I'm new to Trucking!

This thread will tell you about inverters.
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...t/137298-power-inverters-on-swift-trucks.html

Louisiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma have the cheapest cigs I have found, but I am a regional driver. Generally cheaper at Pilots in Texas.

 

I could probably go on less than a 100 a week if I was really frugal about it.

Course, I buy my two weeks worth of cigs before I head out and usually enough soda and some munchie-type food along with that for my two weeks out.

Then of course, there's tolls that don't us EZ-pass (I just paid 22.50 to get over the Macinaw bridge two weeks ago) and scale tickets. Yeah you get it back, but it still seems like money you're spending.

As for cigs, I've stopped buying them. Went to little cigars. I buy Santa Fe's. Hard to find when I'm OTR. Most Pilots and Flying J's I haven't seen them. I get mine from my hometown truckstop, usually they're 2.89 a pack. Last time I bought them from the Chicago North TA in Zion, IL, they were 2.09 a pack.

 

I don't eat or drink anything...smoking will kill you...bout all I spend any loot on is for a six pack...I like to throw the mt's at peeps who cut me off....don't even buy ice...I just drink it hot. So I'd say you can get buy on about 50 bucks a week...

 

1. I use that test site as well. Very good site.
2. You can survive on that. I did for less than that, actually when I got my fridge.
3. Wouldn't know. I like myself!
4. Technically, I don't think you can have one at all. But you can buy the fridge and TV that plugs directly into the auxiliary/lighter receptacles.

 

Oregon's prices aren't too bad for tobacco. Best price I've found was at the Bannock Indian Reservation just north of Pocatello, ID. And I like myself just fine, DCWiseguy.

Swift will not allow large, hard-wired inverters in their company trucks unless you need it for a CPAP. I have a little 400W CLA plug-in inverter that doesn't see a tremendous amount of use. But I don't have a refrigerator or a TV.

And welcome to the team!

 

I didn't use a site for pre-tests as I didn't know about them.

You should do well on the 150 a week once you're on you're own truck. You may have a mentor who doesn't use a fridge or doesn't like to stop at grocery stores instead of truck stops. That will run up your expenses during your training period.

A few helpful hints on cutting food costs in a truck: grocery stores not truck stops. Buy your sodas and water in bulk. When you enter a grocery store grab a sales flyer and see what fresh produce and meats they have on sale. Plus stores will often have lunch meats, tuna etc on sale. Get either a slow cooker or a lunch box cooker and cook your own hot meals instead of eating out.

As to the inverter: welcome to our club of no inverters. LOL With good adapters you'll be fine with the laptop and tv. Buy a cooler with 12 volt plug and you're good to go.

As for cigs: I have no idea as I don't smoke but I do know I got a good deal on hershey bars at that same Bannock Indian Reservation by Pocatello. LOL

 

Are inverters of any kind allowed, do you know? I use a 400W just to charge my cellphone. And that is all I use it for. And it is just plugged into the cigarette lighter spot.

 

Yes, small plug in inverters are ok. Don't leave them plugged in at the shop as someone may take it. Carry a spare 12v socket/cig lighter in your parts kit so when the old one wears out (1-4 months, loose connections) you can swap it out.

I used a 100w plug in that was fine for cell phone, headsets, laptop and DVD player charging. Not all at once of course. My old Shaker had 3 12v ports: 1 up front, 1 in the bunk and 1 over the tv area. I bought a heavy duty 12v plug and swapped the tv one so I could use a 12v coffee pot. That was the one that saw the heaviest use for me.