OTR Drivers, How often?

Some of the places I've showered at had twin shower heads facing each other so two people, or one person such as myself who really enjoys a shower, can enjoy.

Most other places are just regular motel style bathrooms with a small sink, a seat of some kind, a shower door or curtain all behind a usually heavy locking door.

In differing parts of the country, the water pressure can be ok or just so-so. I guess it depends on if there's a water shortage going or the T/S didn't get a deal on bulk water.

I've been a place or two that even had jacuzzi's but those were not always available due to demand.

One good thing to do is carry some "shower shoes" to keep your feet off the shower floor & the rest of the floor for that matter. Flip-flops are useful here.

The people that clean the showers are not thinking of germs, just getting it done & out of the way.

As a single driver you can ask for extra towels & wash clothes. Sometimes they only give you one towel.

You generally don't need to pay twice for a team, just reuse the shower & ask for extra towels before going in.

Not to scare you but...there are some places that remain very ...uhhh...spartan? The water runs, it's reasonably warm & if you're careful not to touch any of your surroundings afterwards, you'll come out smelling like a rose.

 

lol wow. I toss out an idea and someone has a freakin coronary. There is a thread deep in the bowels of this forum that has a link where peeople rated various truck stops for their cleanliness of shower facilities. Not one stood out above the rest. Having an idea where one can take a shower in private in their own truck is just that, an idea. Its more private...yours so you know how clean it is and it can be easily put out of the way. Plus overall it would add very little to the weight of the truck. This way, you wouldnt have to wait at a truck stop somewhere...but wherever you parked, you could easily shower and get back on the road. Most RVs and 5th wheelers and large pull behind trailers for camping have showers in them and most of them arent used daily like trucks. If done right...this would also take up little space and would require little to zippo for drilling or messing with the truck.

Suzi,
When I moved out here to WY...I had to stay at a truck stop overnight nearby. The next morning, my wife and I headed off to the Flying J and used their showers. Basically, you buy a shower ticket and on it is your number for the shower. When your number is called, you go up and check a monitor by the door to the shower area and it will list which room to use. You go to the room and enter a code to gain access to the room which has been mopped and cleaned (to whatever extent, I dont know). There is also a towel waiting on a bench, along with a floor mat. I think they had soap and shampoo, can't remember. You get your own private room. As far as I know, you can use it for as long as you wish. Now, thats the set up at this particular flying J...I assume its the same nationwide. Im not sure how the other companies work.

 

I wasn't freakin' nor having a coronary. Apolgies for letting it appear that way.

I was however making comment on the corolary that one cannot treat themself as human while on the road. Why is it that drivers old & new seem to forget that they CAN stop daily to take care of themselves?

Is it company brainwashing? Some kind of odd new work ethic?

If anything about it irritates me, it's that I think some drivers aren't bright enough to recognize they're not a company run machine. They don't have to feel guilty for taking that short time to care for themselves despite some ####### dispatcher pushing them on the Qcom.

In another topic here, something about driver image in the eyes of the public? I confess I haven't read it yet. Kinda' scares me to because I already know what the public thinks of trucks & drivers.

Anyway, it's many of the same drivers that go days without personal care that complain about how the public perceives them as drivers. Go figger?

And it's getting worse. I was in a T/S the other day & saw some of the rattiest looking drivers. The majority of the "rat pack" appeared to be newbies (prob under a couple yrs). Sadly I confess there was an older gent or two in the pack as well.

I overheard their conversations enough to note that each had been running hard for 2 or 3 days, only had time for a quick coffee or meal or they'd miss an appointment or a next load. A couple of them offered up their shower tickets to other drivers saying "I aint got time to use 'em today". Yet, they sat there for a couple hrs trading fishin'/truckin' lies. It's obvious none of them had looked in a mirror recently.

I'm not a "clean freak" by any means but by the same token, I'm not going to let "the job" dictate to me when I have permission to clean up.

I guess it just gripes me that the industry is letting itself go in the "self respect dept" in exchange for garnering a few points with the Boss for practicing some ridiculous & unappreciated work ethic.

Ok; Rant mode off.

 

Its 5 gallons of water. GOOGLE it and see. Heats up with the sun. It will still be cold.

The water comes out like a water sprinkler. With a wash cloth you don't need to sit under it for hours. 5 gallons would probably be more than 5 minutes. Washing hair wih shampoo may be hard, but can stick head under a sink for that.