Some Uncomfortable Things To Ask About And I Feel Odd Asking But Still Dont Know Them

So here you are learning to drive and suddenly go out on the road for weeks on end with a person you do not know at all. How do you handle things no one likes to talk about like what if you have to go to the bathroom say , I know no bathrooms on the trucks unless you are wealthy and buy one of those monster cabs custom made that has that stuff. I just wonder how the heck that works, and brushing teeth, I have a denture not afraid to admit that but still anyone that has them knows what I mean you dont sleep in them. And what about showering so you dont reek like a dead skunk on the side of the road. And what about laundry sooner or later your entire clothes will need washed. Sorry to ask the odd things but these are things someone that never did this before wondered about and would like to know how it all works. I realize when solo you can do things more your way but when with a trainer for weeks it may seem to me a little uncomfortable is why I am asking now.

thank you Ron

Ron I'm with my trainer right now. All these questions you asked are questions you need to ask your trainer when you get with him. But I'll tell you what mine told me the first day I was in the truck with him. He said if you got to use the bathroom pullover in a rest stop or truck stop or if there is nothing around pull off on a exit ramp and go between your truck and trailer. As far as brushing your teeth when you stop for the night or switching to drive most of the time it's going to be at a rest stop or truck stop so you can go inside to the bathroom to do what you gotta do. Showering I get one every other day or every 2 days it's not what I like but my mentor is trying to get me done and off the truck and into my own and I'm trying to do that too. It will be a lot more easier because you aren't splitting the shower credits at fuel stops anymore once on your own. Laundry nearly every truck stop I've been in has several washers and dryers. I ended up doing mine tho when we took a 34 hour reset. Hope this helps and answers your questions.

Ron, these are good questions. Don't think you are the only one interested in the answers. I may chuckle to myself when I see your posts/questions lined up in the forum, but I read the answers like a starving man eats a bowl of baked beans! It's going to be an entirely new life-style and the things we are used to taking for granted are going to be handled a different way once we are out on the road. I am sure that once we are accustomed to the new life-style, all these ancillary things will fall into place in our minds. But asking about them now will scratch where it itches.

I always tell people to approach your time with a trainer like you would entering the military - you simply endure it. Some trainers are a dream, others are a nightmare. There's no way to know who you'll get. But the one thing you do know is that it's only temporary. Whatever you have to endure, as long as you're not being pushed into breaking laws or taking risks, you endure it.

Most of the time you'll get a shower at least every other day. You'll get a chance to do laundry maybe twice a month on average. And opportunities for things like brushing your teeth will be there plenty.

...You'll get a chance to do laundry "maybe" twice a month on average...

Please notice Brett used the word "maybe"... So I'm guessing air fresheners are on board these rigs?

That seems to me personally a little out of wack if you can only do laundy twice a month then you have to pack a lot in order to have clothes. I am sure others do not wait that long for sure. How many others on here only do laundry twice a month? And how often do you others do your laundry?

thanks Ron

That seems to me personally a little out of wack if you can only do laundy twice a month then you have to pack a lot in order to have clothes

Once you go solo you'll be able to set your own schedule and preferences for things like showers, laundry, and trips to the store. But when you're with a trainer you'll be going according to the trainer's preferences and there's no way to know how they'll schedule things. A lot of trainers are leasing their truck so they're taking on students to get all of the miles they possibly can and keep those payments up to date. Every time that truck stops those guys consider themselves to be losing money so your laundry needs are about 10,000th on the list of your trainer's priorities in the world. So prepare for being able to do laundry twice a month while in training and hope for the best.

I agree that is a lot of clothes. i guess you could do a quickie sink soak and try to dry as you drive. if i had a months worth of clothes i probably wouldnt need to live on a truck lol

Which is the best way to roll as far as $$$ for the washer/dryer?? Carry your own silver or get it at the truck stop or change machine?? I've never been a big fan of the change machines once one ate my $5 bill back when..!