How To Spend Downtime....

I'm a newbie... so I probably missed a thread on this topic somewhere.... I have read several posts on here, and I think Brett you may have been one of em.... that during downtime folks have gone into cities like DC or Nawlins for some sightseeing. Or football games etc. I know that planning is key when doing these things... but where do you park the truck? I have also read somewhere that companies sometimes pay for rooms and send someone to pick you up and drop you off at the hotel?

I am getting ready to start training in January and want to work for Schneider driving tankers OTR. Don't really have any family obligations at home (except for the mandatory phone call and visits to the folks, siblings and nephews/nieces).... so I intend to be out on the road for longer stretches. I heard thats the best way to get the miles, and gives you the best opportunity to see more parts of the country, All that being said, it would be nice to once in awhile be able to see parts of it, with the truck parked somewhere. Now, I am realistic in knowing that many times, that this will not be possible... But, on the off chance I can plan something and the timing is right... it would be nice to spend the restart in Vegas, Nawlins to watch my Saints, or Portland etc...

Thanks in advance for your responses! This site is an awesome resource.

What is down time?

Evanston, here is what I do. I take opportunities as they arise. It isn't likely you will drive into a nearby city to enjoy something, but I guess it is possible. You won't be driving the truck though - your employer is going to frown on that, and as you mentioned there is always the problem of finding a place to park that behemoth. Let's just say you get a load that actually goes to New Orleans, or maybe near a nice beach in Florida. Both of these scenarios have happened to me on multiple occasions. I let my dispatcher know that when I send in my empty call that I am needing to take a 34 hour reset so he won't dispatch me anything. Then if I need to I will rent an inexpensive car and act like a tourist. Sometimes if your load empties out on a Friday you just might get away with taking the whole weekend off because there are no loads available for you to be picked up on the weekend.

It's timing, and every once in a while the planets will line up just right for you like magic. Then there are those times where you are out in the middle of nowhere, and they cant seem to find you a load. But trust me that never seems to happen if you are right close to a great football game or something interesting like that.

No one has offered to put me up in a hotel unless my truck was broken down, but I had that happen once in an interesting area, and I took advantage of those three days that I was waiting on my truck.

What is down time?

Evanston, here is what I do. I take opportunities as they arise. It isn't likely you will drive into a nearby city to enjoy something, but I guess it is possible. You won't be driving the truck though - your employer is going to frown on that, and as you mentioned there is always the problem of finding a place to park that behemoth. Let's just say you get a load that actually goes to New Orleans, or maybe near a nice beach in Florida. Both of these scenarios have happened to me on multiple occasions. I let my dispatcher know that when I send in my empty call that I am needing to take a 34 hour reset so he won't dispatch me anything. Then if I need to I will rent an inexpensive car and act like a tourist. Sometimes if your load empties out on a Friday you just might get away with taking the whole weekend off because there are no loads available for you to be picked up on the weekend.

It's timing, and every once in a while the planets will line up just right for you like magic. Then there are those times where you are out in the middle of nowhere, and they cant seem to find you a load. But trust me that never seems to happen if you are right close to a great football game or something interesting like that.

No one has offered to put me up in a hotel unless my truck was broken down, but I had that happen once in an interesting area, and I took advantage of those three days that I was waiting on my truck.

LOL! Old School... i hear ya... from reading posts on here and on other sites, down time is few and far between... and a lot of times folks take that time to catch up on sleep... i also kinda figure somethings you can't plan and when opportunity presents itself, take it.

You definitely nailed what I am confused about though. The more I read about being on the road, parking seems like a big issue. Rest stops and areas etc get packed quick I hear. Calling a cab or renting a car makes a lot of sense. Its the finding places to park that is kinda confusing. Is there a guide to trucker friendly places, stores, hotels etc? I guess it would be nice every once in awhile (or at least once) to be able to sleep in a bed, walk around and see something other than a TA or Pilot and take a decent shower if you are on a 3 or 4 week run....

EvanstonMark, just so you know, in the last two years I've only come across a couple of truck stop showers that I didn't think were really great. They were at smaller independent truck stops. At most of the major name truck stops the showers are really nice. Here's an example:

Personally I think parking is more of an issue for newbies than experience drivers. Of course there are some parts of the country where it is just bad no matter what. The thing about parking is that you have to be thinking about it when you start your day, not just when you finish. Anytime you can make a plan where you can get ready to find your parking in the early afternoon you will be one step ahead of everyone else. There are sacrifices involved in making yourself a successful driver, and one of them is working some unusual hours. The folks that understand how to start their day at about 3 or 4 in the morning, get empty and then grab another load don't have much trouble finding their parking spots because when they are ready to park all the other drivers are out there scrambling around in the traffic wondering why it is taking them so long to get the job done.

Their are guides to truck parking available at any truck stop. There is a pocket sized one that is very easily organized that I like very well. You can also get some phone apps for this - I personally like "My DAT Trucker" - you can find it at the Google Play Store.

Yeah! Where are the dine-in, diner and drives stories! I love football, bars and concerts too don't get me wrong, but I know y'all know every good place to eat between here and there! Lol. I know this ain't gonna be glitz and glammer but fun stuff is cool too, right? I just watched one of the last episodes of the "RideWithB" series on YouTube and now I want to cry, JK.

I worked with an old trucker when I first got out of high school delivering office furniture and that guy was crazy as heck, but he knew all the good spots to stop and grab some grub!

Of course, I will also be happy just being able to grab some groceries and do laundry too; just sayin'.

EvanstonMark, just so you know, in the last two years I've only come across a couple of truck stop showers that I didn't think were really great. They were at smaller independent truck stops. At most of the major name truck stops the showers are really nice. Here's an example:

Personally I think parking is more of an issue for newbies than experience drivers. Of course there are some parts of the country where it is just bad no matter what. The thing about parking is that you have to be thinking about it when you start your day, not just when you finish. Anytime you can make a plan where you can get ready to find your parking in the early afternoon you will be one step ahead of everyone else. There are sacrifices involved in making yourself a successful driver, and one of them is working some unusual hours. The folks that understand how to start their day at about 3 or 4 in the morning, get empty and then grab another load don't have much trouble finding their parking spots because when they are ready to park all the other drivers are out there scrambling around in the traffic wondering why it is taking them so long to get the job done.

Their are guides to truck parking available at any truck stop. There is a pocket sized one that is very easily organized that I like very well. You can also get some phone apps for this - I personally like "My DAT Trucker" - you can find it at the Google Play Store.

I definitely agree with you Old School. In a different thread I started, you posted that there is definitely a learning curve in the beginning for new drivers. Luckily, I am a night owl. I always worked 2nd and Graveyard shifts. and was planning on doing the bulk of my driving between those hours.... one of the main reasons why i loved workin those shifts, outside of not being able to sleep at a normal time, i was to avoid traffic.. i hate rush hour. Hopefully this will work in my favor as a otr driver.

I will def download that guide. and... BTW that bathroom looks much nicer than some of the ones in Motel 6's I have stayed at.... what the heck!

Yeah! Where are the dine-in, diner and drives stories! I love football, bars and concerts too don't get me wrong, but I know y'all know every good place to eat between here and there! Lol. I know this ain't gonna be glitz and glammer but fun stuff is cool too, right? I just watched one of the last episodes of the "RideWithB" series on YouTube and now I want to cry, JK.

I worked with an old trucker when I first got out of high school delivering office furniture and that guy was crazy as heck, but he knew all the good spots to stop and grab some grub!

Of course, I will also be happy just being able to grab some groceries and do laundry too; just sayin'.

LOL! Man You totally get where I am coming from.

I know that I cant pick where I wanna go. And I know that you are living in your truck for the most part, that TA, Pilot and company terminals are gonna be the places that you are probably spend time in..... babywipes and febreeze are your friend... That you gotta be creative with food, esp if you want to stay healthy and not spend a ton of money. Heck, I know I am gonna have to give up my Starbucks and other comforts that I am used to having being a city dweller not to mention missing shows and games on cable etc... But a lot of that is part of the fun. trading that to be on the road seeing the country from a perspective most people will never see.... its the lifestyle and I am cool with that.

BUT, a decent meal thats not fast food, a beer (just the one.. no dui's here), and if possible checking out a city that you have never been for an hour or 2 cuz you have a couple of hours to kill... and a couple times of year (if you are lucky) restart in a place like Vegas.... i know it can be done... the question is how? i'm sure we are not the first newbies to ask that....

In re: to RideWithB... I feel for the guy. You could see things start to unravel especially towards the end. I am glad that he realized early on that he wanted to keep himself and others safe and that OTR wasn't for him. The experienced drivers all say the same thing about it time and time again, OTR isn't for everyone and its how you approach the challenges that make all the difference. I kinda like watching some of those videos and reading different forums because it gives me a realistic view and understanding about trucking and I feel like I will be ready for those challenges because I will not be surprised when things happen... and things always happen... expect the unexpected....

Many moons ago when I was running 48 + Canada I used to stop at the Union 76 truck stop directly opposite the old Ontario Speedway in California. Seems like every time I was hung up for a weekend there they had no races. Or I'd get there on Wednesday and see the signs for a big race but they'd load me for the east as fast as I was empty!!

Such is life on the road!!

I didn't watch any of his other videos because I'm currently limited to 6GB of data, but just based on the length and number of videos he posted I could just tell that he had to have been 100% committed going in. And if he didn't like it after experiencing the road/lifestyle for six months I can't say with 100% certainty that I won't feel the same way. I hope that's not the case for me.

I will say that I just realized that I might want to be a trucker a couple months ago and I could have been at Prime by the 15th, but I realized quickly (and mainly by reading a lot on this site) that I need to be totally prepared before I even dare show up. I don't want to wash out because I didn't do my due diligence.

That being said, why not try to get some more info on how to live life to the fullest out there! Vegas baby; Vegas... HAHAHAHA