Live out of the Truck? (how many are able) ? ? ? ?

Setting monetary goals helped me endure being otr. Without setting goals we all lose hope on any path we take.

 

ive 'lived' in my truck from time to time. but that was a while ago before I got married to wife #2.......

After a lot of trial and error, I was able to make my sleeper a decent home. Got a good inverter for a fridge and microwave. Had an electric grill and frying pan for cooking. Got a tv and antenna for television, decent number of free stations out there ......I would also explore my surroundings whenever I had the chance. Id hike, rent a car, take a cab (uber and lyft nowadays ). If I needed a 34, I tried to make the most of it, sometimes I'd use Priceline to find a decent hotel near the things I wanted to see and do and go stay there for my 34......I stayed out for almost a year and a half one time, I stopped by my parents house for Christmas and that was really about it......but I will say this, after that year and a half, I was done with that truck and done with the road for a little while, I took a gig as a bartender for about 3 months just to relax, that's where I met my wife, and ever since I've done local, regional, or expedite so I am home more often.

I was able to Bank about 25k that year and a half, used that to buy a cheap car, and rent an apartment, and some furniture and what not......it was worth it in the end purely from a financial view....not worth it on a personal level as I would get "lonely"....if you know what i mean

 

What companies do you guys recommend to stay out on the road with? Non-stop driving...until your forced rest time and resets.
I am planning on starting soon and want to get into a On The Road situation. I just wanna drive and make good money.

 

I see this posting is one year old but I will respond... As you can read here... lots of people do it without any problem.
I have been living in a truck (high ceiling Freightliner) for 10 yrs now and still like it very much.
I stay on the road for months at a time... 3 to 4 months and then take one week off at a hotel in TN where I have a personal vehicle and can safely park the truck. Then, I get to check my PO Box, run some errands, see doctors if necessary, do some shopping, etc.
I love OTR cause I like to be constantly on the move and going to different places all the time.
Solitude doesn't bother me at all cause I was raised pretty much in solitude... and lived most of my life in solitude. I am originally from another country. Don't have any family in America... my only family is my dad who lives abroad. I see and talk to him via Whatsapp....
Also, I can save a lot of money by living in a truck. Don't have a house, no rent or utilities to pay... and I also cook in the truck.
One of the inconveniences is that I don't get quick access to doctors and/or dentists... can't afford getting sick.... There was a time when I had dental problems on the road... Kept taking antibiotics and had to take cabs to various dental offices in different cities for some evaluation till I was able to get to a great dentist at a truck stop on IA-80 and he did a quick root canal....
There are some other minor inconveniences.. like having to get dressed and walk the whole parking lot in a truck stop on a cold raining (or snowing) night to go to the restroom if necessary... But that doesn't happen very often as I carry all that I need to take care of those situations in the truck.
It would be perfect if there were a restroom and a sink and running water in the cab.... but other than that, my cab here is my home sweet home and I have all that I need to feel comfortable.
The other inconvenience is that I can't go just everywhere I want while on the road. But it's all a matter of planning ahead. If I need, I can park the truck somewhere and call a cab....
Another inconvenience about this OTR is that quality of life is not the best it could be IMO.... there's no steady routine... I may drive all night... or drive all day.... schedules change constantly... my biological clock is kinda "used" to irregularity.. but it's not really healthy... Also, I can't eat all that I want and when I want... I am vegetarian and cook in the truck... however, due to the small space I have, and the size of the cooler and the lack of a real kitchen and the time constraints so forth and so on, I can't eat as healthy as I would if I were in a house and working regular hrs.
Also, I don't get to exercise as much as I would like cause most of my time is sitting and driving... or laying down and sleeping...
I aged 5 yrs or so since I started trucking... more wrinkles, more gray hair, dark circles under my eyes, etc, etc...
I could take it easy if I wanted... if I were not the hard runner that I am.... some drivers in my company don't run as hard and take time to rest some more and stop for meals, etc, etc.... and they have a family and a house where they go to every other week or so....

 

@Rocks - where are you from in Tennessee? I was born & raised in Robertson County.

 

I'm not from TN... just take my "hotel time" there 4 times a year.... have a vehicle and a storage unit there... I'm originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

 

No income taxes in Tennessee; nice state overall. Best wishes.

 

You got it... Also, nice weather all year long... and lots of freight and trucking companies...

 

And if you want too heat up water in your microwave or have a ecotemp to heat up water; but, you’d have to safely be able to have a propane tank..

 

I’ve been living in my Western Star for 6 months and I have got it set up pretty livable with the passenger seat removed and replaced with a swivel chair and foldable table for dining.

Biggest thing these trucks need and every manufacturer accept Volvo ignores , is this need for a dining / sitting area.

My Western Star has a fairly good sized refrigerator/freezer mounted up high so easy access some real practical storage with drawers.

We have a brand new Cascadia I looked at that you couldn’t give to me.

Tiny refrigerator mounted low on the floor and tons of ill thought out storage.

Stupid inverter mounted under the bunk with no holes to route cords to it.