Cost Of Living OTR

Hello, What is a ballpark monthly figure for living OTR as bare bones and minimally as possible? Assuming cooking/eating in the truck, groceries only, no dining out, hotels, excursions etc. I know it can vary a bit but what is a reasonable range?

Hello, What is a ballpark monthly figure for living OTR as bare bones and minimally as possible? Assuming cooking/eating in the truck, groceries only, no dining out, hotels, excursions etc. I know it can vary a bit but what is a reasonable range?

I do not have exact numbers right now, but this is majority reliant on you. How much do you normally spend on groceries? After the initial cost of getting any cooking supplies, microwave, and fridge. It would just be reliant on how many groceries you normally buy to survive. Now I will say this, and a big mistake I made, was not finding the time to get to a Walmart or other grocery store. Eating solely at truck stops will eat a big hole in your pocket, and its mostly super unhealthy food.

Hello Harvest, Yeah I have heard that staying out of truck stops is a good choice given their cost and that most have a lot of junk food. I guess a better way to phrase this question would be to ask: After groceries and cell phone/data are there any regular expenses that you see living out of the truck that have a sizeable impact?

Hello Harvest, Yeah I have heard that staying out of truck stops is a good choice given their cost and that most have a lot of junk food. I guess a better way to phrase this question would be to ask: After groceries and cell phone/data are there any regular expenses that you see living out of the truck that have a sizeable impact?

From my own experience at least, there isn't much. Make sure you keep a good amount of work gloves on you, I was caught without a pair one time and it takes forever to get that grease off, especially clothes. The biggest thing is learning to pack well too, keeping basic tools, gloves, and duct tape in your truck. Extra clothes, and groceries you get at an actual supermarket. Things like showers are pretty much free with you getting fuel at your company's truck stop of choice. You also get quite a bit of free food that way too, so if you do get caught with not enough from the grocery store, you can save money that way too. Should buy a decent CB radio as well with an antenna, been awhile since I saw prices, but id say around $150. Keep a few hundred set aside in case something on your truck is busted or broken. Like a mudflap, headlight and such. You purchase it yourself, but you would be reimbursed by your company. But from my own experience, if you are a company driver, the biggest thing is just food.

Facts and figures---one of my favorite things.

I started with a new company in late January of 2022. From then until the end of December 2022, I spent $3,147.62 on groceries. That came to $262.31 per month. I had 276 days driving (more days off last year than my normal). That comes out to $11.41 per day.

Hello Harvest, Yeah I have heard that staying out of truck stops is a good choice given their cost and that most have a lot of junk food. I guess a better way to phrase this question would be to ask: After groceries and cell phone/data are there any regular expenses that you see living out of the truck that have a sizeable impact?

From my own experience at least, there isn't much. Make sure you keep a good amount of work gloves on you, I was caught without a pair one time and it takes forever to get that grease off, especially clothes. The biggest thing is learning to pack well too, keeping basic tools, gloves, and duct tape in your truck. Extra clothes, and groceries you get at an actual supermarket. Things like showers are pretty much free with you getting fuel at your company's truck stop of choice. You also get quite a bit of free food that way too, so if you do get caught with not enough from the grocery store, you can save money that way too. Should buy a decent CB radio as well with an antenna, been awhile since I saw prices, but id say around $150. Keep a few hundred set aside in case something on your truck is busted or broken. Like a mudflap, headlight and such. You purchase it yourself, but you would be reimbursed by your company. But from my own experience, if you are a company driver, the biggest thing is just food.

Thanks for the info!

Facts and figures---one of my favorite things.

I started with a new company in late January of 2022. From then until the end of December 2022, I spent $3,147.62 on groceries. That came to $262.31 per month. I had 276 days driving (more days off last year than my normal). That comes out to $11.41 per day.

$3k on groceries is quite good. I am planning on giving up my apartment and using Escapee's RV domicile service here in FL as a home base. It is my goal to put as much cash into savings and investments as humanly possible for the first couple of years. I figure with enough of that I could afford to by a house outright in a few years. I could then rent that out until I am ready to come off the road and go local.

The only time I don't do all the cooking on the truck is when it's in the shop. I eat anything I want to try and I eat very well. No poptarts, hot pockets, peanut butter sandwiches, or ramen noodles here.

The only time I don't do all the cooking on the truck is when it's in the shop. I eat anything I want to try and I eat very well. No poptarts, hot pockets, peanut butter sandwiches, or ramen noodles here.

It seems like OTR would make for a good occasion to do some culinary exploration.

Hello Harvest, Yeah I have heard that staying out of truck stops is a good choice given their cost and that most have a lot of junk food. I guess a better way to phrase this question would be to ask: After groceries and cell phone/data are there any regular expenses that you see living out of the truck that have a sizeable impact?

Things like showers are pretty much free with you getting fuel at your company's truck stop of choice. You also get quite a bit of free food that way too, so if you do get caught with not enough from the grocery store, you can save money that way too.

I had heard of free showers but you also get some sort of meal points as well?