What do you do when not driving?

I would be amiss if I did not mention I NEVER left a loaded trailer anywhere but a terminal or locked drop yard. I also NEVER left even empty if I was not in a safe location.

 

Get yourself an instant pot/pressure cooker if you want to cook in your truck.

otherwise...good luck. I’m a artist, I have my art stuff in my truck, but I never have the energy after I’m done driving. Besides my internal clock is so screwed up at this point, I usually use my down time to catch up with home then go to bed haha. Good luck!

 

You can drive more in 24 hour period
11 hour drive
10 hour break.
21 hours.
You can probably squeeze in another 2-2.5 if you don’t throw hours away on load/unload and pre/post trips.

I watch Tubi tv.
Just watched “Hitman” based off the video game.

 

You are not likely going to have as much free time as you think.
I can often get 10.5 hours of driving in
Then there is half and hour for pre trip post trip.
Half an hour break
Fueling the truck
Getting loaded somewhere , standing in like a the receiving office to get your paperwork signed
Looking at google maps so you can find the best approach to the receiver (do not just trust your GPS)
Finding a parking spot
Remember that driving is only a part of your job, you will often put in that 14hr day.
Now you need a shower and diner and take some time to plan out the next day.
This job is not easy and training companies like to run you like a scalded dog.
I love your infectious enthusiasm but there are a lot of real world things that you only discover once you are out here.
Worry about how to spend your free time once you actually find some.

 

It doesn't quite work that way. There is more to the job than just driving. Dealing with customers and sitting in docks can eat up a lot of that 24hrs.

There will be days where you don't even get the full DOT 10hr break to use as you wish.

Chances are you are going to be do worn out and tired when you first start that things like working out, cooking and what to do with spare time won't even cross your mind. Not saying you shouldn't eat healthy and exercise, but maybe concentrate on learning how to drive and do the job properly before adding "stuff" to your already taxing day.

When I was in training I can remember being so tired that I could barely eat a Subway sandwich. I didn't delve into preparing my own meals on the truck until months after I was on my own

 

I will say, my first time out I had a tv and I ran it with an Amazon fire stick, worked like a champ as long as I was at a truck stop with good work (loves) I tried doing the pay per use WiFi from flying J, but I could never get a good enough signal to watch tv on it.

If you have unlimited hotspot usage on your cell phone, you can use that on your TV, but it’s not cheap.

nowadays I just watch tv on my phone. My cable company has an app so I can watch live tv/our DVR, and then I have all the other streaming services I had on my tv.

I do miss my TV, but I had much more frequent and predicable drive time at my last job. They run me pretty good here, plus the APU is after market, getting everything hooked up with be a bear in this truck!

 

Dirk Pitt rocks!!!

 

This is for sure how my first six months went.


I am not sure if you have picked a company yet, but having an APU and a fridge and microwave really made things easier for me. One good walmart haul a week kept me in food that I could prepare and wolf down and be back on the road in exactly my 30 minute break.
Yes there will be times when you are stuck unloading for 6 hours at the dock especially if you run refer . Its good to have something to keep your mind off your burning up 14 hr clock like a book or a computer
Some drivers just sit there and fume with anger.
Dont do that , I am convinced its the source of a lot of our health problems

 

My most recent Swift truck, a '20 International, has a fridge and an inverter.
I use lunchbox ovens, a small grill and a toaster oven for cooking very good meals.

My hours are not based on the 14/11/10 stuff that much.
I like to run recap hours, so that means an average of 8.75 hours per day of on-duty/driving time.
That leaves me with plenty of time every day for cooking, watching some vids and getting good sleep time - as well as decent miles.
Not to mention showers and laundry when I need.

 

Oh, and no microwave ovens.
They really ruin the food.