Perks Of The Job?

Had a delivery in the a suburb of the DC area, got there on sunday at 8am didnt have to deliver until 9am monday. So I grabbed the train and went to the capitol for the day, that is one place everyone should see before they die. Another time, same thing had to deliver in Buffalo NY didnt have to pick up next load in Alden NY about 20 minutes away till the next day at noon. So after I delivered the place I was at said I could spend the night there again, so parked er and rented a car and motored up and spent the day in Niagara Falls. Dont always have time to do it but I would try and plan my routes and figure out if I was gonna be by anywhere cool or something I wanted to check out. Ive walked around downtown chicago, went around san fran and went on alcatraz island, and visited family in costa mesa CA. Those are the perks that I would look for. Another perk is just to see some of the things we all see on the road, from neat sunsets, cool mountains, and just the nice things that god has painted the earth with.

 

Got to donate two cases of prime beef to a homeless shelter, it was rejected by the receiver, (overage).

Get to visit family all over the country as we pass through their way, which we otherwise probably wouldn't see, if hubby weren't a driver.

Got my first taste of REAL Cajun food, from a real Cajun place in New Orleans, which would NEVER have happened, if hubby weren't a driver.

Ate the best, and BIGGEST avocados I've ever seen, when we delivered to Florida last year.

Got to spend a weekend in Branson this summer, and went to Silver Dollar City.

So many, many other things...sun rises in the deserts of AZ & NM...sunsets in Oregon...seeing a space shuttle take off at night in FL(this was years ago, when I was a driver...pulled over to the side of the interstate, climbed on top of the load of steel, and took pics of this...it was INCREDIBLE!!)

While this lifestyle isn't for everyone, we completely enjoy it, and take full advantage of all the GOOD things/sights/places we come across...even on a BAD day, (which can be many, it seems at times!)

But, all in all, we are happy, and happy to be doing what we do!

Judi Kay

 

brinkj23, I'm thinking about renting a car during my free times on the road, will the rental car company pick you up from say... a truck stop... if you call them? I know the commercial says,"We'll pick you up". I guess the alternative is to take a taxi to rental car company...
Thanks

 

Yeah the one I used in San Francisco came and picked me up from the shippers parking lot I was at and also brought me back there. I always use hertz seem to be to cheapest US wide and also the easiest to work with. I always just made sure to have the address of the place I was getting picked up an dropped off at just cause ive noticed sometimes there "drivers" arent the smartest or well known of the area. Ive had these guys ask me how do I get there or where am I going, im like uhh im from minnesota so this is how I got here or this is the address.

 

That sounds good, thanks for the advice..

 

I`ve brought home every kind of fresh produce imaginable,well thinking about it I`d have to say that I`ve brought home just about everything edible thats been left over or damaged.Never sold any groceries if I was headed near the house.Cornish game hens,steaks,turkeys,etc.I`ve been given gallons of pickles ,relish,etc. from most of the customers I hauled cucumbers to.My favorites were the ones made in the boroughs of NYC.

Anytime I`ve layed over for a weekend I`ve tried to see the sights and meet new people.I`ve been invited to parties across the country and have met good folks everywhere.You haven`t really lived until you`ve partied the new year in with strangers in New Hampshire.Extensively explored the Rio Grande Valley,Got my truck stuck in the sand TWICE on South Padre Island.
Sometimes I find map out state highways to avoid the interstate,kill time or just to break the monotomy.Sometimes it works out great,other times it just works out.lol.If you`re riding in southern Louisiana and see a warning sign for a pontoon bridge-pay attention.(almost got wet that time!)
I`ve taken trucks to my kids schools for career day.That was one of my favorite times,even if(or maybe because) it seemed to irritate the grownups when I let the kids blow the horn after they got an apple and a carton of milk from inside .
Jmurman-"when life hands you lemons..." has kept me sane for most of my trucking years.

 

That was just totally cool of you.