Life On The Road (training)

Mikki asked me:

How did you fair with eating well? Food storage, laundry, showers? Anything you didn't have that you wished you did? I have a Rand 720 and a kindle I would like to bring. Basic phone and phone plan right now. I think my next major purchase should be a much better phone and plan for wi fi and such. I also have a large Atlas, i won't bring that til i am solo. Are you using google earth and maps quite often? What are you using for keeping up with the weather? Just a few questions lol. I am sure I will have a much better idea shortly. Be safe.

Particular arrangements depend on your mentor. You should have storage for your own food, including cooler if your mentor has one. You will get the chance to shop at Walmart, etc. for fresh eats. You will probably have time for laundry at truck stop$. ($2.50 each for wash & dry).

I think mentors will buy your shower ($10 or so) from their fuel rewards account. The truck stops I've showered at take pains to provide really clean private shower rooms - think "hotel clean". Towels are usually provided. You may want to bring your own soap/shampoo. The soap provided is the same as in the hand-wash sinks, and smells like it. Bring your own laundry soap to avoid paying the extra dollar per load for the vending machine box.

I put my smart cell phone (Samsung Galaxy S4) through the wringer. Mail/text, banking, weather, some shopping, and internet (including all my TT posts!) are all done on it. WiFi when available.

Swift has Qualcomms on the trucks, which has GPS. But sometimes GoogMaps has a better picture. Also, VERY VALUABLE: use GoogMap Satellite to look at your docking setup before you pull in.

Any reader: feel free to add your own questions or suggestions about what to pack for road training.

Hi Errol! I of course appreciate any and all suggestions. I have a list of things to bring from other posts on TT I was more interested in what you specifically found most helpful. How was your last day? Best of luck to you as you go solo!

... I was more interested in what you specifically found most helpful. How was your last day?

Most helpful was the good phone (communication & TT updates) and the Google GPS. There were a few times we could do/see more with the Google maps than with the Qualcomm. And apps for truck stops was handy. The Kindle will help pass the time. I have a small 7" tablet & headphones I keep movies on. I use files, so internet/Netflix connections is no problem.

My mentor (Carlos on my diary) pulled out his Rand McNally Road Carrier Road Atlas exactly one time in the six weeks we drove together. Does that tell you how useful that Atlas Book is? (We had the Qualcomm GPS with company routing all the time.)

My final Road Training entries will be uploaded probably Saturday morning. (I'm at home now, with a real keyboard!!)

Hey Errol, you said above, "Particular arrangements depend on your mentor. You should have storage for your own food, including cooler if your mentor has one."

I was wondering, is glass a bad idea to use in trucks. For instance, would it be a bad idea to use a glass 5 gallon bottle to store water in, while the truck is moving. Also, for storage, would it be a bad idea to use the Pyrex glass containers with glass top and silicon lid seal inside a freezer, while the truck is moving. Any insight that anybody has on these two inquiries would be greatly appreciated. As, I am trying my best to keep my health in tact. Thanks guys

Glass containers are soooo last century! Poly containers, like all the water/ Gatorade bottles, and Rubbermaid. Mainly because it's lighter, and of course won't break.

Plus 5 gallons of anything inside the truck will just be in the way. I suggest a couple 1 gallon water bottles. And I doubt there will be a freezer available, anyway.

Hey errol, Can you email me at jhjjparker@aol.com I have some questions about swift. Thanks

Glass containers are soooo last century! Poly containers, like all the water/ Gatorade bottles, and Rubbermaid. Mainly because it's lighter, and of course won't break.

Plus 5 gallons of anything inside the truck will just be in the way. I suggest a couple 1 gallon water bottles. And I doubt there will be a freezer available, anyway.

Hey errol, Can you email me at jhjjparker@aol.com I have some questions about swift. Thanks

Glass containers are soooo last century! Poly containers, like all the water/ Gatorade bottles, and Rubbermaid. Mainly because it's lighter, and of course won't break.

Plus 5 gallons of anything inside the truck will just be in the way. I suggest a couple 1 gallon water bottles. And I doubt there will be a freezer available, anyway.

Jesse, We tequest that you post all of your questions on the forum. This way everyone benefits from the information exchanged.

Thank you!

Jesse asks:

Hey errol, Can you email me at jhjjparker@aol.com I have some questions about swift. Thanks

Go ahead and ask here. If I give you a wrong answer, G-Town and Paul will straighten me out.