If you really want to get the feel of being an otr driver, just find an 8x6 closet in your house. Put a mattress, microwave, mini fridge, portable tiolet and a small tv in there. Once you do that, spend about 8 hours a day for 3-4 weeks sleeping, eating, crapping and lounging in the closet and you will have the feel of what the big road is like.:thumbsup:

 

You forgot to have some commercial company knock on the closet door every now and then at all times of the night. And dont forget to shut of the heat and air in the house. The only way you can heat or cool your closet is to idle, And you must keep the idle time of your closet within such and such of a percentage.

 

You took the words right out of my mouth!

And I do not miss it one bit!

 

I dunno man. I have a very low opinion of anyone whom uses their cab for an outhouse.

Really.....he would need to go to the side of the house, and squat between the trailers.

 

Some personal notes:
* It varies with the individual driver, but the vast majority do consider their cab (and especially the bunk) pretty private territory.. Expect strangers, especially young ones, to be met with some healthy suspicion. We get to see a lot o Wack Jobs out here - and it gets easy to develop an attitude about a lot o things.
* I, myself, stick with Truckpaper.com to view interiors, specs, of other makes of truck. Too handy.. Truck dealerships are usually grouped pretty close together up and down a given boulevard - I go into the Parts Counter, browse around, buy a pair o gloves or some other little item I need anyway, and ask the parts guys if they got any used trucks out on the lot. You buy stuff/ you're at least partially considered Legit.. Then ask'em if you can have a look out there..
* The Truck Driving Schools, especially the Community College programs, may even be eager to "show you around" their truck lot... Make notes.. I did, and wound up with an inexpensive PTDI cert with my ClassA.
* Never squat in your truck. Unless it's a screaming emergency and there is such a thing...... :whistle:
* Somebody say, "closet"? If you're even a lil claustrophobic.. it's gonna be difficult. I got a 72" standup Cornbinder - and I live in it. But that's me..
* Start Now: Wean yourself off the Spicey Foods! We make most of our own problems..... :hellno:

 

If someone ever came to my truck and ask me to look around i would seriously die laughing!!!

 

A dealership or truck show would be best. Or check out your local trucker recruiting office.

 

TCD,

Hers's a thought, try attending a "Truck Driving Job Fair."

I'm not certain what these job fairs are like in the Houston area, but up here in the
Minneapolis / St. Paul area the companies attending these job fairs will set up tractors
for display.

They usually bring in driver/recruiters for this purpose.

The tractors I first toured were actual driver occupied vehicles, the drivers cleaned em
up, personal belongings neatly stored, drivers even had neatly laundered clothing
hanging in the closet areas, tractors were run through the truck wash. (Gosh, seeing
all those pretty, clean trucks just makes your heart melt, and ya wanna sign right up).

Anyway, I've seen both local companies and the big "Mega" carriers represented at these
job fairs. It's worth a shot.

 

Recently I was able to go to the Tulsa State Fair, thanks to a goofed up dispatch, and there was a trucking company there doing recruiting. They brought one of their trucks for fair goers to check out. It was not as good (IMHO) as the truck I drive. I thought we were driving "low budget" trucks . . . Wow!

At least it will be a good excuse to go to the fair.
Dan

 

and we have a winner......great idea