to all drivers with no ties. how long did it take to get used to the lifestyle?

this... after the novelty wears off, things tend to blend together, food is the same, etc. It will be just a job and all the BS that entails.

 

Yup you will find that the 14hr clock is yer lord and master. Beyond that nothing exists.

 

My pre driving routine was this:

0400 Wake up
0430 Shower, Brush Teeth, Protein Shake
0530 Gym
0630 Shower
0730 Work
1200 Lunch (1Hour)
1630 Home (Netflix, Video Games)
1800 Make Dinner
2100 Sleep

I repeated this day in day out for 5 years.

The shellshock of breaking that routine daily (and any attempt at routine thus far made) was disorienting to say the least. It took me nearly a full year before I got used to the 'schedule'. I can still do all the same things (mostly). I still have my morning shake. I still get to the gym (when possible, or exercise inmate style in the truck when not). I still shower twice a day, and I still get my netflix and video game time in.

Me personally, as a creature of habits and relentless organization had to adjust. But now that I have, I find that even though the hours are constantly rolling it's more or less the same schedule. I wake up, shake, brush teeth. Get some exercise in (Usually in the truck, though I have found more and more places to shut down near gyms.) I get a shower AFTER the gym, or exercise. I perform my pretrip, and do my day's duties. During my 30 minute break I usually make something to eat (Generally I put something in the crockpot for dinner while making something cold for lunch, sandwiches and the like.) After I eat I finish my day, find a spot to park and call it done. I get my Netflix/Video gaming done while my meal finishes in the crockpot. I eat, get a little bit of a run or walk in depending on my mood. Then I shower, and turn in.

The only thing that really changes in my schedule is what time of day each of these things happens, I seem to be perpetually advancing my times by about 1.5 hours a day haha. And I've recently started training students at my company, even with another body in the truck my routine is the same.

 

I am exactly opposite of the OP. I started in local/regional, then started spending more and more time on the road. Now, 4-6 weeks is the usual for my tour of duty before I go home. I actually sleep better in my truck than my own bed. It was easy for me, I almost craved the road, and went into withdrawal when I was home...and it's been 22 years since I 1st started driving.

 

What are ruck stops?lol.I feel the same way about where to park it for the night.As long as its big enough for trks I was happy,lol.

 

I got used to it right off the bat it was great traveling in the day to places you've never been for free basically.

Then after I had been everywhere I learned to enjoy it in the dark even if that meant staying up longer then I should.

Then after a few years driving in the dark and hating the day.
Already seen everything I wanted to see.
wanted to hang myself.



And back home I is with a couple extra houses.

 

It took me about 18 months to get used to it.

I'm not the person you asked, but I'll share my truck workout if it helps.

Biceps: Stand next to the trailer, with your elbow anchored on your hip. Find a solid spot underneath the edge of the trailer you can push up on, palm flat. Push upwards, flexing your bicep, at about 70% effort for 10 seconds (don't give yourself a stroke pushing too hard, remember to breathe). Do 7 reps. It's basically a static (isometric) curl.

Chest: Lay on the ground underneath the DOT bumper. Push upwards on the bar, basically doing a static bench press. 7 reps, 10 seconds, 70% effort. Tighten your abs while doing it and lift your shoulder blades off the ground, it's more comfortable.

Triceps: Still laying on the ground under the DOT bumper, put your hands close together on the bar like you were doing a hands-together pushup, just upside-down. Do the same reps like above, flexing the triceps.

I round out the workout with pushups (on pushup stands).

I'm sure you could probably find a way to use the underside of the trailer for leg isometrics and lots of other stuff. I've just started to play around with these exercises but I've been really pleased with the results. I've never seen anyone else using the trailer to do isometric exercises before so I thought I'd share.

 

takes a lot less time for that single, unencumbered guy, then the guy with kids and wife back home

 

I was ready before I started. You either want to do this job or you don't. Took me about 8 years to grow tired of OTR. Been dedicated for two years pulling tanks. 4 day run with three nights in the truck and three days off. It's the perfect balance for me.