Home time without having a 'home'?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by ursus, Nov 22, 2010.

  1. ursus

    ursus Light Load Member

    75
    26
    Nov 18, 2010
    Indiana
    0
    I have spent the last couple of weeks researching making the jump into a career of a truck driver. This site seems to be a wealth of information and it has been quite 'eye-opening'.
    Now from this research it seems that due to no experience it will be necessary to go OTR. It also appears that especially during the 1st year that my 'home time' will be quite limited. Possibly as little as 20-30 days home in the 1st year.
    Now the lack of home time does not worry me in the least. I am single without children and soon going to be moving from my current location irregardless of the possible career change.
    What I am curious about is the need to maintain an apartment or other permanent residence that I will not have the chance to use while driving OTR.
    Are there drivers out there who don't maintain a typical 'home'?
    What I am thinking of doing is renting a storage unit and a PO box for the 1st year or so while OTR and reevaluate the situation when I have more experience to possibly to get a more local position.
    Some off the cuff math seems to put renting a hotel-room somewhere for my home time a good bit cheaper then trying to maintain an apartment I might not hardly see the inside of. Plus I would think I would be able to use my home time in different areas of the country, say somewhere warm in the colder months and somewhere cooler in the summer.
    Has anyone ran a few years OTR without an actual home? Are there problems trying to set-up something like this?
    Thanks
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. FLATBED

    FLATBED Road Train Member

    Quite a few do it in the way your thinking. Big thing is to get a POSTAL address for all the goverment stuff that we require ,
     
  4. RobertSmith

    RobertSmith Medium Load Member

    One way to deal with the mail address. IF you have a relative, parent, anyone you can use there address. This is also nice cuz they can read you important mail, maybe even scan/email it to you, and toss crap mail, making going there to check your mail not important.
     
  5. Jarhed1964

    Jarhed1964 Road Train Member

    2,827
    1,562
    Jun 22, 2007
    Charlotte, NC
    0
    Best deal I've EVER seen for a place to have your mail sent ("home") while driving.

    Google:

    Trucker Home Base
     
  6. chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

    5,653
    3,485
    Jun 21, 2008
    Deland, FL
    0
    My wife and I did for over seven years. Worked out pretty well! Make sure that you give yourself at least three months before selling your place. You may end up hating it (or loving it!)! Another good suggestion is try to sell most of your stuff. We did the storage thing for a year and it ended up costing more than the stuff we stored was worth.
     
  7. Rocks

    Rocks Road Train Member

    14,899
    61,077
    Jan 13, 2008
    Somewhere
    0
    I have been driving for a little over 2 and half years. No home any more. Don't want any. No family. Love the road, love the nomadic life and enjoy living in the truck. I used to rent an apt. After 6 months, moved out, put all my things in a storage (much cheaper). I stay 2 months on the road and take "hometime" where the the co. main terminal is cause then, they can fix whatever in the truck while I get in my car and run my errands and recharge at a hotel. My id is from GA and so is my car registration and insurance (that all goes together). Company needed one physical address for tax purposes. So, I gave them my friend's address in Ga. Didn't want to change everything, a lot of hassle plus Hazmat and all that... :biggrin_25512: I have a P.O. Box where co. is so when I take "hometime" I can check my mail. And the co. main terminal is only 2 hrs from GA.
     
  8. Rocks

    Rocks Road Train Member

    14,899
    61,077
    Jan 13, 2008
    Somewhere
    0
    Would like to sell a lot of my stuff too... But how? I'm always on the road... Will have to find a way. I am too getting tired of spending money just to keep stuff that I don't want, don't use any more and may never use it again...
     
  9. frdr

    frdr Medium Load Member

    498
    205
    Aug 25, 2007
    houston, tx.
    0
    Try one of those auction places. Tell them your situation. They could probably sell everything for you.
     
    Rocks Thanks this.
  10. elliott

    elliott Light Load Member

    102
    30
    Sep 3, 2007
    0
    In theory that makes sense, but with the company that you're going to have to start with (one of the sorry mega-carriers that won't care anything about you personally), it will be unlikely. Maybe someone will come on here saying they do that all the time, but chances are slim. But, you are correct in your thinking with the rest of your post. Good luck.
     
  11. YankeeTexan

    YankeeTexan Light Load Member

    222
    194
    Jan 1, 2009
    Houston, Tx
    0
    Just pick a state with no state income tax. Why pay taxes if you don't have to.:biggrin_255:
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.