Besides driving, driving related, sleeping and eating time how much time do you have

Get a folding bicycle and carry it inside the truck; not on the catwalk outside. Ride it for excercise and to get to the malls for goofing off, etc. Make sure you have a strong chain lock to secure it at the malls.

 

Well you have unload and load times where it may take awhile, so that s some time where you could go online, walk take a nap, etc. Sometimes the shipper or receiver may come to you and say it may be awhile and they will call you when you re loaded or empty. You can drop your trailer and bobtail to run errands like to Walmart, food, etc. Not to mention, on your 10 hr break, as long as you log 8 consecutive hrs in sleeper, you have 2 hrs to do whatever. Also there may be times when you get a 34 hr restart

 

This " spare time " phenomenon you speak of, i'm unfamiliar with.
For example :
My appointment got whack a moled today, well on the 31st. Was supposed to be at 9am. DENIED. Receiver said it was 9:00am on the 1st. So dispatch goes strait to panic CYA mode since they F/U it up. New appointment 3:00PM. Receiver says no 4:30 when i'm back at the window at about 2:00. Get to a door 7:30. Empty at 10:30. Yea fun one.
So since I'd run hard last two days, I grab some snooze. You can't really stray away during all the confusion so you kinda wonder about and ratchet jaw with the other drivers.
Got home. Scanned bills, scales, etc. Did log, IFTA sheet. Take down Christmas lights tomorrow, watch Walking Dead. Truck is good, but some shopping for supplies, off to Washington Sunday morning at 8AM.

 

Except for the rare days that it takes forever to get loaded or unloaded, I have plenty of time to put some food in my lunchbox stove, get on the internet to update my blog, and then play some Fallout 4. I still usually have 8 or more hours to sleep with all of that going on.

 

Then, before you know it, 10years of your life is gone.. You OTR drivers need to make a little time for fun! All work no play = Watse of your life.. Been there and done that! <<smh>>

 

Some drivers just don t have a life period.

 

Depends on your perspective. I think trucking takes a lot of effort. There are so many different things that always need to be done.
Some people thrive on this. Some aren't up to the task.
I've also had no money, and I've had money. Having money is much better.
Going into Petro and grinding on a giant plate of bacon & potatoes, topped with a giant mug of high powered coffee, then trucking down the highway is bliss.
Why do I want to do anything else?

 

Thanks for being part of the problem of more regulations & enforcement,
for
your outlaw ways..May you plow through a stopped,red light a flashing,school bus loading up little kids while on your 16th driving hour in your 2nd logbook

 

Ya know I think I could safely put my mountain bike on my catwalk. I have my fifth wheel in next to last holes so everything balances, and there is a lot of room there.
I spaced off the cooler and it stayed back there for 300 or so miles one morning, not battened down, never budged an inch.

 

No need to log 8 hrs in sleeper. You can spend your 10 hrs off duty in the truck stop if you want. Some companies have there own policy of 8 hrs in sleeper but not required by dot.