Do any of you live 100% out of your truck?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Newbie1981, Aug 17, 2013.

  1. Newbie1981

    Newbie1981 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 17, 2013
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    I've read some things about employees having very little time at home. Do many truckers live completely in their trucks with no apartment or home to go to? If so, how do you manage it?
     
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  3. G/MAN

    G/MAN Road Train Member

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    I have had a few drivers who lived out of the truck. Some of them would get a motel room when they got tired of the truck, usually for a day or two. I have one driver who would occasionally rent a car and do some sightseeing. I don't think that I would personally want to live 100% out of the truck. I prefer having a home base. On the other hand, it would be a good way to bank some money and get rid of overhead, such as for rent and utilities. If you are not married and have few personal responsibilities, it would be an option.
     
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  4. Gold_Miner

    Gold_Miner Medium Load Member

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    I know one guy on here that is on the Swift forum that lives on his truck. Things to consider are where to get your mail sent. I would think you can get a mailbox at a UPS store, but most drivers licenses require a physical address.
     
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  5. CDL1968

    CDL1968 Medium Load Member

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    When I first got divorced I live 100% of the time in my truck for two (2) years.

    The first year was hard, long, and lonely.

    The second year was a lot better. I started being a tourist seeing the sights, exploring comedy clubs, and doing weekend excursions. At the end of the year I realized I made a lot of money. I parked the truck at the company yard got a ride to the airport in orlando and walked around until I found myself at the Hawaiin Airlines desk. I asked the lady how far I could travel w/o a passport and she said Pago Pago. 24 hours later I was there.

    I came back with a whole new out look on life and got a good job w/ an LTL carrier out of Tampa.

    The most important part of living 100% on the time in a truck is keeping yourself healthy both physically and mentally or you end up so out of shape you have to take 10 meds a day to live or you end up the trucker at the end of the counter talking to yourself.

    Some companies more of these drivers than others. I was working for Oakley Transport out of Lake Wales, FL at the time and there were a lot of drivers at that company the lived 100% of the time. More than any other company I have ever seen and they would allow to get mail at the HQ in Lake Wales.
     
  6. roadlt

    roadlt Medium Load Member

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    Not a bad idea at all. That first year would be a little rough. Got facebook and Skype, etc.. to keep in touch. Like you said though, got to have that exercise plan going on.
     
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  7. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    I don't know what it would be like lving in the trk with no place to call home except the trk.When im OTR I stay out a month then go home just to get away from the industry and trk for a few days.But if I didn't have a home I would be saving $50.00 a week for just in case money.Never know if your company will tell you this is your last day because they're closing its doors or you get fired.Anything could happen and you'll need that just incase money for a hotel till you find your next job.
     
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  8. roadlt

    roadlt Medium Load Member

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    The whole point in doing that is to save money! I'm considering it, you can use a family member's home as a home base. There are folks that do the live outta truck thing for a coule of year to build capital to buy homes etc... If you are in a position to do it and can handle it, it is not a bad idea. If you are saving money, then you should have the funds to cover expenses if you need to get off the road.
     
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  9. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    In trucking living on the road it still can be hard to save unless you team and you both share the expenses.With solo and starter companies its hard to save anything because the companies don't give the drivers the miles or the dreaded breakdowns.
     
  10. Glp

    Glp Medium Load Member

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    Living in your truck fulltime just sounds depressing
     
  11. roadlt

    roadlt Medium Load Member

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    It would have to be a two year plan, because, like an earlier poster said, that first year is going to be a little rough. A lot of things transpire over a two year period so you would definitely need a plan and a really tight budget, along with a back up plan, to the back up plan.
     
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