You know this is a good question. I don't really have a
definition of a "lifestyle" trucker but I have to agree and
disagree with all the replies so far.
You have to admit that we are all at one point in our careers
in it to see the country, regardless of your reasons to become
a truck driver. For example, I spent the last 8 months running
Ohio to Texas. I loved going south and west. Loved seeing the
Bayou, rather enjoyed the people and the different culture
than what I was accustomed to. But I really did it because
it was my companies money maker and it was easy running.
Well except I-55 from Jackson, MS down to I-12. That was a
bit rough.
As far as the shower thing, well there are times you just can't
take a shower. Mostly for me it's when I go east (which is
what I am doing now). I have just bought my own truck and
most of the good money loads go east (and yes I get good
money coming back as well) but with the schedules these
loads have and the lack of a places to get a shower where I
go I sometimes have to miss a day and yes possibly two. But
that's where baby wipes come in. I'm an owner op so to me
being stinky is out of the question.
As far as running 1800 miles a week, isn't that all of our goals?
Work as little as possible for maximum pay? Me I wat to drive
50 miles down the road and make a grand. Is it possible?
Not really but that's my goal. Even though I don't have a home
life, my home time is just as important to me than my check. My
wife left me a year ago(not because of driving, and yes I'm glad
she did, she's a dirty w%&re), I own a house I don't want with 5
cats that I love but need to get rid of. I live in a place where the
only friends I have had had screwed me over and am not very
fond of the people here, but it's where I call home. I don't have
any enemies just don't really belong here.
I don't own a chicken truck, but the previous owner was a pimp
daddy and kind of tried to make it one. He added some lights
to it, put a rosewood steering wheel in it and a few other things.
I plan on keeping up with it. I think they actually look pretty
good. There is nothing wrong with having a little pride in your
ride, especially as an owner op. You are representing yourself
so there is nothing wrong with wanting to make yourself look
good for the customer. In my opinion it actually can put the
customer at ease to know they have a driver that pulls in with
a nice looking truck. For the most part it tells them that there
is a good chance their product will be in good hands.
Aren't we all "lifestyle" truckers? But to use your definition of
the term, I think a "lifestyle" trucker would be the ones that
become a truck driver because of movies like Smokey and the
bandit. They want to use all the slang on the cb and basically
want to act like "Billy". They are in it for the glorification of
the job, not the job.
Me, I do it because I love the job (yes I did say that
).
Believe it or not, it's the best job I have ever had. Where else
do you get paid to see the country, (albeit from behind a windshield
but still see it non the less), make good money and do something
I love to do, drive. And to me it is doing a service to this country,
even though most people would rather see us dead and don't
understand trucks mean to them. That's just my 2 cents, take
it how you want.