Just Some Questions About Starting Out in trucking?

As a parting shot, we should go back to 1975.

All of the issues facing trucking in a negative way will disappear today.

 

When you ask how you stay awake and ask if you can have a gaming system or tv in the truck, there is a problem to me. Forget the gaming system, forget the tv, and get in the routine of resting when stopped, even if you bored out of your mind.

 

Never had a TV or games in the truck. I'm not into them at home either so it makes it a real easy decision for me. But if you are....think about how much stuff you want to be moving from one truck to another when your unit goes down for repairs for a week, or they assign you a different one, or god forbid you have to take a bus home. Or you take five days off that turns into 15 for medical or family reasons and your possessions are looted by whoever cleaned out your truck and you have zero recourse. Same goes for a refrigerator for me. I did fine without one for years...company I am with now has them in their trucks but I hardly use it and definitely wouldn't buy my own to lug around.
I'm always looking for things I can take OUT of the truck and do without, rather than add to what I do roll with. I can get everything out of a truck and into the same storage areas, etc. in another unit in about an hour... I'd like to cut that in half.

As for getting sleepy...I do 600 to 650 miles a night 6 days running. I have to stop for a nap maybe once a month tops. Not an issue because I sleep during my breaks...I don't look for other things to do. I sleep better in the truck than anywhere else.

 

Don't buy too many things when you are new since over time you'll realize you may never use them. I bought a folding ladder and a collapsible bin for shaving when I was new and never used them. I say make sure to have a mallet, bungie cords, crow bar, bolt cutters, and a laptop to start.

 

Some people do just fine with a bible and a deck of cards for entertainment. Others not so much.

Seems like you will be in the other category.

First, you will need a power inverter on the truck to power your gaming rig. What you will need will depend on the rig. Find out what the gaming rig needs for PEAK power.

You also want sine wave power NOT square wave power for good electronics, OR a Uninterruptible Power Supply battery with voltage regulation.

Kenworth T680 trucks have a very nice rotating desk setup and mounting platform for a monitor or TV. You might not get a Kenworth though, unless you go to a company that exclusively owns Kenworths.

I have a Freightliner. It has a piece of garbage pull-out shelf desk, so I also keep a small card table I bought at Wal-Mart in the truck.

When I have time, I set up the card table, then my laptop, and game.

To be honest, I believe your greatest potential problem is your work/sleep habits.

If you have issues staying awake, then you have a medical issue, or you need more sleep.

Personally, I can reliably drive a full day without any tiredness issues after 4+ hours sleep, provided that I have been getting 4+ hours sleep regularly.

I try to get at least 6 hours sleep, just to be safe, and pad my sleep buffer.

But I am closer to 50 than 40, and people generally need less sleep as we get older.

Part of what your trainer should be doing when you get on the road is watching you for tiredness. Building up driving endurance is a real thing. Most new drivers have issues driving for several hours without stopping, at least for a little while.

You will need to better understand your body's schedule and needs in order to get into a solid, productive driving schedule.

Working 16 hours then driving a few miles home is, mentally speaking, a long, long way from working a 14 hour day, with 11 of those hours on the road.

Best of luck!