A Few More Loose Ends

If you guys could chose where you wanted to run, can you share and why...

Getting ready to get started around the last Monday of this month, or the first monday of May. We are still working on the exact date but have agreed this looks like a go for both of us.

He mentioned that they run all states but stay out of california, and after training we would work with dispatch and choose an area we would like to run. He mentioned mid west, east coast, or all over, as examples . Just wanted to start thinking about how to answer when my time comes.

A few more more loose ends

I have most things in order and ready to go, because of the many great ideas presented here and appreciate all that you guys do and share.

But what is the best way to deal with your dirty clothes until you can wash them? I was just trying to think of something that would keep the clothes wash, and dirty clothes all together without taking up too much room, and be sanitary. Nothing really comes to mind. I thought about trying plastic bags in my duffel bag and try rotating with the dirty clothes in them as I made room removing my clean ones, but not sure? Also where do you keep your flip flops for showering and your wallet when driving, I don't nt want to sit on it, worry about loosing it or someone going for a stroll through my wallet why I am concentrating on driving.

Spell check really really sucks on this phone, it just enters what it wants....That would be for the second attempt to type flip flops for showering and wallet when driving.

If you guys could chose where you wanted to run, can you share and why...

This is obviously a personal choice, but as a rookie you really don't know yet what your personal choice might be, I recommend you go all over. That is what I did, and it was a grand adventure everyday. I crossed the country multiple times, and it became like an addiction. I loved the rambling lifestyle. I woke up in new places everyday and was constantly on the move. It was a fascinating time for me - it was like adrenaline.

Eventually I settled down into a dedicated account which still got me servicing most of the states. My dedicated account served all but the "Western Eleven." So, I still covered a broad area, and on occasion I would still make runs to Oregon, California, and Arizona. I tended to focus on the Northeast, but that was because I could make such good money on those runs. I was the only driver in a very small fleet of about fifteen who was willing to take those routes. That boosted my position of seniority with my dispatcher , and helped put me in a position of favor. Don't ever underestimate the power of being willing to do the runs that others refuse. That very fact helped my trucking career in a tremendous way.

what is the best way to deal with your dirty clothes until you can wash them?

I keep a laundry bag in the truck. I simply put my dirty clothes in there until I can get the chance to do laundry. Almost every truck stop has laundry facilities, and depending on your company, many terminals will have free laundry facilities. Doing laundry is something I just do when it is convenient. You will learn how this works. Loads sometimes have built in delays in them, and I will do laundry when I get a little extra time on a break. It becomes a part of your time management practices. I don't try to squeeze laundry in on a regular ten hour break unless it is absolutely necessary. I will do it when I'm on a 34 hour reset or just happen to be taking a little longer break than my regular ten. I may also choose to do laundry while my truck is at a terminal for service.

where do you keep your flip flops for showering and your wallet when driving?

I keep a small bag of toiletries. That's where my toothbrush and razor are. I keep things like deodorant and lotion in that bag. You can keep your shower shoes in that bag, or do like I do and just strap them to the outside of the bag. They are always with you that way when you go in and take a shower. Your truck will have some sort of pocket or storage bin available to stick your wallet when driving. I nave yet to be in a big rig that didn't have all kinds of little places to stick odds and ends.

Thanks for the good advice.

My company runs reefer/dry van so not a lot of dirt/grime do I get into, just mostly day old body. I have 2 laundry bags both are the mesh kind. The clean one keeps my clothes (8 shirts/undies/socks folded in sets. Those sets are separated in 3 by 2 pairs of jeans. So including the set I have on it's 3 kits or 9 days (I wear the Jean's 3 days). As I remove the dirties I refold them in a kit with undies/socks folded inside the shirt and I stick a dryer sheet in with the sock/undies and place them in my 2nd laundry bag. No smells. The full bag is one load and I keep 2 premade zip baggies of powder in my dirty bag. I have only needed to use 1 but have spare in case. Our company routes us through the terminal bi-weekly and that's where I get it done. But there has been plenty of opportunity to do it on the road, but why pay?

I have a shower backpack. Plain old black, 1 main pocket and 1 small pocket. When I head to shower a kit of clothes goes in on top of my soaps. Then the towel and the small pouch houses my toiletries. My flip-flops hang on the outside from the loop by a carabiner. Easy-peasy.

Similar to OS, I would suggest starting with an all over approach, until you figure out where you want to run. I personally dislike being east of the Mississippi River, but I still run it. I enjoy being out west but seeing as how I live in PA I have to go home sometime lol.

As far as clothes it's the same as OS, just keep a laundry bag, duffel bag whatever for dirty clothes. I stuff mine behind the passenger seat. Wallet goes in my front pocket, I don't take it out because I'll forget where I put it. There are so many small spaces to stash stuff in the truck it's ridiculous lol. I can't tell you how many phone charger cables I've lost lol.

My flip flops are in my smaller shower bag. It's a smaller duffel type bag that is just big enough to hold my toiletries bag and a spare set of clothes and a towel. Theres a pocket on the outside that holds my flip flops.

O.S. had the right ideas.

Where you entity to drive can be up to you - it never hurts to ask. You street told "work with dispatch", do start there. In the military occasionally we with for looking a "wish list" of what we would like to be staying. If was called a wifi list because it was Jeremy peregrine's and sister rarely get fulfilled.

For laundry I simply use a pillow case. Any kind of tabs for laundry soap put posts, as liquidate and prayers could slip.

Just let in high schools, yeah a gym bag with her stuff in it. Keep a towel & wish rag of your own for your terminal facilities. Truck stops will photos with laundry and very clean sister. Laundry is laundromat offices, the showers actually did but you'll get free shirts credit when you do up with diesel.

/\ /\ /\ Raw swipe keyboarding /\ /\ /\
No, I'm not on drugs.
\/ \/ \/ After I correct it, my actual thoughts \/ \/ \/

O.S. has the right ideas.

Where you want to drive can be up to you - it never hurts to ask. You were told "work with dispatch", so start there. In the military occasionally we would fill out a "wish list" of where we would like to be stationed. It was called a wish list because it was simply our preferences and wishes rarely get fulfilled.

For laundry I simply use a pillow case. Any kind of tabs for laundry soap will work, as liquida and pods could spil.

Just like in high school, keep a gym bag with yer stuff in it. Keep a towel & washcloth of your own for your terminal facilities. Truck stops will oblige with laundry and very clean showers. Laundry is laundromat prices, the showers actually cost but you'll get free shower credit when you fill up with diesel.

(I've always wanted to just "swipe out" a passage without first correcting it. Pretty funny! - but stay away from my sister anyway!)

Errol,

Please feel free to share the address of all truck stops that have photos of very clean sister in shower, that do not supply your very own wish rags! My vivid imagination was getting the best of me for a second, until I scrolled down a bit....lol

As a matter of fact Errol, skip the ones with entities as well!! LoL

O.S. had the right ideas.

Where you entity to drive can be up to you - it never hurts to ask. You street told "work with dispatch", do start there. In the military occasionally we with for looking a "wish list" of what we would like to be staying. If was called a wifi list because it was Jeremy peregrine's and sister rarely get fulfilled.

For laundry I simply use a pillow case. Any kind of tabs for laundry soap put posts, as liquidate and prayers could slip.

Just let in high schools, yeah a gym bag with her stuff in it. Keep a towel & wish rag of your own for your terminal facilities. Truck stops will photos with laundry and very clean sister. Laundry is laundromat offices, the showers actually did but you'll get free shirts credit when you do up with diesel.

/\ /\ /\ Raw swipe keyboarding /\ /\ /\
No, I'm not on drugs.
\/ \/ \/ After I correct it, my actual thoughts \/ \/

Omg, drugs?! I was wondering about a stroke. The more I read, the more I was confused. When I hit the raw swipe line, it hit me. I haven't laughed like that in while.