Tips For Proper Route Planning

Long haul truck driving can be stressful as you not only try to make a delivery on time, but must also remember to fill up your tank, grab a quick bite to eat, and get a few hours of sleep when you can. Route planning can help you navigate the twists and turns that come with longer trips by laying out all of your stops along the way and giving you a clear, well-defined path to follow. Here are some tips for how to plan well ahead of time so when you’re out on the road, you can focus on the task at hand.

Lay Out Your Path & Follow It

Unforeseen circumstances will sometimes force you to make temporary detours, but a well-planned route will take traffic, road construction, weather, and other factors into account to minimise those occurrences. Use your GPS, online mapping services like Google Maps, and smartphone applications to get as much information as possible ahead of time. For instance, GasBuddy will help you find fueling stations with the best prices, and the Allstays app can help you find overnight lodging if you need a break from your sleeper. Another popular app called “Trucker Tools” will even let you talk to other truckers to get advice on the best places to stop along the way as well as potential obstacles to avoid. 

Keep You & Your Truck Fueled Up

Estimate the gas mileage of your truck using past trips as a guide and mark down the fueling stations along your route. Try to keep your tank at least half-full or so in case you need to travel through extended rural areas with less-than-reliable access to fuel. The same goes for restaurants; take note of eating establishments along the way, try to predict the time of day when you’ll be in certain areas, and see where those lines intersect so that you can plan meal stops into your trip. If you know there will be a long stretch without food options, it’s a good idea to stock your cab with snacks to hold you over.

Sleep Safely

If you intend on staying in your sleeper cab overnight, make sure you find a well-lit truck stop or parking lot with high visibility. If you don’t have a sleeper cab or prefer other types of lodging, compare rates for hotels along your route before you leave on your trip to ensure you have good options along the way. You don’t want to get caught in a dangerous area in the middle of the night with no hours of service to spare.

Use Your Time Wisely

Time management is a crucial companion to route planning because you have to deliver the goods in a timely manner, especially with perishables like food. Overestimate how long a trip may take to prepare for potential delays and surprise customers by showing up early every time. This will also lead to better overall safety, because you won’t be tempted to exceed the speed limit or drive for too many hours at a time in order to make a timely delivery.

You can also maximise efficiency by getting more done at each stop. For example, you may find a truck stop where you can park for the night to rest that also has a fueling station and a restaurant all in one.