Originally Posted by Moosetek13

Well, cooking in the truck sounds nice but is often times not practical.
If you only have 10 hours for a break, you may not have time to cook. And you have to keep supplies in the truck, which can be difficult if you have been on tight schedules and haven't had the time to hit a Walmart or other store.
So get used to plenty of fast food and truck stop restaurants (which are not really that bad, for the most part).

You might find the time to take photo's, sometimes. You then have to find a place to park to do so.
That can be very difficult, especially at the place you want to photograph.

While the concept of giving 110% sounds nice, you can't run your truck at 110%. The speed it is governed at is the speed you can go.
You could short yourself on breaks, but that can be dangerous to your health - and to others.

It's really not about pushing yourself past your limits, it's about learnng the system and working it to your best advantage.
It's about working smarter, not harder.

The 110% thing was just a saying, I know i have to operate within the laws and physical human limits. Just saying that if you can give it your all whenever you can usually you come out ahead.

Yeah and i figured stopping whenever i saw something cool wouldnt be practical, but as far a photos go, i like taking pictures no matter where I am.

I'm sure I can find healthy good food on the road, and i realize cooking isnt always practical, but this will be an adjustment i will have to make

Originally Posted by TRKRSHONEY

Good luck!!! I am a a 54 yr old female, got my Class A 2 yrs ago. Hubby and I drive OTR and I love the OTR life-style!! When hubby and I got together 4 yrs ago I was just divorced for the 2nd time from 'the love of my life' (yeah, right!!) and my kids were grown. He had just started OTR after driving Class B locally for 20+ yrs. After a few dates and lots of phone time, he called and said he would be passing thru on his way to Vermont and would I like to ride along. Long story short, we FAXed the 'rider' paperwork, I got on the truck at the end of October 2008, and the rest is history!! Christmas 2008 found us back in Knoxville for the 1st time since I left, cleaning out my apartment. After almost 2 years we decided for me to get my CDL and we started teaming.
I love the OTR, but teaming is exhausting!! If you have ever had the desire to see the US, I would advise a year or so of OTR before settling into a local gig. In the 1st year out with hubby I had the opportunity to see 46 of the 48 contiguous states. Now we have been everywhere but ND and I have driven in at least 40 of the states.

Thats a very cool story. Getting to drive and see so many new areas, this excites me. Cant tell you the last time I left PA other then to drive the 30 minutes into Delaware for tax free shopping. I know I wont be a "tourist" but I'd imagine i'd see a lot of really cool stuff from the truck windows, and maybe once in a good while might be able to stop and see something up close an personal. Even if its just once a month or two, i'd be cool with that.

Been getting some very informative and overall positive pm's from people. TY for this!!

A lot of people have been asking me what companies I am interested in.....uh.....well.......I don't really know. I've bee reading this non stop for past couple of days, everyone has good, bad, ugly, and varied opinions about all these companies.

Maybe some of the people who have taken the time to read this, and offer advice could steer me towards some companies I should be looking at.

As a side note. Where I live, above my brother's barber shop, is directly across the street from what I call a loading yard for flatbeds at Accelor Mittal steel in Coatesville PA. The drivers pull up to the gate, check in and then drive over to the "yard". They wait there, some longer then others, and it looks like they get called to one of the buildings to get loaded with whatever steel plates they are there to pick up. They then go back into the yard and strap everything down and "fight" with these giant tarps and chains. I say fight because some of these guys really seem to work hard at it while others do it effortlessly. Then a lot of the guys appear to park there over night and sleep untill morning. At around 6 in the morning the guys from yesterday pull out and the whole process repeats again. Been watching this for almost 8 years. Enough to know that Flatbed would not be my first choice, but I would do it if I had to.

The Companies I see most often over here at Mittal are Maverick, Roehl, BTC, TMC, some company with two complicated dutch looking names I have never tried to pronounce they drive older white trucks with hideous orange and brown stripes, and I think its Falcon or HAwk or some bird of prey they have blue and green trucks.

Well Like I said, I've been watching these guys for years, I wish there was a way to get past the fence and across the railroad tracks to talk to some of them, but since they do a lot of military stuff over there, don't think it would be a good idea...lol

So again, not really digging the flatbed thing, just seems like those guys are never happy while strapping down and fighting those huge tarp things. Again I am not saying NO but not my first choice.

So who should I be looking at, and maybe doing the "pre-hire" things I keep seeing and hearing about?

Thanks Again

Originally Posted by TRKRSHONEY

It's been a 'million dollar' experience for me. There's no way I would have been able to afford the traveling, AND, I'm getting paid for it!! You're correct that you won't be able to do some of the 'touristy' stuff unless you have a little 'layover' time and grab a cab, but you will still see a lot of amazing sights!! We drive by things like the Cadillac Ranch http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2220, Giant statue of Abraham Lincoln's head http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/8450, and several other 'roadside' attractions all the time. Plus the opportunity to see the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico!! One of my absolute favorites is Mobile. Alabama & Battleship Park!!

AMAZING!!!!!!! This is an awesome picture!! Just being able to see stuff like that, even if its from a window, is worth it for me!!!!

Originally Posted by TRKRSHONEY

Pay a visit to a local truck stop (preferably one with an actual restaurant) and just 'hang out' and chat with the drivers. Most drivers are more than willing to spend a few minutes talking to you since they spend most of the day behind the wheel, alone. That is why I suggested a restaurant 'atmosphere', that way you know they aren't in a hurry to keep rolling. Maybe there is a 'diner' near the railyard where a lot of the drivers stop in. Best way in the world to get the 'personal' insight you need!!

Not a diner near here, but a couple of pizza and chinese take out places they walk over to sometimes. About 30 minutes up US30 in Lancaster there is a truck stop and a diner that trucks are always parked at...think its called Jenny's Diner or something like that....short story, I dont eat out much after getting some serious food poisoning a few years back, but i do like coffee......