Comments By Tastebuds

Jeez, you Americans are so blessed. We have our own list of things we like and don't like and things we simply won't eat or drink meanwhile my relatives in Ukraine would fall on their knees to beg for raw potatoes.

It'll be difficult to eat like a kind every day especially if you're not the one cooking it. However, if you do eat as you like then you probably won't be bringing any money home because you'll be spending your entire paycheck on food.

No, my per diem should pretty much cover eating three hot squares, or one cold square for lunch, out daily even at places with healthy menu choices.

To cook the things I normally eat at home, I need a chest freezer, a full-size refrigerator, a blender, a toaster, a large microwave, Tupperware, a cheese grater, a gas or electric range stove and oven and a Weber gas grille. Not the normal food-service facilities the OTR driver will normally have access to all across the fruited plain. As well as a sink with running hot water, an automatic dishwasher, cupboards, spice racks: I mean a full-on household kitchen. Is their any reason under the sun that restaurants normally frequented by the OTR drivers cannot offer sensible menu choices? Can they not spray the skillet with PAM if the customer asks for it instead of drowning hash browns in oil? Can they not stock LEAN ham and LEAN ground beef? Why do these industries poison drivers with fat, sugar, calories and cholesterol? I wish the federal government would mandate that all truck stop restaurants offer healthy meal choices. Can this fat-slob image of big-rig drivers that the American food industry perpetuates ever end?

Of course, fresh fruit like grapefruit halves can be easily packed along inside the rig. I am sure the rig will have provisions for milk in the fridge. I have a bunch of Coleman coolers too.

If you are willing to be creative you can easily cook for yourself. Here is a list of items that may/may not be beneficial to you.

12v - Thermoelectric Cooler (Coleman), coffee pot (for making hot water at the least), crockpot, electric skillet, rice cooker, lunchbox oven (nice because cleanup is easy with aluminum inserts)

(Do note that in my opinion most 12v appliances you find in truck stops are cheaply made and do not last long)

120v (obviously need an inverter) - SMALL microwave, dorm Frig (I wouldn't dare go any bigger), crockpot, coffee pot, rice cooker, small electric skillet, small blender/juicer (think Ninja).

120v items are cheaper than 12v versions. About 1/4 the price for similar size. However they are not made for the jarring and bouncing. The size of the inverter needed will depend on how many 120v items you have and how powerful each is.

It may be a good idea to mix/match 120v and 12v to achieve your desired results.

Like: 12V thermoelectric cooler, small microwave, 12v electric skillet, 12v rice cooker, 120v crockpot, 120v small bullet style blender/juicer.

I think the word you are looking for is "fridge". You may want to Google the word "frig" to see what it means. Trust me!

Here's a picture of a Freightliner battery switch, right inside the driver's door. Pete and KW switches are pretty much the same.

I'm preparing to go home for my first hometime also. I drive a 2015 S h i t brown Peterbilt, aka Demon Turd, and I don't have a shutoff switch in that location. I know the 2 Freightliners I trained had one there and the Pete's at school had one outside on the frame. Do Pete's normally have them?

I had a Pete 587 that had one in a similar location. I'm not sure about other models. Which do you have?

Demon Turd is a 587.

Jeez, you Americans are so blessed. We have our own list of things we like and don't like and things we simply won't eat or drink meanwhile my relatives in Ukraine would fall on their knees to beg for raw potatoes.

It'll be difficult to eat like a kind every day especially if you're not the one cooking it. However, if you do eat as you like then you probably won't be bringing any money home because you'll be spending your entire paycheck on food.

No, my per diem should pretty much cover eating three hot squares, or one cold square for lunch, out daily even at places with healthy menu choices.

To cook the things I normally eat at home, I need a chest freezer, a full-size refrigerator, a blender, a toaster, a large microwave, Tupperware, a cheese grater, a gas or electric range stove and oven and a Weber gas grille. Not the normal food-service facilities the OTR driver will normally have access to all across the fruited plain. As well as a sink with running hot water, an automatic dishwasher, cupboards, spice racks: I mean a full-on household kitchen. Is their any reason under the sun that restaurants normally frequented by the OTR drivers cannot offer sensible menu choices? Can they not spray the skillet with PAM if the customer asks for it instead of drowning hash browns in oil? Can they not stock LEAN ham and LEAN ground beef? Why do these industries poison drivers with fat, sugar, calories and cholesterol? I wish the federal government would mandate that all truck stop restaurants offer healthy meal choices. Can this fat-slob image of big-rig drivers that the American food industry perpetuates ever end?

Of course, fresh fruit like grapefruit halves can be easily packed along inside the rig. I am sure the rig will have provisions for milk in the fridge. I have a bunch of Coleman coolers too.

There are not as many "big fat slob drivers" as you may think there is. I've seen many people out here exercising and practicing a healthy life style. If they can do it, so can you.

This means low in fat, sodium, artificial sweeteners and sugars.

This means high in protein, starches, fruits and vegetables.

This means full-course meals.

For breakfast I like oatmeal with low/non-fat milk and no butter and sugar. I also like fresh grapefruit. Also, I like shredded potatoes fried in a PAM-coated pan, scrambled eggs and lean fried ham.

For lunch I like salads with salad mix, non-fat plain yogurt, a tablespoon of real mayonnaise and canned chicken. Sometimes, I like sardines in water with my salad and steak sauce as a dressing mixed with plain yogurt.

For dinner, it is spaghetti of Stroganoff made with 7% fat beef and non-fat plain yogurt to replace sour cream in Stroganoff. I grille skinless breast chicken. My pasta sauce has to be low fat and low or no sugar. I do use barbecue sauce on grilled meats. I like vegetables as spinach, green beans, carrots. For starches I like white rice, Spanish rice, pasta or refried beans. I use low sodium soy sauce on rice.

It would be nice if truck stop restaurants would offer lean/low sodium/low-sugar healthy-choice menus.

Are truck stops non-smoking as well? I don't smoke.

If I were to become an over-the-road driver, I would not want to be burdened with cooking my own meals. The job is tough enough as it is and personal time is precious. I would like to rather spend my downtime sleeping or working out to stay fit.

I like bottled water and juice drinks made with 100% fruit juice diluted down with 75% bottled water. I don't drink water from a tap or fountain.

For deserts I like smoothies (super low-cal shakes) made with low/non-fat milk, frozen or fresh fruit as strawberries or pineapple and a splash of imitation or real vanilla. Smoothies is something that may be made in a sleeper unit easily with a power inverter and an Osterizer.

Yeah, it's called Subway. And they are everywhere. And by everywhere, I mean everydamnwhere! I wish truck stops would realize there are other subshops than Subway. That and Arby's, I'm sick of both of them.

I hope nobunny got hurt

VERY good point! I hereby offer my services to ... comfort any bunny that is currently mentally distraught. Free of charge, of course!

Speaking of the Bunny Ranch. At the end of OIF1 they had offered a free, ummmm, 'sample' for all returning war veterans, lol. I wonder how many soldiers took them up on the offer?

Why does it only have to be "soldiers"? Sailors and Marines aren't good enough? You're such a servicist!

Here's a picture of a Freightliner battery switch, right inside the driver's door. Pete and KW switches are pretty much the same.

I'm preparing to go home for my first hometime also. I drive a 2015 S h i t brown Peterbilt, aka Demon Turd, and I don't have a shutoff switch in that location. I know the 2 Freightliners I trained had one there and the Pete's at school had one outside on the frame. Do Pete's normally have them?

Semi-Truck Driver Crashes Through Doors at Moonlite Bunny Ranch

The entrance of the Bunny Ranch in Mound House was destroyed after a stolen semi-truck was rammed into the building around 3:30 a.m. Thursday morning.

Nice choice of words considering the location!

I've gotta ask how often do you need a separate GPS?

I've had very few issues with using Qualcomm, RM Atlas for planning and alternate routing. Google maps for customer satellite view.

Initially it was high on my list, but after a couple of months way down on my priority list. Good cooler. (After 2 Colemans died) Good mattress CB... Grr, was fine in the Intl, now more stuff needed.. stoopid freightliner. XM radio TV, Blu-ray player.

Not in that order, but ya.. Still no pressing need to drop 400 on a GPS other than maybe Bling factor

The Rand McNally has a lot more truck stops and hotels with truck parking listed, as well as Walmart. The Qualcomm we use seems to be limited to the big chains and many great parking spots can be missed.

I usually set the QC to my destination and the McNally to my various stops/parking. This way I can immediately see if I'm running behind and more easily find parking. If I need to drive further or less than planned, its not a big deal cause I put several parking options in and can decide without stress.

The nav system on my qc is why I don't fear being replaced by self-driving trucks. I can't tell you how much time I've wasted waiting will it was "asking for root" many minutes later "building root" start driving "I'm sorry, I need to reboot. Goodbye!"

I'm heading there tomorrow, not sure what time I'll get there or how long I'll stay.