Excited to be attending TMC Orientation on 2/25/2013

I know first hand how a wife forces you to make decisions you don't want to make, it sucks but I told mine never again and she did it to me twice. Anyway on the question of a ride to the hotel from the bus station, call the hotel and they will send the van over or order u a taxi no biggy.
any questions at all ask and by all means ill answer, good luck with TMC they really are the best out there.

 

Papa,
What are you doing now?

 

This is very true. Trucking can be a grind on the whole family and takes some time to adjust to. It's not an easy occupation and has lead to many a divorce. TMC does a good job of getting you home if you put yourself in a position to get home. Thats where the grind comes in. Trucking can be very rewarding, but family comes first.

Good Luck!

 

I have to ask, Do you think it will be any different this time around than it was a year ago? Or are you both more prepared that until you get into a routine for separation anxiety.

 

Didn't go digging back into that far.

I just know I was in a similar situation with my ex-wife. (divorced 10 years later not as a result of trucking)

Communication is critical on both parts. Please don't think I am trying to just be difficult, but the reality is, long distance relationships REALLY strain a marriage. My experience has been she thinks you are out catting around every second you are away and then the trouble starts. Friends have similar issues as well.

Then there is the reality of money for eating while on the road. Figure $10-12 PER MEAL (includes tip) and at least one good meal a day, sometimes two. That's $20-25 PER DAY and 20 days out is now $400-500 per month. I personally budget $600 for road food.

Yes, you can try to get a small cooler, fridge what not. But a hot cooked sit-down meal in reality is a touch of home and a moral booster. Military service has taught me that eating "pogey bait" for meals all the times really grinds you down. It's the same on the road. As well as difficult to manage a healthy diet that way.

Yes, it can be done, but it's another process to learn and teach yourself. On top of everything else you have to focus on. Another stresser. I find it easier to just eat off the salad bar and enjoy the meal.

 

I'd have to politely disagree with your statement about food on the road. Yes if you eat out every day it's going to get expensive. BUT do you eat out every day at home? Doubt it. If you have an inverter in your truck you can cook anything in the truck you can cook at home. I've been truckin for a year now and I spend about $10 a month eating out. I have a microwave, toaster oven, refrigerator, and a crock pot. With a little research you can make about anything in a crock pot. Some of the things I've made in my truck is meatloaf (crock pot), roast (crock pot), chicken cordon blu (toaster oven), many variations of burritos (microwave/crock pot), chicken and rice (microwave), mashed potatoes (microwave), baked potatoes (microwave), chicken sandwiches (toaster oven).... My point is you can make a lot and save even more. There are all kinds of very easy, very good, meals that can be made in a microwave (and I'm not talking TV dinners). I stay out about a month at a time and spend roughly $90 on food before I head out. AND, in 5 years I'm not going to be that 400lb trucker sliding his belly across the TA buffet bar.

 

Disagree with my choice all you want. I tried eating that packaged crap. It wasn't until I stopped eating that nasty prepackaged stuff I would feel better.

Not all companies will allow an inverter. Not do I trust a 12 volt cooler to SAFELY store food. Neither have I invested in a $500-600 refrigerator.


Before you #### me for not cooking in the truck, why don't you also share how much you have invested in all that wonderful cooking and food storage.

Not do I care for the mess cooking and eating and all that creates in the truck. I also use my meals as a forced departure from the truck.

And honestly, yes, we do eat out considerably at home.

We track our expenses in quicken. What we have found is our food bill is about the same eating out or eating in. We also noticed when we buy groceries, we toss a lot of food that spoils when we only cook for one or two. And that even with freezing let overs.

Share your experiences, but don't #### others for their choices.