Sleep and Laundry

Most cases and rare if not there will be 2 bunks. You as the trainee will have the top bunk in most cases, rare you will get the bottom. Your trainer should stop and do his laundry so you will do your same time. If you need to do it mention it to your trainer that you need to get it done soon, that your about to run out of cloths. I had to do it often since GreyHound lost my bag on the way to SLC and I basically had to buy new cloths as needed till I finally got home.

Always avoid sleeping is the seats up front. Bad habit to get into and not as restful.

 

Anytime you are training you are in a truck with two bunks. Some companies will train you for your first 50 hours behind the wheel where the trainer has to be awake and in the passenger seat, thereafter you qualify for team driving.

During team driving by law anytime the truck is in motion you have to sleep in the bottom bunk with the net securement in place. If the truck is not in motion you will likely be sleeping in the top bunk, the trainer gets the roomier bottom bunk. Be prepared to be athletic getting into the top bunk. Rock climbing skills have been known to be an advantage....

Every time you put at least 50 gallons in the truck the truckstop chain will apply one shower credit to the rewards card. When you go inside to get a shower and redeem the shower credit they will always ask if you have a codriver that wants a shower. Usually you will be able to shower every day or every other day in a private room with toilet, sink, shower, and place to put your shower kit. Towels and soap are provided. If you shower at company terminals be prepared with your own towel and soap.

Regarding laundry, if you are going to be taking a break at a truck stop, then laundry is almost always available. Cost varies, but plan on spending about $4.00 to $5.00 per load for both washing and drying. I've always been able to do laundry about once a week. Keeps me in good supply of clean clothes and reduces any chances of odiferous malfunctions. It's a good idea to have a coated nylon bag to keep your dirty laundry. Mesh bags or cotton bags can lead to a locker room funk in the truck (I know because my trainer was fond of keeping weeks worth of dirty laundry in cotton bags out in the open.... )...

 

Lepton1 there is no law saying you can't sleep on top bunk. It's most company policys. You just got to be buckled in..

 

... I stand corrected.

Actually, I tried sleeping in the top bunk in a moving truck before, and it is not a pleasant ride at all.

 

I refused to sleep in the filth my trainer had going on. I slept up top for 2 months while rolling down the road.

 

Trainers should be required to have their truck inspected before they pick up a student. Not a search, but just a cursory glance and sniff test. My trainer was a neat freak about the truck, so I didn't have any problems with the sleeping arrangements. He even had a blanket over the bottom bunk when I was in there so we didn't have to share sheets, and bought new sheets for the top bunk that he gave me at the end of training. Really good guy, and made training as pleasant as possible, considering we were cell mates for a month.

 

In addition to showers and clean laundry, it is not a bad idea to keep the dirty laundry bags as clean as possible. Also, keep the birthing space of your truck as clean as possible, along with keeping it well ventilated. It is your home away from home.

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

 

You were very fortunate to have the trainer that you had.

Good luck to you.

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!