Here is a link to a Youtube vid I made of the Carthage Mo Caves I made a delivery at about 2 years ago.
Relationships....its tough. Very tough if you are in one before hitting the road and your other half sits at home waiting on you to return. Now if your single and driving its extremism hard to start one. Your gone all the time and whom ever you start to date is going to want you around a lot more than just 1 to 2 times ever few weeks.
Here is a link to a Youtube vid I made of the Carthage Mo Caves I made a delivery at about 2 years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi2UJ2hvbz8&list=UUq-hK-lp2v_rDTTnzKwbifA&index=12
Relationships....its tough. Very tough if you are in one before hitting the road and your other half sits at home waiting on you to return. Now if your single and driving its extremism hard to start one. Your gone all the time and whom ever you start to date is going to want you around a lot more than just 1 to 2 times ever few weeks.
Ive been to Carthage, just not Kansas City. Ive been told its smaller?
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Here is a link to a Youtube vid I made of the Carthage Mo Caves I made a delivery at about 2 years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi2UJ2hvbz8&list=UUq-hK-lp2v_rDTTnzKwbifA&index=12
Relationships....its tough. Very tough if you are in one before hitting the road and your other half sits at home waiting on you to return. Now if your single and driving its extremism hard to start one. Your gone all the time and whom ever you start to date is going to want you around a lot more than just 1 to 2 times ever few weeks.
Ive been to Carthage, just not Kansas City. Ive been told its smaller?
There are a few caves in KC that you literally have inches to work with. The only time I went there I made a right hand turn into the cave and before I could even get straight i was making a left. They are super tight but doable if you take your time. Use every bit of space that you can get plus some. It can come down to inches when moving in some of the caves.
For those experienced drivers how do you manage a relationship on the road?
Oh for me it was simple. I was able to run away from relationships on the road just as quickly as I could at home. Even faster maybe! 
Honestly, I don't know how people do it. I'm a true loner - always have been - so I'm happier on my own. But for the normal people out there, I really don't know how they do it. When I was in the mood for someone to talk to on the road I would head for the counter at the truck stop restaurant and say "Can you believe those gun control advocates? Those people hate America!" I instantly had a whole group of friends 
Believe it or not, I really would go to the counter when I was in the mood for conversation. I realize full well you're talking about wanting a real relationship, not just a gun control conversation, but I'm the wrong one to talk to about that. You'll have to throw that question at Starcar in her Ladies Of Trucking Forum. She wanted a forum just for the ladies of trucking so she'd absolutely love to hear from ya. She comes here too of course, but the ladies forum is her baby. I even have to knock before entering 

For those experienced drivers how do you manage a relationship on the road?
Oh for me it was simple. I was able to run away from relationships on the road just as quickly as I could at home. Even faster maybe!
Honestly, I don't know how people do it. I'm a true loner - always have been - so I'm happier on my own. But for the normal people out there, I really don't know how they do it. When I was in the mood for someone to talk to on the road I would head for the counter at the truck stop restaurant and say "Can you believe those gun control advocates? Those people hate America!" I instantly had a whole group of friends
Believe it or not, I really would go to the counter when I was in the mood for conversation. I realize full well you're talking about wanting a real relationship, not just a gun control conversation, but I'm the wrong one to talk to about that. You'll have to throw that question at Starcar in her Ladies Of Trucking Forum. She wanted a forum just for the ladies of trucking so she'd absolutely love to hear from ya. She comes here too of course, but the ladies forum is her baby. I even have to knock before entering
I've definately been known to sit down at the counter and have conversations lol A nice smile and a pretty girl tend to get "instant" friends lol I love to be alone myself for the most part but I definately miss having that "connection" there's just somethings you can't do by yourself;-) lol
Wow Redgator, the same exact thing has just happened to me. I was in a relationship that I thought was very serious and we were going to team drive, he has completly dropped off the radar. So rather than buckle, I am going to do this on my own, I am scared to death and I would love to be in a team situation someday, but this time no rush, lol. Good luck to you and keep updates coming. It helps to know what I will be facing in a few short weeks!
Kathy, you definately should read all my updates on the other site before it closes:) I had a CRAZY first month out lol! Yea sometimes those men definately know how to build a strong woman;) I choose to leave mine cause I won't settle for less and although life OTR by yourself is intimidating you get the hang of it quick. Good luck to ya:)
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Kathy, you definately should read all my updates on the other site before it closes:)
The old forum is still going to remain there for everyone to read through. We're just not going to post in it anymore.
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Well its been a bit since my last update but not as long as the last time:) lol I'm just about settled in now. My backing has improved tremendously. I've been to docks recently that I did as a trainee and I can see the difference. I have another delivery to the caves tomorrow morning (YES I SAID CAVES!) This time in Kansas City, MO. I've heard these are smaller than Carthage? Anyone been in them? Important lesson I've learned recently is doing a full blown inspection of your vehicle after it comes out of the shop. I put my truck in for some work at one of our shops, got it back and due to some mechanical issues and having roadside have to come jump start my truck I was late an in a hurry and didn't do a full walk around. Well I happened to notice later that my back lights were smashed and hanging. Turns out someone in the shop must have backed my truck into something and just parked it and left it there. I didn't catch it so it looks like I hit something and I didn't. It messed up my whole air suspension in the back. Nothing happened to me thank goodness but it ****ed me off something good. I now refuse to bring my truck there and its my home terminal! Life on the road has become pretty much normal. However the loneliness is starting to kick in. I guess I should mention that originally I was suppose to be running team with a boyfriend but that just didn't quite work out. So now here I am on the road, alone. I find it hard to date because I'm never in the same place twice and non truckers just don't get it lol. I guess I could become one of those girls that Starcar warns about ;) but somehow truck hopping just doesn't have that appeal for me lol Guess I'm just not good lot lizard material after all! Lol Plus I'm a huge germaphobe and as we all know some of these truckers shadows smell! Lol For those experienced drivers how do you manage a relationship on the road? Advise, questions and comments appreciated.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.