I have been in and out of trucking several times in my life and I have never been able to fully solve the problem of not having an actual residential address. When I first started, I was living in an apartment in California. I knew it would be ridiculous to pay rent and utilities when I would only be 'home' a couple of days a month. So I put everything into storage and changed my address to a mail service. This was in the early 90's before all the postal regulations became much stricter. The mail service had a street address so I was able to use that on my license, voter reg, etc.

Then a few years later the postal service started requiring a lot more regulation on these companies (private mail boxes) and required you to put PMB on your address (to show that it was a mail service). Sometimes when filling out forms for credit cards or other services, they don't recognize the PMB format and you would have to act as if your box number was an apartment.

Once, I switched trucking companies and started working for JB Hunt's Luisville, KY terminal. I still had a California license with my PMB (my only address). But after a while JB Hunt told me I had to get a KY license. So once again I had to get a mail service near the terminal. This time it was Mail Boxes Etc and I had to use that as my 'residential address' (this was still in the 90's.

Another time I worked overseas for a few years. I had no home or apartment in the USA, because once again it would be rediculous to pay rent when I'm not there. I was paying some state income tax on my overseas income (my PMB at that time was in California which doesn't totally exempt overseas income - Feds exempt first $87K). So I figured I would switch my address to avoid state income tax. I opened another mail box in Nevada and used that as my 'residential' address on my license. I had to physically go there on one of my vacations to do that.

Now does all this seem rediculous or dishonest? I don't know. It drives me insane because for years at a time, I DO NOT HAVE A STANDARD RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, yet many agencies can't deal with that. The problems of course started happening after 9/11 because private mail services are associated with a lot of fraud. But if I don't actually have a home or apartment, shouldn't I be able to declare anywhere as my 'residential address'?

While I was overseas, I registered to vote absentee. But this time it was flagged as a 'business' address and the voter registrar sent me a card telling me that I couldn't use that address. We went round and around, me explaining my situation, and they kept insisting that I must have some physical place I live when in the States (I didn't because I was overseas 360/365). Eventually they classified my registration is "vagrant" or something which allowed me to vote for National offices only and not local issues.

The IRS is the same way. Once I talked to them for a long time about this. I told them I lived in a truck and not a home. I said I was in a different State every day. They kept insisting "well you must be in one State more than another" or "well just use a friend or family's address". It always goes around and around. There is no understanding of the true OTR driver who literally lives out of the truck.

Now I am back in the States and about to return to trucking. Once again I have to go through these hoops and I have a feeling the hurdles have probably gotten harder. I always look for a mail service that is close to an interstate or that is truck accessible (so I can pick up my mail when passing through). I notice fewer and fewer mail services use a plain street address any more. Maybe it is not even legal any more (since they have to show they are a private mail service).

I was looking online for something like this located near a terminal for the trucking comany I am returning to. In my search I found a new company called "Earth Class Mail". They seem to have the ideal set-up because they digitally scan your mail, so you can check it online. So I called them and asked them if there were aware of all the problems (listed above) that truck drivers have to go through. The customer service person acted like I was crazy and once again sounded puzzled at all the above situation. I asked them if I would be able to use their address as my 'residential address' and they said "no, you still use your other address". And I just about screamed "but I don't have another address when I am driving. That is the whole point of getting a mail service".

I also asked them about a new problem I noticed. You have to fill out a postal form 1583 and it says your 'residential address' "may be subect to verification procedures" etc etc. It also requires you to submit a "Home Address" other than the mail service. So once again, all the same problems exist. You either have to lie or else change the format of your address so it doesn't appear as a private mail service (also technically illegal).

Sorry for the long rant, but I know others must have gone through all these nightmares also. How have you resolved them? Government agencies (IRS, DMV, Elections Dept) still can't handle the fact that some drivers literally live in their trucks and have NO other 'residential address' other than their mail service. I always feel like I am a criminal when I have to play all these games, but what are you supposed to do?

I can only tell you my experiences. My brother-in-law has been driving truck for over 28 years and he also has been living out of his truck. After 9/11, he was required to have a physical address. He talked with his boss who agreed that Tom could use his bosses residential address and he has been using that one ever since with no problems.

When we moved overseas, we were also required to have a physical address here in the States. We used my mother-in-laws with no problems.

So, you really need a good friend, boss, or relative who will allow you to use their physical residential address and then you are good to go.

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Thanks for the info. That's the EXACT situation I've been in. But it still burns me up because I don't live at the friend's address or the relative's address any more than I live at the address of the mail service. Plus, if I don't have a home or apartment, why should I be paying state income tax (could be in the thousands of dollars) for some imaginary "residence"? It's insane.

you might want to check out some fulltime RV'er forums, as they have the same problem. I know many join the Escapeee's RV club, and have an address out of Livingston TX, also. North Dakota advertises itself as a friendly "homebase" address for full time RV'ers. I beleive several mail forwarding services operate out of there as well.
again, most of these people are not working but they have the same issue as having no physical address.
not sure if you need to actually own an RV to become a member of escapee's.
Dan

Ralph - I all too well know what you are going through. Me and my hubby went through this 7 years ago trying to get a PO Box. PO Boxes makes more sense when you rent and don't plan on staying there long. Everything we had was coming to my mother's PO Box. They wanted a bill or check stub with a physical addy on it. We had nothing, or so we thought. Thank goodness the hubby messed up and had my mother's physical address put on his paycheck.

As far as state taxes, find a state that you don't have to pay in as much. Not sure where you would find your info for this at. Would be nice if you could make a case that you don't live in any particular place and avoid paying state taxes at all....of course, that's only a dream....the gov't will always get their money.

I know exactly what you're talking about Ralph, I went through the same crap when I used to drive OTR—It pisses me off too.

I was based out of Michigan, where, according to their rules, you MUST have a physical address or you cannot have a driver's license. So... note to all you homeless people (OTR drivers): Michigan would rather have you jobless and standing in a soup line, than to allow you to put a PO box on your driver's license.

Free country? Yeah right! Try to get a job without a Social Security number or a real address... not gonna happen. They want to know where you are at all times.

Maybe I'll start renting out one square foot lots on my property for $10 a month. They'll come with six inches of road frontage for the mailbox... lol.

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I appreciate the tips. Several people mentioned P.O. boxes which I had in the past. But I found they have several problems of their own. The US Postal Service specifically says on the form that they don't want you to let the box fill up for months at a time. Plus they will not do special forwarding or accept UPS, etc. The other problem is that I would have to show a "residential address" on the form for the DMV (they won't allow PO Box except for mailing address). But then the idiots would send stuff to my old street address and I would never get it.

After I switched to a mail service with a street address, I was happy. I could use that address on my license. Plus I would call the lady who managed the service on the road and she would forward a package to a truck stop that I knew I would be passing by, etc. Plus I could call up and she would tell me what was sitting in my box. The US Post office doesn't like to do personalized service like that.

Then it all ended when the government started requiring more and more proof of an actual residential address. But as someone else mentioned, I finally got fed up and switched my "home address" to a state without income tax. But trying to vote, renew my license, and all that are always a nightmare.

I would be curious what the actual root of all this is. I always assumed it has something to do with law enforcement who want a physical address so that if there is a warrent out, they know where to find you. For a commercial driver it is a double problem because most states require you to inform the motor vehicles department within 10 days of changing addresses. So when I move out of my apartment back on the road, I am legally required to report it. Yet when I tell them I have no residential address that I am changing to, they have no way to process that. I will look into the RV groups you guys suggested. Thanks again for the info. It's just nice to know for once some people know exactly what I have gone through.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Your physical home address is a base for taxes. Even in a state without income tax, you are still counted, and some government program is most likely gaining some tax money because you are in their zip code.
And, law enforcement. Gives them a starting point to find you. IRS, too.
Do you have any relatives? Parents, siblings? Anybody that wouldn't mind collecting your mail for you?

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