What do you do in your downtime OTR?

Well I begin orientation for USA Truck in 2 weeks and start driving with a trainer so I figure now since i have some free time would be a good time to find out what things there are to do during my 10 hour breaks and resets. What do you do to pass the time? Any suggestions?

I like to play golf and I love to visit museums and zoos and such so I'm hoping to do that on my downtime when not sleeping. What do all of you do? How do you get around when you cannot drive the truck? I was thinking of getting one of those small scooters. Is that a good idea?

I'm just curious. I love being on the road and I cannot wait to be out on my own. I'm going to be working 7 weeks straight and take 1 week off so I can go on Carnival Cruise vacations several times a year. I figure when I'm stuck in my truck I might as well find some fun hobbies.

So what do you all do on your 10 hour breaks and resets? I don't mind even renting a car on my resets. Enterprise will even pick me up.

Oh, and I don't have rent, utilities or any bills other than cell phone, so I can afford to live large and enjoy my free time, even if it's costly. I'm putting the max I can in my 401K and also saving 30% pay every week for retirement. The rest basically I can enjoy since I have no kids, house or significant other.

 

good luck in visiting museums with a big truck, same with getting to a golf course, somehow these places seem to be lacking in location to truck stops and lacking in parking spaces. if you get a small scooter, make sure you can mount it to the outside of the truck, and that you have company permission to do so.

passing time...?? how about a nice long hot shower, reading the newspapers, or a book, or watching some tv or movies. sure you will have time to do "some activities", but i do not believe you will be leaving your truck unattended for too long. as a newbie, anything that can happen to that truck if you leave it alone, unattended, may get you fired.

there are many things you can find time do to while taking your breaks, one is to perhaps go onside the truck stop and use the work out room.. i'd be very careful of those long weeks away from home..so many newbies "claim" they can "do time" on the road, only to put their tails between their legs and whimper away...because life on the road ain't what a newbie thinks it is..

as i said, i do not believe you can just leave your truck unattended....i think too to start a 402k plan, you have to be an employee for at least one year before they start one for you..???

i do not see how you can save as much as you say, and "live large"...

good luck with that too, you must be thinking that you are going to make a zillion dollars...

 

You won't be doing any golfing on a 10 hour break, and you will be very lucky to get home in time to catch a flight to your cruise line every time. One thing you can expect is the unexpected. Due home on the 10 of June? That is a guideline with most carriers. You might get home on the 8th, or much later. If you get home early, and have 7 days of hometime scheduled, but your cruise doesn't leave until the 10th, how are you going to deal with that?

Buy a fold up bike to get around. Cabs and rental cars are going to get expensive, and don't plan on either of those for your 10 hour break. Matter of fact, you won't get much of a 10 hour break because when you pull in to the truck stop, you have to finish logs, plan your route for tomorrow, get a shower, get something to eat, and by the time you are done with your 11/14 day (maybe you had multiple stops in congested areas?), you are beat. You'll be ready to sleep, trust me.

You are smart to put away as much as you do. You need to convince other 20-somethings to do exactly the same.

 

sleep first and foremost....

Most of the companies I've driven for over the years were "outlaw" as you people call them, so.......when I wasn't driving I was usually sleeping because you never know when the next time will be when you can get some quality sleep..

 

####...just waiting to fuel can take an hour, then the fueling itself, then the walk to the counter (if the pump cash out ain't working), yeah, i'd say 'plan on' 1.5 hours just for fueling alone..!!

 

Rarely takes me more than 5-10 minutes to fuel and pay. Then again, I'm not at the big chain overpaying for my fuel and competing for a pump with all of the company trucks, either. Just yesterday, I paid 15 cents per gallon less with my credit card at a Shell station on the South side of the interstate than the Loves on the north side (same exit) was advertising as their CASH price....and I got to refill my coffee mug free with the fill-up.

Those big chains are nothing but long lines, headaches, high prices, and bad service. I just don't see any reason to ever go to one.

 

well when you have the company credit card you go where you are told. i only wished i could have gone to some other place. you are among the lucky.....

 

I clean the truck, walk the mutt, play on the computer and tie trout flies and go fishing.

 

Aside from listening to the pyschos on the cb while I complete my logbooks or the cd player, normally I catch up on my phone calls. Downtime is precious and make sure you get plenty of rest like the other driver advised. Other things you can enjoy is maybe updating Facebook with your photos and road stories. Also new drivers like yourself appreciate hearing what your trials and tribulations are so maybe start a blog. The road gets lonely so learn to be creative. Good luck and drive safe

 

I forgot about Facebook updating. Always look forward to Cap'n Jacks Large Car page.