I've been out here for 6 yrs now, teaming with my husband. He was already a driver before I got my CDL, so I have some experience with what you're going through. The cheapest way to go, as far as meals are concerned is to make up casseroles, spaghetti, soups, anything that can be heated easily. Place portions in tupperware containers that he can carry into truck stops and use their microwaves to heat. You can purchase cook stoves and all kinds of DC powered heaters, but these can sometimes be expensive, so you may want to wait awhile. A lot of shippers and consignees will also have a driver's lounge, where a microwave is available. Fresh fruits, canned fruits and vegetables. Stay away from the canned process foods, these things don't always contain the proper nutrition and a diet of it can make a person sick after a couple of weeks. A DC reefer can be purchased at any truck stop, but until the money is available a decent sized cooler will do. Ice can always be bought at truck stops as well. It's expensive eating out here all the time, but encourage your husband to try to get at least one good meal a week, and load up on the vegetables. A gallon jug of water, on the road, will run you $2.00 and higher. The same gallon can be bought at Wal-Mart for 59 cents. Buy his supplies at home and load him up before he heads out. If he drinks coffee, purchase a "to-go" cup. The cost is cheaper if you don't use the C-store's cup and a lot of times they won't charge you at all. Don't throw away those empty water jugs, you can refill them from your tap with water, tea, juice, whatever he likes to drink. Proper nutrition is one of the worst things to manage while on the road. In my opinion it's one of the most important.
The most important thing personally you can do for him is to keep him informed of what's going on at home, but let him know that you are handling it. If he's worried about you and the kids, he's not concentrating on the job, and that can be dangerous. Don't keep things from him, if some things come up discuss it with him, tell him what you intend to do and listen to what he thinks. The same as you would do if he were home. And when he comes home, DON'T have a long list of "honey-do's". He will be tired and he wants to spend the time he has with you and his kids. If something has to be taken care of wait until the next day, if you can. Give him time to be home and relax a little before he has to mow the lawn or fix the roof. Also, pamper yourself when you know he's headed home. Dress, put the make-up on, let him know that he was missed and that your glad to have him home.
It can get tough out here and you have to understand that this is not an "easy" job. There is a lot of stress involved, and hometime needs to be his time to relax and "get the road out of his head". Take Care and best of luck to both of you. Be Safe out there....

I am new to this whole business, too. My husband has now been out for OTR training working on 4 weeks. He did get to come home for one night two weeks ago. Listen to what Cybergirl says, she has some wonderful wisdom. I agree you can't base your relationship on his parent's because every relationship is different! Keep communication open, be true to yourself, and believe in each other and you will be fine. Keep your chin up

I have 3 speeding ticket and 1 accident (cost $37 for last 5 years, at November 2006 I decided take off the road more then one year, after working almost fours years with trucking company and total I have 8 years of experience as a OTR, I quit voluntary to protect my CDL because DMV put me on probation, now I cannot find a job in trucking industry they refuse to hire me for different rezone, I need your help

When my husband was just starting out we were very tight on cash too. He bought Peanut butter, jelly and bread for sandwiches, and then he would go to the dollar store and get some cans of beanie weenies, spaghettio's, etc. Cheap stuff that didn't need refrigerated. Then once we got on our feet and he had regular checks coming in, he took a set amount to eat on each week, and I always made sure to ask him what he wanted to eat when he was home and cooked his choices for him.
He got tired of eating out of a can and pb&j sanwiches, but it worked until we had more money coming in. I hope this helps some. Good luck!

My dh is spending a small fortune on food...I wish I could talk him into talking a jar of PB & of J and a loaf of bread.

Mrs Skid I couldnt get David to take stuff either till Thanksgiving and I made him some turkey salad and he loved it and saw real fast how much money he saved. Maybe fix him a bowl of his favorite "salad" and send some bread. He says the carrots and other stuff needs to be in a square shape container so it doesnt spill while driving and eating.
Some guys have a hard time getting over takign food ...who knows why.

__________________
I am a Diamond in the making. I have undergone Heat and pressure. I have been chisled and cut. I am now in the hardest phase the wet grinding. Soon I will shine.
Pamela Earp



Cats purr at the same frequency as an idling diesel engine, about 26 cycles per second.

He has very limited space in his cab, and with all his bags he piles up there with him, it's just about impossible to talk him into taking any containers. I told him just ONE decent sized one would do it...certainly somewhere on his truck he could stash it! :lol Instead, he has a bag with some tuna packets and peanuts and a few things....if he'd only LET me...I am pretty positive I could set him up. He tends to not like to be bothered with 'unimportant' things...and ya know, a food box could be a huge unimportant bother.

ATTENTION!!!---Anyone who is contemplating going to driving school!

For goodness sake! Forget about the price of a driving school! Pick a good commercial school and enroll! Most county technical have fairly good schools that are reasonably priced and most of them have a placement service that will find graduates a job.

I am well aware of all the companies that offer training BUT at what expense? Oh Yeah, they say its free--but be advised--Everything has a price! Some companies will train you--Then, You work cheap--Thjey get you on the road and sit you in spots sometimes 2 or 3 days at a time with no pay-- They'll go out of their way to keep you from getting home and the list goes on. Lets face it--They OWN YOU! Most companies that train you require that you stay with them for a certain period of time. After a while you realize you are litterally working yourself broke--You become discouraged and quit before you've worked that period of time to pay for your training--All of a sudden you owe that company MEGA BUCKS to finish paying for the training they provided--The collection company starts calling--You are turned in to the credit bureau Now what else do we need to know?
Again, I strongly reccommend a technical college or a commercial school. Pay up front and just be done with it.
Also, a driver graduating from a school is NOT going to command a high pay rate to start with. Two years experience and you'll do better. Three to five years experience and you can live pretty good and over ten years and you can pretty much write your own ticket!
Good luck to all!
Pappy
36 year Veteran Driver