Cost Of Living OTR

Hello Harvest, Yeah I have heard that staying out of truck stops is a good choice given their cost and that most have a lot of junk food. I guess a better way to phrase this question would be to ask: After groceries and cell phone/data are there any regular expenses that you see living out of the truck that have a sizeable impact?

Things like showers are pretty much free with you getting fuel at your company's truck stop of choice. You also get quite a bit of free food that way too, so if you do get caught with not enough from the grocery store, you can save money that way too.

I had heard of free showers but you also get some sort of meal points as well?

Points are points for merchandise in the chain truck stops. Essentially it's free money for a driver because your company is spending their money, while the driver benefits through their personal points rewards card.

Shower credits are usually after purchasing 50-60 gallons of fuel = 1 free shower. Other truck stops have it set to where you accumulate a higher number of gallons purchased that month, then it's unlimited showers.

I now use the Walmart app and have my groceries delivered to the truck. Usually cost about 10 to 12$ fee. Some months I will make two deliveries sometimes just 1 . I average 600$ per month but there is 2 of us. We may do a sit down meal 2 times a week if I can find a descent place to eat. I know longer eat any fast food.

I spend right around $350 - $400 a month but that does include things aside from just groceries. I also vape so I’ll keep a little extra cash to pick up the items for that as well as having extra cash on the truck for potential emergencies. My wife actually encourages me to get out of the truck and enjoy a decent meal once a week because we do with a lot of hours, crazy ones at times and you really do need to separate yourself from the grind.

Hello Harvest, Yeah I have heard that staying out of truck stops is a good choice given their cost and that most have a lot of junk food. I guess a better way to phrase this question would be to ask: After groceries and cell phone/data are there any regular expenses that you see living out of the truck that have a sizeable impact?

Things like showers are pretty much free with you getting fuel at your company's truck stop of choice. You also get quite a bit of free food that way too, so if you do get caught with not enough from the grocery store, you can save money that way too.

I had heard of free showers but you also get some sort of meal points as well?

The different chains have professional driver rewards cards. Scan the card when fueling (or activate fueling through the app to get a code). Pilot/Flying J has a progressive scale for earning points per gallon of fuel purchased. It starts at 1 point/gallon. Every 75 gallon purchase/24 hour period increases the points/per gallon by .5, to a maximum of 4 points/gallon. Last year Pilot/Flying J was frequently offering the potential to reach 5 points/gallon. Those points are equal to $.01/point in value for making in-store purchases.

The only time I don't do all the cooking on the truck is when it's in the shop. I eat anything I want to try and I eat very well. No poptarts, hot pockets, peanut butter sandwiches, or ramen noodles here.

How do you do your dishes? I want to cook my own food if I do OTR again. But always wondered how you keep everything clean.

The only time I don't do all the cooking on the truck is when it's in the shop. I eat anything I want to try and I eat very well. No poptarts, hot pockets, peanut butter sandwiches, or ramen noodles here.

How do you do your dishes? I want to cook my own food if I do OTR again. But always wondered how you keep everything clean.

I keep an extra gallon jug of water, a small bottle of Dawn and paper towels. I clean up immediately after things cool off so I don’t spend as much time cleaning up. It’s like anything else, you have to dedicate yourself to it and go through the motions every time.

The only time I don't do all the cooking on the truck is when it's in the shop. I eat anything I want to try and I eat very well. No poptarts, hot pockets, peanut butter sandwiches, or ramen noodles here.

How do you do your dishes? I want to cook my own food if I do OTR again. But always wondered how you keep everything clean.

I keep an extra gallon jug of water, a small bottle of Dawn and paper towels. I clean up immediately after things cool off so I don’t spend as much time cleaning up. It’s like anything else, you have to dedicate yourself to it and go through the motions every time.

I guess you could also get one of those 5 gallon jugs with the spigot on the side and situate it in one of the side compartments if there is room. That way you could have hands free stream.

The only time I don't do all the cooking on the truck is when it's in the shop. I eat anything I want to try and I eat very well. No poptarts, hot pockets, peanut butter sandwiches, or ramen noodles here.

How do you do your dishes? I want to cook my own food if I do OTR again. But always wondered how you keep everything clean.

Paper towels, then Clorox wipes. When off, I take all dishes and utensils and wash with soap and water. I mainly use paper plates and bowls on the truck.

It's one thing that's held me back from cooking with anything other than disposable dishes is how to deal with the waste water from cleaning. I have room for a camping type water container with *****ot, just not sure about a catch basin and disposal yet.

It's one thing that's held me back from cooking with anything other than disposable dishes is how to deal with the waste water from cleaning. I have room for a camping type water container with *****ot, just not sure about a catch basin and disposal yet.

If it's just water from cleaning dishes, dumping it out on the ground shouldn't be a problem, or is it?