Hi, I'm Kat, And I'm A Hoarder....

Instead of sacking out for the night, I have found myself "reorganizing" my truck. I bought some drawer storage things while I was home last weekend in the hopes that I could clear out some cabinet space and by default, free up the top bunk for a student in a couple of months. I'm beginning to think it's a futile effort. LOL I have even utilized the space under the bunk, and honestly, I don't think I have a bunch of unnecessary stuff just hoarded on the truck!

How do you guys that train do it?

It's tough, I'll be honest. I try to give my trainees the cabinets on the passenger side, keeping my things on the drivers side, in the closet and the tiny cabinet below it for socks and undies.

What makes it crazy is when a trainee doesn't pack appropriately, like appropriate bedding (sleeping bag please) or several suitcases. Seriously I had one bring THREE suitcases. I had to just tell her there was no way to fit that in my truck and asked her to leave her luggage in the trunk of her car and just fold her clothes and put them in the larger cabinet and that worked better.

I prepare most of my meals in my truck so when I have a trainee, my pantry items go into storage baskets under my bunk (a real PITA to access for cooking) and when I'm by myself those things go in the storage cabinets that they typically use. My grill is stored in a side box and my 3 in 1 cooker sits on the shelf beneath my closet.

I've ridden with three OTR trainers. The last and most generous one gave me a single closet. I'm not sure how he spared that room since he seemed to have a ton of stuff with him. The other two gave me no space at all other than what I could fit in the bunk with me. One of them didn't really even give that...he had numerous duffel bags in the upper bunk and moved them to the front when sleeping.

From what I've heard, most trainers don't provide any closet space to trainees...trainees are expected to bring a duffle bag or two and keep them in the upper bunk.

I have your same problem with space, Kat. All available storage space in my truck is completely full and I have more things I'd like to put in there but can't find a way to do so. I live in the truck full time so that is part of the problem. I do have a storage unit near my company's terminal and also have my vacation clothing stored with DUFL...when I take time off, I leave my work clothing in the truck and have the good people at DUFL send my suitcase to me.

Dave

Instead of sacking out for the night, I have found myself "reorganizing" my truck. I bought some drawer storage things while I was home last weekend in the hopes that I could clear out some cabinet space and by default, free up the top bunk for a student in a couple of months. I'm beginning to think it's a futile effort. LOL I have even utilized the space under the bunk, and honestly, I don't think I have a bunch of unnecessary stuff just hoarded on the truck!

How do you guys that train do it?

We are not allowed to have a trainee sleep with their luggage, but sometimes I'll sleep with mine (duffle I use as a shower bag). We have to make sure they have adequate room to store their things. I try to give them all the space on the passenger side cabinets and use the closet and the smallest cabinet for my things.

When I was going through TNT training, my first trainer didn't give me any storage space, but at Prime, we are told that whatever is taken to training goes in the top bunk with us. Since we were teaming, it wasn't a huge thing since the bottom bunk was the one being used most often. When we actually stopped and took a real break, the bunk was long enough that sleeping with a bag or two wasn't really an issue. My second trainer gave me the small cabinet that sits above the fridge. I am planning on training student drivers, so they won't be on my truck for months....probably three weeks tops. Just don't know if I can make myself team drive again. LOL

My truck has one big cabinet a small upper cabinet and two large drawers. My trainer used the top bunk and all the storage. I kept all my stuff on the bunk with me and still had room. I had one large duffel bad and a small backpack. While on the truck, I bought a bucket and 30 qt. cooler. Kept all that on the bunk with me. Any trainer who gives an trainee more space than one of the bunks, is being very generous. Your students should see this and know how lucky they are.

You should try having two people's and a cat worth of stuff in a mid roof! Let me tell ya, it takes some creative Tetris-style organization.

I have one full sized cabinet that bulky stuff just kind of gets thrown in. 2 smaller cabinets that have kitchen and bathroom stuff in. 2 large 3 drawer units on either end of the top bunk for clothes, movies/games, and kitchen stuff. 1 smaller 3 drawer unit in the middle of the top bunk for small things like socks and undies and office supplies. And every available nook and cranny cubbyhole is stuffed with random junk.

You should try having two people's and a cat worth of stuff in a mid roof! Let me tell ya, it takes some creative Tetris-style organization.

I have one full sized cabinet that bulky stuff just kind of gets thrown in. 2 smaller cabinets that have kitchen and bathroom stuff in. 2 large 3 drawer units on either end of the top bunk for clothes, movies/games, and kitchen stuff. 1 smaller 3 drawer unit in the middle of the top bunk for small things like socks and undies and office supplies. And every available nook and cranny cubbyhole is stuffed with random junk.

Does you company have any condos?

The newer KWs are full high rises but they go to drivers with seniority. Plus I don't think I'd go back to a KW anyway after falling in love with the handling of this ProStar.