Question:
You're learning a new profession!
Concentrate on learning it! Master it!
The Artillery unit I was in over in Germany had the motto, "Striving to the highest".
I suggest you do the same.
Dress respectably
Act accordingly
Treat others as you would like to be treated
DO NOT lower yourself to their "so-called" standards
Set a "goal" (for yourself), a little higher than you normally would. Go for it!
You'd be amazed at how good it'll make you feel once you reach that goal.
Then set a higher one!
*******************************
"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
*******************************
"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)


Answer:
I tried to tell them that.
But they don't seem to listen.
There is always a new batch of folks like me coming along figuring it is going to be different for them.
To think, I was one of them 2 years ago and the experience of that is still fresh in my mind. Argh! I'm going to have nightmares now!

Answer:
I figure it is more important to prepare for their Big Camping Trip; this is what interests them about trucking, and this is why 99% of them aren't going to be driving OTR in a year. They are busy brainstorming and figuring out how much crap they can possibly cram in those trucks. I figure some are already up to around 4,000 pounds of crap, most of which they'll rarely use, if at all. It's funny to read, though. You'd think they were joining Lewis and Clark's expedition.
___________________________
Humans are amazing creatures. "With all the things you can train them to do, I've been considering getting one."-StoneyJay Gould
__________________________
This post coming to you live, from Jesus Land !!!

Answer:
Hey thats good...
My first trainer told me to come prepared as though I was going camping. I have lots of camping experience.
I considered showing up with my Coleman stove and 20 gallon propane tank, 1500 watt Honda generator, 20 inch TV & DVD player, 15 ft SmokerCraft with 20hp Mercury outboard, fishing gear, folding camp mattress, portable shower and dirt bike... but I wasn't sure there would be room left for freight in the trailer so I didn't.

Answer:
Originally posted by Paul56:
Hey thats good...
My first trainer told me to come prepared as though I was going camping. I have lots of camping experience.
I considered showing up with my Coleman stove and 20 gallon propane tank, 1500 watt Honda generator, 20 inch TV & DVD player, 15 ft SmokerCraft with 20hp Mercury outboard, fishing gear, folding camp mattress, portable shower and dirt bike... but I wasn't sure there would be room left for freight in the trailer so I didn't.
ROTFLMAO
"When everything seems to be going against you,
remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it."
Henry Ford.
"My grandfather once told me that there are two kinds of people: those who work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was less competition there."
-Indira Gandhi
Answer:
A rental car can not hold all my stuff. Have to get a Van every time. The two electric coolers. The microwave, all the other 12 volt cooking appliaces. The TV, VCR, DVD, and so on. Cloths for all weather conditions for two. Eat at a truck stop maybe 3 times a year. My birthday, the wifes birth day and aniversery. Haven't missed much. I still eat good. Steak and eggs in the morning and all. Just for 1 quarter the cost. That 2.50 round steak cut in halve with 4 eggs feed my wife and I fine in the morning. I guess I could be like many and pay the 7.00 for breakfast. 6.00 for lunch. 10.00 for dinner. 5 for the midnight snack. Or 46.00 a day for two. I will keep all my junk in the truck and do the same meals only better for 15.00 a day. Bet I have more at the end of the year to boot. Make some killer ribs. Look forward to getting in the truck to cook them. The broiled hens are also great. Mmm.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
Don't know must be different them most.
I'll say. I have to doubt it would be easy without the Wife in the truck? I realize everyone is different,I could never actually live in a Truck. Saving money is good,being a slave to it isn't.Nothing personal but"living"in a Truck to save money IMO is.If I couldn't afford to eat "out" I'd be looking for another job.
Mike
Let's all Chant...
"It's a Lifestyle and is what you make it"
Feel better?
Answer:
Sorry Hoss,
But I have to disagree with you.
One of the things a new driver has to "master" is the ability to live on a budget.
While doing so, one must eat!
I have managed to save a considerable amount of money by eating out of the truck. Health is another concern. Bologna sandwiches will kill you! So being creative about preparing food in the truck IS "mastering" your budget and your health.

Answer:
KatmanT...
It has been suggested to forget about the cooking initially... it isn't going to kill anyone to live out of a cooler for a month or so.
This is just to get over the initial "hump", adjustment period and concentration on the actual job instead of "playing house" in the sleeper.
It isn't going to kill anyone to live out of the cooler for a month or two initially... in fact that can be done in a healthy manner... bologna isn't the standard cooler diet for a trucker.
Although, amazingly enough the safety director at the last transport company I drove for suggested this very thing to the newbies in orientation... that they live cheap on the road... bologna sandwiches! Argh! Of course, this same chap also suggested log book fudging too.

Answer:
There's decent cooking at a lot more places than people claim, and if these Wild West Adventure type bozos end up actually making any money they aren't going to be screwing with all that crap, they'll want to eat fast and get some sleep. If they have do have the time to screw with all that crap, they ain't going to be buying steaks and gourmet crap, anyways.
___________________________
Humans are amazing creatures. "With all the things you can train them to do, I've been considering getting one."-Stoney Jay Gould
__________________________
This post coming to you live, from Jesus Land !!!

Answer:
Originally posted by Dominoes:
There's decent cooking at a lot more places than people claim, and if these Wild West Adventure type bozos end up actually making any money they aren't going to be screwing with all that crap, they'll want to eat fast and get some sleep. If they have do have the time to screw with all that crap, they ain't going to be buying steaks and gourmet crap, anyways.
You got that right! Most of the time you WILL NOT have a whole lot of "extra time" to get the load to the destination.
To prepare a meal, serve it to yourself and clean up the dishes, it'll probably take you 1.5 hours (depending on what you cook). You can get a decent meal inside for less than $10 and in about 1/2 the time. That'll give you an extra 45 minutes of sleep time.
I spend right at $100 to $120 a week on meals, smokes & sodas for myself.
Eat at casinos! Sleepyhead and I had dinner (all you can eat), the other day for $10.73 for the 2 of us! That's like $5.36 each! That's cheap as hell!
If you eat at truckstops, order the special of the day. That's usually like $7-8 bucks! Order breakfasts! Those are cheap and filling!
One other thing, if you stop and eat 3 square meals a day, 3 things will happen. Your azz will grow, you'll get tired (and want a nap ) from eating so much and you'll never make any time.
*******************************
"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
*******************************
"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)
**************************
Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division

Answer:
Originally posted by RABELAM:
Don't know must be different them most.
I'll say. I have to doubt it would be easy without the Wife in the truck? I realize everyone is different,I could never actually live in a Truck. Saving money is good,being a slave to it isn't.Nothing personal but"living"in a Truck to save money IMO is.If I couldn't afford to eat "out" I'd be looking for another job.
Mike
Let's all Chant...
"It's a Lifestyle and is what you make it"
Feel better?
I do not live in the truck. I go home every 14 days for 14. Try to eat off the dollar menu. As for not making enough. I do not work to eat. I owe no on anything. Just the property taxes and utilities. I can not live pay check to pay check. Do not want to be out here at 65 driving. I am a tight azz also. Hate paying 6 bucks for a 12 pack of soda, when I can get a case for that price. I am cheap. It is my money I am saving.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dominoes:
I figure it is more important to prepare for their Big Camping Trip; this is what interests them about trucking, and this is why 99% of them aren't going to be driving OTR in a year. They are busy brainstorming and figuring out how much crap they can possibly cram in those trucks. I figure some are already up to around 4,000 pounds of crap, most of which they'll rarely use, if at all. It's funny to read, though. You'd think they were joining Lewis and Clark's expedition.
[This message was edited by LoriAz on October 15, 2003 at 0:49.]

Answer:
I do not live in the truck. I go home every 14 days for 14. Try to eat off the dollar menu.
Hmmm.....
A rental car can not hold all my stuff. Have to get a Van every time. The two electric coolers. The microwave, all the other 12 volt cooking appliaces. The TV, VCR, DVD, and so on. Cloths for all weather conditions for two. Eat at a truck stop maybe 3 times a year. My birthday, the wifes birth day and aniversery. Haven't missed much. I still eat good. Steak and eggs in the morning and all. Just for 1 quarter the cost. That 2.50 round steak cut in halve with 4 eggs feed my wife and I fine in the morning. I guess I could be like many and pay the 7.00 for breakfast. 6.00 for lunch. 10.00 for dinner. 5 for the midnight snack. Or 46.00 a day for two. I will keep all my junk in the truck and do the same meals only better for 15.00 a day. Bet I have more at the end of the year to boot. Make some killer ribs. Look forward to getting in the truck to cook them. The broiled hens are also great. Mmm.
Maybe it's just MY reading comprehension?
Mike
Let's all Chant...
"It's a Lifestyle and is what you make it"
Feel better?
Answer:
Originally posted by RABELAM:
I do not live in the truck. I go home every 14 days for 14. Try to eat off the dollar menu.
Rabelam ponders.. Hmmm.....
A rental car can not hold all my stuff. Have to get a Van every time. The two electric coolers. The microwave, all the other 12 volt cooking appliaces. The TV, VCR, DVD, and so on. Cloths for all weather conditions for two. Eat at a truck stop maybe 3 times a year.
Rabelam's doubting his eyes.. Maybe it's just MY reading comprehension?
Nope! You're eyes aren't deceiveing you. That's definately Truck Dwelling.
Daytrader, with all that stuff, I hope you don't have to step out on the running board to change your mind.
*******************************
"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
*******************************
"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)
**************************
Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division