Concerned Newbie

Some Intermodal drivers with Schneider drive regionally not locally. That's what I'll be doing. And I'm not referring to a day cab. I'm talking about a cab with a sleeper only. No space for seating, counter top or refrigerator. Why I called it a short cab. Maybe it's referred to as a coffin sleeper as another poster mentioned.

I think he's talking about a day cab. Sleeper berths (and all the creature comforts within) are reserved for drivers who don't get to go home every night. A lucky few day cab drivers have their employers spring for hotel rooms if they don't get to go home. That little RV in the back adds to the cost of the truck and subtracts from the mpg of the truck so companies don't usually spring for sleeper berths for local, home daily jobs.

Intermodal drivers generally go home every night and get weekends off. Intermodal is limited to within 150 miles of the port/railhead. How about a nutritious breakfast in the privacy of your own home before you leave for work in the morning and a brown bag lunch?

Francis, just a couple of thoughts. Coleman makes a 12V picnic cooler you can plug into your power port. Then you basically have a portable refrigerator. More basic, but Schneider has commercial ice machines at every operating center. If you have a ice chest, just get ice from Schneider and use it to keep your fresh food cold. Free ice! Now if someone could invent ice that doesn’t melt, I would be very grateful.

Some Intermodal drivers with Schneider drive regionally not locally. That's what I'll be doing. And I'm not referring to a day cab. I'm talking about a cab with a sleeper only. No space for seating, counter top or refrigerator. Why I called it a short cab. Maybe it's referred to as a coffin sleeper as another poster mentioned.

Learn something new every day. So, you're regional intermodal in a coffin sleeper. I've seen coffin sleepers on O/O rigs, just never on a major fleet truck before.

You don't want to depend on truck stop food 100%, but it's also difficult to plan, pack and prepare weeks worth of meals in advance. For me it's about having options and never running out of food. I stock up on oatmeal, paper bowls and plastic spoons. You can count out the bowls, spoons and oatmeal packets in advance and store them in gallon plastic ziplock bags so there's nothing to pack off the truck when you turn it in for home time. Only requires a coffee mug to make oatmeal. Take the mug into the truck stop and fill it with hot water (there's usually a tap on the coffee machines). Take your water back to the truck, dump the oatmeal into the paper bowl and add hot water. Breakfast! You can get oatmeal prepackaged with blueberries, cinnamon, or whatever you're into.

Stock up on healthy snacks at your local grocery store where they are cheap and plentiful so you won't be tempted to buy more expensive and less healthy alternatives at the truck stops. Unsalted nuts, jerky, dehydrated fruit or whatever you're into.

I knew a driver who used a large Dometic freezer in his truck. He stored it on the floorboards between the driver and passenger seats. He kept frozen dinners and various things he could microwave in it. I thought it was odd at the time because his route only required him to be on the road 2 days a week. He was happy with it though.

I think there's some unintentional confusion here. The trucks Francis will be using are probably what is commonly referred to as a Light Weight truck. The cabin is shorter on them to reduce weight. That allows them to carry a little heavier freight when needed. I don't think these are fitted with "coffin sleepers." These are just Light Weight trucks like Prime likes to use in their fleet.

Yep. The bunk is directly behind the seats. Those cabinets/storage area is gone for the shorter wheelbase.

I got 1 of those at Gardners, for 3 weeks,until I could get a full sleeper. Yes it sucked, not having a fridge etc, especially, when I got stuck out of hours and no snacks/drinks. I told my DM and kept reminding him, I need a FULL sleeper truck, with a fridge hahaha... He kept making excuse after excuse. Finally, I got ahold of a 2019 FL full sleeper!!

Francis, just a couple of thoughts. Coleman makes a 12V picnic cooler you can plug into your power port. Then you basically have a portable refrigerator. More basic, but Schneider has commercial ice machines at every operating center. If you have a ice chest, just get ice from Schneider and use it to keep your fresh food cold. Free ice! Now if someone could invent ice that doesn’t melt, I would be very grateful.

Bruce: 'Dry Ice' ~ Reusable for coolers; flexible.

Francis; The Dometic coolers are the best, IMHO : Dometic Coolers

And also, Francis; for heating something up: Hot Logic Mini Oven

These are the actual products I used in my SUV, when my daughter was on a statewide traveling soccer team. They fit in the back of my Jeep Liberty, along with me and the kids. All worked very well, considering! Saved money on fast food; much healthier, as well.

Hope this helps!

~ Anne ~

ps: Man, I'm really gonna have to hunt for a picture of that SNI tractor. Then again, if it's just like a Prime L/W . . . how the HECK does one TRAIN a student in that little of space ?!? And then... a 3 week out "slip seat?"

pps: Glad it's NOT a coffin sleeper!! Yeow~!!!! I'm glad O/S kinda confirmed it; y'all had my HEAD spinning!!

~ Anne ~

Some Intermodal drivers with Schneider drive regionally not locally. That's what I'll be doing. And I'm not referring to a day cab. I'm talking about a cab with a sleeper only. No space for seating, counter top or refrigerator. Why I called it a short cab. Maybe it's referred to as a coffin sleeper as another poster mentioned.

Learn something new every day. So, you're regional intermodal in a coffin sleeper. I've seen coffin sleepers on O/O rigs, just never on a major fleet truck before.

You don't want to depend on truck stop food 100%, but it's also difficult to plan, pack and prepare weeks worth of meals in advance. For me it's about having options and never running out of food. I stock up on oatmeal, paper bowls and plastic spoons. You can count out the bowls, spoons and oatmeal packets in advance and store them in gallon plastic ziplock bags so there's nothing to pack off the truck when you turn it in for home time. Only requires a coffee mug to make oatmeal. Take the mug into the truck stop and fill it with hot water (there's usually a tap on the coffee machines). Take your water back to the truck, dump the oatmeal into the paper bowl and add hot water. Breakfast! You can get oatmeal prepackaged with blueberries, cinnamon, or whatever you're into.

Stock up on healthy snacks at your local grocery store where they are cheap and plentiful so you won't be tempted to buy more expensive and less healthy alternatives at the truck stops. Unsalted nuts, jerky, dehydrated fruit or whatever you're into.

I knew a driver who used a large Dometic freezer in his truck. He stored it on the floorboards between the driver and passenger seats. He kept frozen dinners and various things he could microwave in it. I thought it was odd at the time because his route only required him to be on the road 2 days a week. He was happy with it though.

Pearl, that is EXACTLY how we did it, in my lil' ole Jeep! Tom was OTR , and the kiddos and I did exactly this! Yes sir, even to the oatmeal, add bananas! The 'free' lodging (for overnights) was a 'dorm' type of facility, and the dinner was simple...FOR the players. Mom (me) and brother (Franklin) were looking at $12.00 a plate! Ha! Our 'brought' food was better, anyway! Water bottles with MiO, or plain. No pop for sports, saved room in the cooler! A case of water (rotating through the dometic) was all we needed, and more. We roughed it, enjoyed it, and stayed out of the McD's next door, for sure!!

I pack Tom a Coleman lunch box type cooler now; for his daycab. Saves money, and the extra pounds he doesn't need! I really should get him a Dometic, though. Maybe for his b'day in August; before winter...? Or maybe I should get him a HotLogic to warm his ham & cheese sandwiches for the next 'cold snap.' (?!?) Between the seats, in the DayCab!

Excellent stuff, indeed! I let the daughter keep the Dometic when she moved on & out... sadly.

~ Anne ~

ps: Anyone have a pic or a vid of the interior of one of those 'darlings?' I'd rather 'have' a coffin sleeper, if it IS that dang small, haha!

I got 1 of those at Gardners, for 3 weeks,until I could get a full sleeper. Yes it sucked, not having a fridge etc, especially, when I got stuck out of hours and no snacks/drinks. I told my DM and kept reminding him, I need a FULL sleeper truck, with a fridge hahaha... He kept making excuse after excuse. Finally, I got ahold of a 2019 FL full sleeper!!

Stevo Reno !!!! Do you have any pix, showing how small they are, (or how large they are not ?!?!?)

:) Anne :)

I just went on YouTube and typed, "Freightliner Lightweight Tractor". There are several videos there showing the interior of these tractors. Not in my future...

I just went on YouTube and typed, "Freightliner Lightweight Tractor". There are several videos there showing the interior of these tractors. Not in my future...

Thanks, hun! OMW ~!!! (I bet Kearsey has a vid, eh?)

How'BOUT that NASCAR ?!?!? FedEx, AND a Toyota !! It's all good. Was a good race, what little I saw & heard.

Seriously, why BOTHER with that small area?!?!? Just 'glancing' at the vid pix.. how ? Train ?

SMDH..

Thanks, tho! Nope here, too.

~ Anne ~