"FREE TIME" Questions

Most of the time when a driver pulls into a rest area it is strictly to hit the facilities and get rolling again. If you're not driving and not in the dock, you are usually so dog tired you don't have the energy to do much else.

 

>>>>but what do you do during your off time- when forced to rest or awaiting load, or just off,

If not home, post here!

This is first time I've had to sit for more than a day, I'm going a lil crazy, but then I started a lil crazy so we'll see how far it goes!

 

I used to sit a lot back in the 70's when hauling produce. Now you can't afford to sit around... when I have a few hours to wait I sleep.

If you are laying around truck stops you are working for the wrong people.

 

burned movies for cheap are your friend--and books --and sleep---i cant stand being laid over--usually its rare--only from friday night to sunday afternoon

 

Watching TV/DVDs or surfing the internet is probably the most common activity, other than driving and sleeping. Driving and sleeping are almost all there is time to do, such that sleeping is the first thing or only thing that can be sacrificed so the driving can happen. Some days asking what a truck driver does during his free time is like asking a drowning man what does he do when he's not clawing at the water to keep his nose above the surface. The free time is so infrequent, often a surprise that happens in a place you never expected to be at with no notice, that your options are to look out the window and see if there is something to do or look in the truck and see what you can do for the next X hours, or until some unknown time in the future when someone decides they are ready for you. Think of a new doctor doing his 48 hour shift, except the shift is closer to 5-7 days. When it's not absolutely required you be up and working you have lots of missed sleep to try and find. The best is when you waste a hole afternoon waiting around because the shipper/receiver/shop will be ready for you in "30 minutes". Not the next 30 minutes, and not the 30 minutes after that, or after that, or after that... until it's quitting time for the people you are waiting on and then you have an unexpected overnight to kill.

 

Alot of it depends if they are waiting for dispatch.

Most use qualcomm for the dispatch and if out of your truck, you do not see the notification.

The last company I was at would not call on the phone for a dispatch. Only by qualcomm.

 

I spend my time either on the computer, reading, crocheting an afghan for my bed, or waiting for the satcom to go off....absolutely HATE being stuck in the truck waiting for that "Beep".

 

My jail cell is equipped with all the amenities. I could charge admission, lol.

On a rare occassion, like twice a year, I carry fishing gear and might drop a line. I might even stop at a casino. I might grill out. Depends on the mood, location and circumstance.

Other times I'll take the dogs on a walk through the woods.