Families living OTR

When you say "seat belt" I'd like to clarify that, a truck equipped with a double bunk can legally have four occupants. The driver, the passenger in the jump seat and one on each bed as long as the bed is equipped with restraints. i.e: a net or something along those lines designed for the bunk. It's the companies that don't allow that many people in the vehicle for insurance reasons. I have seen this numerous times, mainly by owner operators that are much younger and live in the truck because they have spent their life savings on getting that truck and keeping the wheels turning.

 

I was just repeating what a Florida dot officer told me a few years ago when I asked cause my Lil one wanted to go along for a ride and no way momma ess gonna be left behind. While I'd never want to cram the three of us in this truck for any length of time, I was considering a short round trip, maybe to Atlanta or Savannah. Basically just an over night run and back the next evening. Anyway, the officer told me two people. That's it. Granted, officers have made mistakes in the past, but he seemed to know what he was talking about. Told me what section in the book I could find the ruling. I believed him and never bothered to look it up myself.

 

I doubt any parents will be willing to expose themselves in this climate of government child snatchers. Government not happy if you bring up children in anyway other than approved indoctrination centers.

 

He didn't know what he was talking about. Heck there are training companies that train teams together with three adults in the truck.

As far as the OP, it's been done before. Typically in a big sleeper trucks that have bathrooms, showers and other conveniences of modern life. I wouldn't expect to be a hard runner in this setup either, more like a paid tourist type job.

 

There is a Facebook group Trucking with children, or something to that effect. There is an online curriculum that most of those families follow to make sure their kids are getting gubmint approved learnin'.

There was a family who raised their young daughters on a sailboat that I used to follow periodically. It was fascinating, they picked a different continent each season and their kids were all over the world by the time they were like 10.

 

The several families I have seen over the yrs would be better classified as rolling homeless. Worse I seen was folks,3 kids, 2 dogs and a nanny goat. Had a bail of hay strapped on the catwalk. Poor kids were very lean and looked starved. The were also wearing dirty clothes and were barefoot in a TA parking lot.
I don't think this was a home schooled bunch of kids but I bet they did learn that living in a FLD was not such a good life. On the other hand,they didn't beg and the boys offered to work for money. Cleaning glass,polishing wheels, sweeping trailers. Not sure they were living the good life.

 

Me and my wife did it for 3.5 years solo and team with two kids. Imho it strengthened our family and the kids saw the country

 

My daughter is now 40 years old but she was raised in a truck until she started public school. Her education was so far advanced when she did start school. She already had history lessons and had been in almost every state. She knew the capitals of the states. Many opportunities to teach a child on the road. Education does not only come in a classroom. She would help with trip planning, this was before all the technology. She was able to navigate on a map with a little help. She knew north, south, east and west.
Since she was raised this way from the beginning, she pretty much fit right in with our routine for bathroom breaks.
We did have a dorm refrigerator and a microwave in the truck. Always had food on hand. We even carried a small grill and when weather was nice we would grill our food.
She had a few barbies and books in the truck. We would read every night. While traveling she preferred to watch out the window and we would play games about what we saw. We didn't have TV, video games or movies back then in trucks so she didn't pick up those habits.
We have always been owner operators so we didn't have a company tell us we couldn't take her.
If I had it to do again, I would do it in a heartbeat. We are still a very close family and she still prefers to be with us than others. She is a very successful adult now and very independent. She remembers being in the truck and still wants to ride when she can. She now helps her Dad with the Accounting part of trucking, so she is still involved. She is also always right there working on the truck every chance she gets. She can turn some wrenches and knows how to do the mechanic work. Could probably out mechanic almost any other trucker these days.
Mona Turner

 

If my wife and kids got in the passenger door I would hope they could drive the thing because I'd be jumping out of my door!

Nuff said.

 

Whenever I see a family getting out of a truck with 2 or more kids and a wife, the first thing I wonder is why they would risk not having everybody in seat belts. I don't let them ride in a car without them, and I sure wouldn't let them ride in my rig without them.