Finally Quit Trucking.

Texas also has those picnic areas you can use, I think I used one of them off the 287? dont have a map to see if thats the right route, I know I was headed towards Amarillo

Be warned you might not get cell service, I had 1 bar and could not get internet or anything but I was out of my 14 to keep moving.


We need more places to park in some areas, instead of adding rules after rules get us more parking first. It sucks when you pre plan to make a stop at a rest area or something and then come to it and see its closed. California is one of the worst who closed a lot of rest areas.

I wouldnt mind just seeing them clear out some big dirt areas along long stretches of highway just to park, they dont need to spend money building fancy restrooms, planting tree's and grass etc, I just want somewhere to park at times....

 

I agree about California. My wife hates that a lot of their rest areas are closed. What also sucks about that state is that not all of their interstates have mile markers.

 

Well that brought back memories, running from Phoenix to Vegas in the middle of July listening to the hum of that fan on the dash, boy was that refreshing.

 

@stuckinatruck Well, You gave it a year, I appreciate that. Hopefully with a little time you may remember "at least" a few nice things. Adios

Myself? I have been off the road for a few months and itchin to get back at it. Got an ap in and looks like I might be back in the saddle soon poppin gears! Whew, cant wait....
My list of pros and cons:
1. I miss adding a good BBQ joint to eat at to "The List".
2. I dont miss that moment when Im just fallin asleep.....eeeeevvVROOOOM! ##@$!in reefer.
3. I miss the shadow chasing me on the shoulder at sunrise/sunset.
4. I dont miss the truck stops(there might be one or two..I do)
5. I miss the money.
6. I dont miss the four wheelers-and could someone please explain to me whats wrong with the ####### driving PT cruisers!?(besides it being a nasty car..)
7. I miss waking up after a good dead sleep, staring out the window trying to remember-where am I?
8. I dont miss driving in Arkansas. ..freakin nut jobs and no where to park after five..
9. I miss a good long hard work week of gettin it done checkin into a motel with food and poppin a cap on a cold beer...then passing out.
10. I dont miss accounting for every minute of my freaking life.
11. I miss seeing and talking to some of the good people out there Ive met over the years...
12. I dont miss a good brake check and coming to a complete stop....ugh.(sure glad I just peed b4)
13. I miss sharing piks to family and friends on the facebook of the places I go to.

...well, I could go on but thats a good bakers dozen. Everybody be safe and take care out there.

 

As I recall that BLM solar application was pulled/denied, but I have not been in that area in a few years.

I was thinking Hyundai made the Honda track part of the Diamond West project, but that could have been a separate proving ground.

Thanks for the reply.

 

no idea, I know hyundai has been around the area for several years but I have never been to their testing area only Hondas, I know the contractor I was part of also contracts to Hyundai

 

The first year is the hardest. You gave a very accurate description of a truck drivers life. I'm in my second year. Started out in reefers like you did. Never thought I would take that massive of a pay cut right out of the army! Then I got offered a job by a friend who had just bought a truck. That pos kept breaking down and getting me tickets at the scales because my friend never gave a crap about maintaining his equipment. Finally got out of that pos and landed a job hauling salt water in the oil field. The oil field was awesome! Of course it didn't last so back on the road with limited options do to having so many failed inspections on my buddies crappy truck that he refused to fix. So back in a sleeper truck with a reefer trailer hating life with little bs pennies per mile that add up to squat. I am going to reapply to the Texas State Troopers again when I get off the road this time. I went through the whole hiring process while I was in the army and had an academy date lined up then suddenly changed my mind and went to trucking school. I am regretting that decision now. It's either otr for pennies a mile with some big fleet for the next couple of years until the points go away or quit while I'm ahead and do something else. So I hear ye

 

There is no shortage of freight! Even if 100 drivers replace him there still wouldn't be enough drivers to move all the freight in this country. I think the driver shortage is great and hope a whole lot more quit! Maybe people will pull their heads out of their butts and start paying/treating drivers better. The average salary for a new driver is $35k a year. That's about $600 a week before taxes. Pretty sure I could make that delivering pizzas! Until that gets fixed there will continue to be high turnover rates. I would love to see this industry brought to its knees by a massive driver shortage. I pray one day I'll see empty shelves at WalMart because no drivers want to deal with those A-holes

 

The truck stops fill up at night. If it's late then it can sometimes be hard to find a place to park. If it's starting to get late and you still got time on your clock then you have two choices. Either shut down early when you know there are still open spots at the truck stop or keep pushing and pray there will be parking when your clock runs out. That's what he's talking about

 

Alot of companies have policies against parking on the side of the road. They call it "sitting duck" it's not really safe. I've never had any issues with rest areas. I've even parked in weigh stations. A scale house has truck parking and that's a "safe haven" the DOT guys are usually cool about it and won't bother you.