My assumption finally came true and I received my lay off date. It doesn’t surprise me. I was able to read between the lines. The only hold up was that our union was in the middle of a contract agreement with the city and they couldn’t get out of it. So, I received a lay off notice for October of 2021 when the contract ends. When that happens, I’ll be leaving this god awful state (California) and hope to start a hotshot business. You guys have been super helpful so far so maybe you’ll allow me to pick your brain some more.
How many of you sleep in the truck as opposed to hotels? If sleeping in the truck, do you idle for air/heat or use some other system? Sleeping in the truck seems like it would be real old, real fast. But, hotels can lack parking and are expensive. What have you done? What system works best for you? How has your experience been idling the truck for the night/day?
thanks for the time.
In truck sleeping vs hotel
Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by AndrewW, Aug 14, 2020.
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I sleep in my truck. I limit my idling to about half an hour at most at a time to cool/heat the cab. These new trucks hate idling. I had a reset in jacksonville last summer. Was about 100 degrees and I idled a lot. After about 5 hours I got the check engine light and the def system light and the truck had less than 10,000 miles on it. That was the last time I idled more than 30 mins. Luckily the lights went away after cruising at highway speeds for about 30 minutes.
I've been looking for an AC that would run on a 2k watt generator and won't take up so much space for months and no luck so far. I have a battery operated 8 inch fan that can run all night on a charge now and I make do. 30 minutes before I go to sleep I turn on the AC to full blast for 30 minutes and then run the fan all night.
I don't want to find or pay for a hotel every night that has parking for a semi.
If I had to do it all over again I'd shell out for a single axle semi sleeper with an APU.
My current setup:
Last edited: Aug 14, 2020
Itsbrokeagain, Texas_hwy_287, austinmike and 2 others Thank this. -
Yelp that is the setup. I carried a 3500 watt gen. with a portable A/C and did not idle. A few times in the winter idle all night when in the single digits, of course older 7.3 powerstroke without new junk. I now use Points with Super 8 and get a discount when I stay out. Used the fuel points for showers. Staying in the truck gets old fast. After a while human smell lingers.
singlescrewshaker and 24kHotshot Thank this. -
You might want to consider a mini split.
singlescrewshaker Thanks this. -
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singlescrewshaker and Lite bug Thank this.
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tommymonza, singlescrewshaker and Lite bug Thank this.
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Now if you are leaving California and starting a hot shot business best to relocate to area that has the most opportunities. This will be up for debate as each region has pros and cons. I read something stating “ in order to be successful in the hotshot business stay north of Hot Lanta east of the Big Muddy and stay out of the Northeast “ there is a lot of truth to that statement as this is where a lot of manufacturing takes place. Wherever you to go it is important to be near outbound freight.
Freight Dog Wanna Be, tommymonza and singlescrewshaker Thank this. -
Most hotshot guys sleep in their truck I’d guess. Hotels are a pain in the butt and expensive.
USMC '74-'78 Semper Fi, tommymonza, Lite bug and 1 other person Thank this. -
Lite bug and singlescrewshaker Thank this.
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