Team driving with a child on the truck?

I don't have a problem with you taking your child on the road. you can home school her, and still give her a good up-bringing. Better than both parents working and leaving their kids with people they don't even know to raise them!

 

Personally, I do not think you are looking at this very logically.

Do you have an actual plan that you could tell us about - as to how much time you would be driving, sleeping, preparing and eating meals, doing laundry, showering, schooling your daughter, playing with her, finding time and enough privacy to 'play' with your boyfriend - or are you just winging it in the hopes that it will all work out in the end just because you want it to?

I suggest you write a schedule of all that you need to do, and how much time it will actually take, and see if you can really make it work.
And don't forget to include preparation times, because it takes time to get your shower stuff ready. It takes time to walk in and out from the truck to the truck stop. It takes time to gather everything needed for meals before you start cooking, and time to get the little ones' attention for school.
Also plan time for fights with your daughter and boyfriend. Because it is a hard life, made triply so because there are three of you living in a closet.

Everything takes time, and you only have 24 hours in a day to do it. And all those 'little' minutes here and there really add up.
And if you spend 9-10 hours driving during a 12 hour shift - that only leaves 12 hours for sleep, showering, eating, laundry, playing with and schooling your little girl, spending a little time with your boyfriend, and anything else you may need to do.

And team driving makes it all the harder because the truck is moving nearly all the time.

 

Mam,

I have Aspergers syndrome and am considered special needs. I know you mean the best for your child. I am not saying nor will I ever say you and her need to part ways. What I am saying is driving an 18 wheeler needs total concentation from both parties. If you are dead set on this idea, then go solo. Teaming would wear you out quicker than you think.

KH

 

The only problem is - both will be working, and neither will have time to properly look after her because of the OTR schedule.

While mom is driving the boyfriend is sleeping, and visa versa, with maybe a couple hours in between.
In the meantime the child is left to her own devices, sitting in the seat.
And when she needs to sleep, who takes the top bunk in a moving truck? Because there is not room for 2 in the lower.

Tell me, how is that a 'proper' upbringing?

At least with daycare the kid is usually with someone that actually provides some attention and care.

 

Lucky07 I can somewhat see your intentions of thought however, a big truck is still more dangerous than riding in a school bus or car. You are hauling over 40g's of freight most of the time of who knows what. You are constantly driving in all kinds of extreme weather and traffic. Especially as a team, you are more at risk driving 24/7! Riding in a car or school bus during daylight hours is still a lot safer than being on the road at 2-4 am when the drunks and tired truckers share the road! When the weather or traffic is bad in a car or school bus you wouldn't normally keep driving. As a team this is more mandatory. In a car or school bus you aren't constantly traversing mountains and steep terrain along with a heavy load.

This is all just a factor when you are in motion...

Never mind the safety factor of your little kid in a truck stop parking lot at night or rest stop or shady area of downtown LA where you have to make a delivery or pickup!

Then there is the factor of caring and watching out for your little one when you are extremely tired and stressed from driving all day and night!

Though I could see the occasional trip every once in a great while during the summer time to give them a little experience or take them with you to spend a little time together or take a trip together, this is just not acceptable to do on a regular basis!

 

Wow

 

I have to agree w/all the negative comments toward this incredibly bad idea of taking a child on the road. But I also feel the same way toward taking pets. Is this any life for a dog? Ppl who take pets with them are selfish, too. They can never actually "run" free.

 

I understand what you mean, but.... How many Husband wife teams actually split the trip 50/50, I know a lot of them where the husband or wife drives 75/25. One likes to drive, the other does more of the admin, etc. Not that it is legal, but not to many truckers are legal 100 percent. and if they say they are, I suspect they are lying.
I waited till my youngest graduated till I went over the road, but my wife did home school the kids, and they never went to some day school. Now, they have great jobs and homes in my home town and 3 of the 4 are married and I have 2 grand kids. My kids spent a lot of time where I would be building a home, and not everyone liked it, but I am not ashamed at how they turned out.

 

Wow.
Are you suggesting that one of them run under the others log, just so the other can have more off time with the girl?

Because that is what you are hinting at.
And if they would even consider it, I wonder if they would also consider the considerable danger involved in pushing one driver that far.

Everyone that supports this idea of the OP seems to be totally irresponsible.

 

I took my 9yo son out with me once during the summer, he was ready to go back home after one week, me missed his friends. I thought a boy would be more interested in trucks and cars and the whole rding in a truck with dad thing, not so .
I believe kids and everyone else need interaction with people their own age.