driver pays for it by using more line-3 time.

Answer:
When I was expediting, I had a run from NC to tampa fla. Things were going fine until I reached the fla line and decided to take the shortest route instead of the hyway route. I think I hit every red light possible and it turned out definitly not to be a shortcut timewise. It wasn't the first time I decided to take the shortcuts and i was wrong everytime lol. So whenever possible stick to the hyways
Charles

Answer:
haha, i know all about making your own shortcuts, almost ran out of fuel on one of them, almost ran cars off the road in california taking highway...29 I think(sign if you come the other way says no trailer over 40', i had 53' and frieghtliner classic extended super stretch!!!! )
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people

Answer:
Charlesx I'll bet you took the 301. Looks really good on the map and is great between 1-5am except for all the locals hiding in every little town.
Used it myself a couple of times.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
Ok I got the idea makes perfect sense.
I haven't jumped in to the industry yet still doing homework.I've got one more question a new driver for Werner would I plan my own trip including route,fuel,etc. or would Werner give those to the new driver over qualacomm(spelling).
Thanks for the replys good travels to ya
IF YOUR NOT IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL GO HOME!!! Loner

Answer:
new or old driver, companies give you your routing, usually with fuelling info as well. It's for your benefit as well as companies that you take their route....unless you know a shorter and quicker one.
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people

Answer:
Stuffiu,
Yep got out my trusty atlas and it was the dreaded 301. Looks so good on paper its like a spider trying to get you caught in its web. I10 looked to me like it curved a bit north.. Must have been the lack of sleep lol
Charles

Answer:
I drove for Werner a few years ago and Shuffler can give you the full answer now, but back then, you could request the company's routing. It was given as a suggestion only and they took no responsibilty for the routing. Their routing was the shortest possible miles on truck legal routes, ususally. That was also how the shipper was billed and the driver is paid.
It was really up to the driver to pick the route and fuel stops. All they usually gave on qualcomm was the pickup information on the shipper, the final directions to the consignee, the miles they would pay for the trip, and any special instructions. On rare occasions the special instructions required us to take a particular route.
They would squalk if you put too many extra miles on the trip, but they usually just wanted the load delivered on time.
My son runs for Swift and they give him all the details of the trip including where to stop for fuel. He says that it is all negotiable though.
I personally like the Werner system better, but different strokes for different folks.

Answer:
KLLM at the time I left, 2 yrs ago, sent out the routing to the driver. I was thankful for it mostly, because I could count on the best route being on the Qcomm. But as I learned my way around, I occasionally modified their routing, and once in awhile did something completely different. If their computer's routing sent me down a fistful of state roads and county roads, I'd usually find the nearest Interstate for a substitute.
Marten not only doesn't take responsibility for the routing, they don't even send it out. That's okay. I can pretty much find my way around now. But there are times when I wish I could get it right off the qual comm...
According to Charles Kuralt, "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."
Semisweet

Answer:
loner,
If you're still checking this thread, to answer you question about Werner's routing....
If you drive the Western Division (you live in CA) you're on your own. You can request routing, and it's usually pretty good or can verify what you've figured out. I use it sometimes to see what it suggests, then do my own thing -- usually we agree. Werner measures your actualy miles -vs- the paid miles and want your numbers to add-up to something that makes sense.
But I think 48-state division(s) still send drivers so-called "mandatory" routing and fuel stop". It's not really mandatory. They just say that so they can discipline/terminate drivers who drive WAY our of route. Basically it's the same as regional divisions -- use your best judgment, since the computer's fuel stops are NOT always the most effecient. When I was 48-state, I'd just send a freeform message to my dispatcher documenting that I'd found a better way -- never heard a word, probably because the computer showed I had a good history of low out-of-route miles, so they trusted me........so to speak. The routed fuel stops are NOT to save money on fuel -- they're simply to mark points along the route Werner wants you to pass to stay on route.
And above all, it your 48-state routing includes a terminal fuel stop, DO NOT STOP THERE. Heaven forbid, the safety lane might find something wrong and red-tag your truck or trailer for repair, putting the on-time delivery in jeapordy. Fuel around terminals when you're loaded........at least that's what dispatchers say.
.

Answer:
great info thanks
48 state otr dry van is the fleet I'll be driving in
Being a new driver there mandatory routing will be a big help in learning to navigate the US highway system Long~gone
IF YOUR NOT IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL GO HOME!!! Loner
[This message was edited by loner on December 08, 2002 at 11:46.]