Thinking of trucking...

Make it night to night. A short is a thousand out and back the third day.

You will be required to sign a waiver to get passenger insurance, permission to be inside a big rig and other paperwork. Have a care towards your final arrangements so that if something happens and you don't make it it's really easy on everyone.

It's a learning curve, you will be taught how to board and dismount from the cab. You will likely not gain entry into the dock in some places or entry into certain facilities like seaports. Bring about 60 dollars a day with a 200 reserve ready to go.

When it's time to sleep there probably will be a second bunk. But not while the truck is moving usually. Especially not the top one. Some drivers own or possess that truck and sleeper.

Bring sandals for the shower along with your 10 dollars or whatever. Hygene kit too.

Others will fill in. But you generally do not as a rule get to ride along unless there is a friendly O/O in your circle of friends etc.

If you are a nice person who abhors langauge etc, prepare yourself for what will come over that radio among other things.

 

Your ride-along experience will give some insight but being behind the wheel is another world. Not as relaxing and enjoyable. Always on high alert with deadlines to meet. Surprised at how exhausting it is. I'm in my first week. I expect it to get easier. Conditioning maybe. Not love not hate. An adventure and higher pay? Yes. A job. Not a calling.

 

After 600 miles you will be tired a little bit but perked up. Ready for more. By the third day, you are ready for the 1800 miles to stop already. Sleeping in a moving truck or in a noisy truckstop is very challenging. By the time you finish 3000 miles your first week.. you will understand what tired means.

But you are sitting there in the right seat. Responsible for nothing. To be on the wheel as CS Dixon speaks of... it is a form of battle. For me specifically I know I am tired with I have a nice payroll on friday night and am off until sat night and choose to go to bed for a while. Might be two days before I get going because we are going to do this again when we get moving.

Winter storms of ice and snow etc slows things a little bit grinding along at 15 mph with 600 miles to go is a epic. You wont make 600 miles today. Maybe tomorrow. Teams of two drivers can make it happen faster than one driver can.

Remember there is a strict computer enforced hours of service, the days of cartoon paper log cheating are long gone. I recall at some points during a week, you could be out of ten hours (in my time it was 10 hours max driving) in the middle of 81 in Virginia and no parking to be had for love or money until halfway across Tennessee. (Another... 300 miles...) conundrum.

 

Yes! That's what it feels like.

 

You're not too far from Los Angeles. I think the guy that owns Khan D' Kulia Trucking School also owns a trucking company. Maybe it's a household goods moving company. Make a personal visit and look around and ask about a ride along. He might help you out if you seem to be a potential student or driver later.

 

Pretty sure that's 100% illegal to ride along with a trucker unless the co. gives the driver written permission with your specific name listed in the written permission.

You could be a "Nut-Burger" with a fantasy to force a big rig off a bridge.

 

9-11 among other considerations has changed things pernamently. Some companies fire on discovery that you actually had people inside your truck not necessarily providing rides. They might be a hooker riding you.

 

You said a mouthful lmao