Making the money last

I've been out with a trainer for a while and I'm finding that my training pay isn't stretching very far. I won't get more until I'm in my own truck. I can't ask for money from home because my wife works two jobs. She is basically holding up the house right now.

My trainer doesn't like stopping. I hoped we could go to WalMart or even a Dollar Store once a week so I don't have to eat TS food. I had to sneak off to WalMart last week when we were at the terminal. He told me to just load up on food from the vending machines. I don't have a problem with him otherwise, but this food thing sucks. He acts like I make the same money he makes. When he stops, he goes to Safeway.

He has a fridge in his truck, but his food takes up most of it. He lets me use his water jug (as long as I fill it) and lunch box oven. He also has a small skillet and a coffee kettle. The problem is getting food. When we're rolling, we're rolling. He won't hear anything else unless we break down or he runs out of food.

The next opportunity I have to get to WalMart or a Family Dollar, what kind of a shopping list would you recommend that is cheap and might last a week? I don't need to eat meat very much, so that helps. The way we're set up, I don't know if I can cook dry rice or beans. I can soak them with water from the kettle, but a microwave or a sauce pan works better. Dry soups are easy enough. I don't want to spend a week eating just ramen, though.

I wish I could buy a stack of MREs for cheap.

 

No reason at all why your trainer cannot share his food with you.Afterall hes getting paid for his miles and the miles you drive.Vending machines are more expensive then shopping at Walmart if you think about it.Tell trainer if he wont stop then im eating your food,im not going to make my meals from vending machines.Let him read the posts.Listen here trainer,quit being so cheap,be a team player and help your trainee out.

 

Beanie weenies. $1.00 per can and you dont have to heat them up and the arent big either. Tuna packets and loafbof bread. Bag od apples or oranges, fruit that dont have to be cold. They have a jar now that has peanut butter and jelly mixed together and doesnt have to be cold. Get mayo packets from where you eat. If you have a microwave in the truck uncle bens has instant rice cups in different flavors that are pretty good. See if you fan order mres online and ship to terminal and pick the.lm up there.

 

You drive too, right? When you're driving, then you tell him that you're stopping when and where you please. If he doesn't like it, then perhaps you can have a conference call with him and his DM to get it ironed out. There's absolutely no reason that you can't take a few minutes to stop and purchase reasonably priced nutritious food.

I'd recommend canned foods in your situation. No need for refrigeration.

 

Tell your trainer he is control when "he" is in the drivers seat..when you are there "you" are in control...and if you need to stop and buy things you need you will stop....nothing wrong with standing you're ground...if he won't listen , report him......as far as stuff from walmart try buying canned soups , a loaf of bread some mayo/mustard , sandwich fixins... and maybe a small electric cooler that will plug into a lighter socket....lots of ways to eat cheap on the road. The main thing you need to to though is not let this hand/trainer push you around....that's not his job...

 

Get some of those Hormel complete meals... most Truck stops have a microwave you can use to heat them. They run around $2 to $2.50 each and do not need refrigeration.

 

Don't you drive the truck?

Don't you help do the schedule?

Are you a slave?

Pull into a store and get what YOU need to live on.

You don't have a problem with him otherwise? It shows he could care less about you except to make him money.

You see all these drivers saying the same thing?

I was a trainer and my charges NEVER had those complaints.

 

Buy things that don't need cooking: tuna in small cans, pork & beans, Campbells soup is pre-cooked and there are many varieties, crackers, peanut butter, boiled eggs.

Your trainer is a jerk; he knows exactly what he is doing to you. He's high on controlling you. You must be with one of those mega-refrigerated carriers.

 

I really despise trainers like that. I had 2 diff. trainers and they both tried to strong arm me at first. You have to let them know you're not the kind of person to be bullied. If they want your miles then they need to cooperate. It's as simple as that. Don't be a pushover, but don't get ugly or violent either. Just be firm and get what you need.

 

I'm in trucking school away from home and I'm living on the cheap. I like Progresso soups from Walmart. $1.48 for a 18.5 oz can. Can get the "Light" variety. Pre cooked, low fat, and tasty in many flavors. No can opener needed. Just pop the top and enjoy cold. Pretty tasty, filling and healthy!