Question:
Hi Everyone, I found this forum the other night and decided this is right where I need to be in hopes of getting answers to my questions. My husband has driven a truck most of his life and is going to drive until his feet won't move anymore or until he is told he cannot park a big rig at the nursing home!
He has driven some OTR in the past but has been driving locally for many, many years until the children were grown. They are grown and gone now and the time has come for him to go OTR and he says he is not going without me!!! Did I promise him that when I asked him to stay local until the children were grown......Hmmm I think he must be coming down with something!
Are there any ladies here on the forum that could give me some idea what it is like to live on the road? Are there do's and don'ts to this kind of lifestyle. I really do want to give this my best effort because I know how badly he wants to show me the USA through the windshield of a big rig. I love to travel and love seeing the landscape so I am sure this is a plus. Any advice? Would like to hear from any wives, or any drivers who might have some helpful input for me. Oh me, I took a look at the closet space last night and do not have a clue where hubby is going to put "HIS" clothes!!! LOL I keep telling myself this is going to be fun, fun, fun! It is isn't it? Your all having a good time, aren't you? Is hubby lying to me?
Also, I work from home now and he says I can continue my work on the truck now that they have wireless internet access at some of the Truck Stops. Are there good and bad laptops for this kind of wireless service? Right now I am checking into the Flying J and Truckstop.net for wireless access. Will it be best to have both these services or is just one enough? Would appreciate any suggestions.
WompaDooka2
(Sorry for the long post!)

Answer:

Have you checked out the Family Room Forum? Lotsa good info from the ladies over there.

I initially bought the Flying J Wi-Fi. I bought the 1 year subscription. As my needs (wants), expanded, I've came to the point where I'll buy 'air time' from T/A's, Pilots or Petro's in 24 hour blocks. This costs somewhere around $5 for 24 hours. I use the same air card that I got from Flying J, just buy service from others. To me, it's not worth having multiple 1 year subscriptions for internet access.
The only really bad part about any of the 'truck stop wi-fi's' is that if you want internet access, you have to park at a truckstop. But I can't justify $80 a month or more for a wireless card from AT&T, Verizon or Sprint.

Answer:
Thanks Hoss, going to copy and paste my post in the Family forum.
Yes I agree, $80.00 a month is a little much when you do not have to be on the Internet every second of the day which I do not. Your suggestions sound great to me. Now for a really dumb question! If your inside the truckers lounge and lets say you have an AOL account, are there phone jacks that they will let you use to access the Internet while inside?
WompaDooka2

Answer:

The only dumb questions are ones that aren't asked.

Most truckstops have phone jacks in the restaurant or drivers lounge (booths).
It's a pain in the butt to pack up and drag a laptop inside the building, especially if you have your bag and trying to kill 2 birds with 1 stone by showering, eating and working online. That's a lot of stuff to be dragging around.

Answer:
Also, somewhere in the Newbies Forum here, is a thread called "Hi-Tech Trucking". Buzzdog is the author and there is more than 100 replies. Lots of good info in that thread.
Use the search feature (just above the list of threads near the center of the page) and type in that title or the authors name. Should have no problem finding it.

Answer:
Most, if not all, the major truckstops, and many of the independants have data ports available for dial up connections located somewhere in the truckstop. This may be in the resteraunt, the driver's lounge, the phone room, or in a dedicated computer room (or a combo there of).
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As far as living on the road with your husband I can offer you some advice/tips/etc.
1. You will be sharing a space the size of a walk in closet. Make sure that you find a place for everything and keep everything in its place. Take what you truly need and then if there is space left over the start thinking about stuff you want.
2. Make and take time for yourself while on the road. Since you will be cooped up with each other 90% of the time this is very important for both of you.
3. Realize and respect that there may be times when your husband wants/needs to sleep and you don't. If he lays down to rest allow him the time to do so without resentment or complaint.
4. When parked develop some sort of signal to alert your husband that you are out of the truck. This can be something as simple as placing a shirt or hat or whatever on the steering wheel. This way you dont have to worry about getting left behind on accident.
5. Talk about and understand the safety "rules" for being in, on and around trucks, truck stops, warehouses, etc.
6. For a lot of couples that travel together it seems to help when the non driving spouse "helps" the driving spouse by taking over some of the non driving duties like filling out paperwork etc.
7. Try to understand just how stressful driving a truck really is and try not to take it personally if your husband becomes moody and snaps at you. H emost likely is not really angry with you, but with some moronic issue he is trying to deal with.
8. Before you leave the house the first time talk about what happens if you get out there and things do not work out. Make sure that it is OK for you to return home if one or both of decide that it just isnt what you want.
9. Make sure someone at home knows how to get in contact with you in the event of an emergency. Even if you have a cell phone make sure this person knows the company contact number they can use to relay a message if need be.
10. Take a camera. You are going to see things on the road that are wonderous in one way or another.
Answer:
I love it,we're going on a road trip for "Fantasy Island "again.
I tend to think the line between Dream and Nightmare is very narrow.

I've got one. Pack up next weekend and spend it in your local truckstop.
On the way there and back stop in some industrial areas. The action will be a small sample of the "lifestyle".
On a sidenote,personally I think your Husband needs his head examined.
Answer:
Ahh yes...if it were up to Rabelam there would be no more OTR trucks on earth.Although I'd take pictures of him milking his cow and squeezing his chickens (not choking) for eggs.
A great point was made. Go spend a few hours in a truck stop. The places we all deliver to, and pick up from are sometimes in the seedier parts of town.
Before I began my driving career I took a ride with the oh so Famous TaxiBob when he drove for Hill Brothers. Being a passenger is boring. Oh yeah the first few days was great. After 19 days...I wanted out of that truck. I should go find that thread.....

Answer:

Ahh yes one of the "Coolies" wrong again is his assumptions.
If it were up to me,Drivers would have it "better".
The Coolie Carriers would be paying for the free accomadations provided by
others. The "Drivers" like yourself would be compansated higher
for what you produce and the sacrifices made. The "kids" would know what thier Fathers look like in person and not just a voice on the phone.
I would provide mental health treatment for those who were brainwashed
in thinking(snicker)it's a "Lifestyle" or Vacation for "Normal" people.
Answer:
My wife got in the truck 5 years ago. She took a week off from work.
She has not been back yet.
It is a change.
We have loved each other for a long time. The first week was ok. The second was very bad. I mean. Bad. Like physical bad. Not emotional. Living in 8x8 box with your love one can be hard.
Working from home on the net is easy in a truck. It is what has kept us sane. We pay the $80 a month for the sprint service for wireless. It is worth it to us.
Also, have two cell phones in the truck. Seems silly. It is worth if for safety sake.
My wife needs to go to the rest room at 2 am. She can go. If some one is giving her a prob. She can call me and I will go in and walk her back. What this dose I have no idea. I am not a big man or anything. Makes her feel good.
Be ready to be treated as a dog and a hooker at every truck stop unless a man is with you at all times.
I would say.
Do it one of two ways.
I drove local before running otr. OTR was new to me and my wife.
I would say either be all in, or all out.
All out you let him get settled down then get in the truck. This has problems.
All in you and him go together. Make sure the carrier knows that they get both of you, not just him the driver. You learn all the stuff that goes with it. Go to orientation. Learn the operations and all. Many carriers will allow and support this.
You two may find that you are two different folks in a truck all the time.
Some folks want to live diff lives in the truck. We did this for a while. It was not easy.
She wanted to sleep while I drove and be up when I slept. This didn’t work. For us.
We talked and decided that we were in this together. We were working together. You really learn a lot about each other in a 8 x 8 box.
Went for years, my wife knew trucking. She basically worked in it. Helping folks back and all. Playing the bill signing game and all.
She said she would never get a CDL.After about 5 years one day she said screw this. I am tired of being seen as a passenger or a hooker. She said she wanted her CDL.
That was scary. She had never driven a car! She did it about a year ago. Best thing for her. Our lives have changed so much due to trucking. Mostly because we have talked about it and worked together.
To me the scary thing would be. Being together all this time together and happy then interdicting this HUGE change. Be all in or all out.
Living is easy. It is not as bad as many say it is.
Think camping with electricity and a bathroom every night in MOST cases.
TV, VCR/DVD. Lap top computer connections all over. Showers at the truck stop.
The travel centers will offer your shopping experience if needed.
You can be very comfortable if you like.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
Thanks for all the good advise here! I know this is going to be quite a transition for me and my husband but I truly believe we will do ok on the road. Change is never easy even in the best of situations. One thing I do know for sure is that we both will do our very best to make it work. We both trust the Lord and we will allow Him to be our guide. I do appreciate your honesty and I will visit a truckstop as you have suggested.
WD2

Answer:
Never gonna happen. It's not a job it's a life style. So what if your children are raised insingle parent homes. Dads livin the dream. It's not about money it's about big trucks and being cool. Maybe thats a "coolie"?
Doesn't apply here because the kids arew grown and might even be fun for a year or so. At least while it's still new.
By the way what the heck is a "Coolie"?
As far as having a laptop most work well if your store them in a way they dont bounce all over. For wireless i would go with Sprint. A little costly to start and about $80. a month but worth it if you can make some money.

Answer:

A bed and bowl of rice,it's all about the "lifestyle",the
Completely Delusional Losers .
Answer:

Yes, the children are all grown and settled in there own lives now. We were planning on traveling around the US country side in a small camper when he retired. But some major things changed in our life after three hurricanes, and the door to travel is wide open right now! So we asked ourselves, why set around and wait for retirement when we could go do it right now.
If it is Gods will for us to go, we are going to jump through the hoop and hit the road. If He closes the door, that only means He has something better in store for us. We are patiently waiting for His lead in this!
WD2

Answer:

What's your fee???
Seriously, I do know it is not going to be a vacation! But, I beleive any job can be what you make of it whether it be in an office or in a truck! If you love what your doing, you will do it not matter what sacrifices you have to make. Isn't that why "you" are all out there in those big trucks today? Because you "love" doing it? Yeah I hear some say "it's a job and they have to make a living" but I do not beleive that it is "just a job"! You would have to love it to do it!!!
My father drove a truck the whole time I was growing up. I never knew him. Never even spent time with him until he ended up in a nursing home the last 3 years of his life. As I was getting to know him I had to wonder what this man would have been like to have had around when I was a child. I never held it against him, but I did say to everyone that I would "Never Ever" marry a trucker........guess what.....I married one! Go figure! Now, I "never" use the word "NEVER" anymore.
My husband was not like my father, staying home and running local until the children were grown was not a hard choice for him to make. We both knew that was going to be best for our children. Now is the time for the OTR trucking for us! We all make choices in life and sometimes we don't make the best choice since we cannot see what's coming ahead but we learn from them. What works for one does not always work for another.
Now about your fees Rabelam, will we be able to afford it on a Truckers wages??? Or do you have a payment plan you can set up for us! Does your fees cover meals too!
WD2