Traveling Across Country in an 18 wheeler

Have you ever wanted to travel all around the United States and couldn't afford to? You could do it the way that my husband and I did. We drove semi trucks for various trucking companies. IF you are lucky, you will be able to find parking where you can take a taxi to go see some of the sights you have always wanted to see. You will see quite a few states if you drive across country. We visited all 48 states during our 9 years of team driving. Due to health reasons, I had to get off the truck and my husband continued driving solo.

Will I Be Able To Bring Them With Me On My Truck?

If your company allows, you will be able to take your spouse/girlfriend and child on the truck with you for a certain amount of time so that he/she will be able experience the traveling also. You will be traveling in a modified RV. If you have an upper and lower bunk, you will be able to have your child sleep in the top bunk. This makes for a very good bonding time. Make sure they bring along plenty of things to keep the child busy in case they start getting bored with the scenery.

Is it possible for me to Travel by Driving A Semi Truck?

Yes, most women out driving trucks are out with their husbands with teams but more and more single women are going out and driving a Big Rig on their own. If you are the type of woman who loves to be alone and just visit with people once in a while. This job is perfect for you. You can drive as a solo driver just like the men. As a matter of fact, they are finding out that some women are the best drivers. Probably because they think they have to prove to the men that they are just as good as the men.

Photo Credit: This picture is a creative commons commercial photo from CDN

Gene talks about what women in trucking face and how they are treated or at least how she has been treat over the last 11 years. She also talks about trucking today during a recession.

Where We Were Treated Like Regular People

I80 Truck Stop, Walcott, IA - One of my favorite truck stops. This truck stop has about everything that you could possibly want. Want to trick out the truck? They have a chrome shop and parts shop downstairs. They also have a restaurant, fast food area, gifts, showers, etc. Oh yes, and lots of parking. Click on the picture to get a virtual tour of the I80 Truck Stop.

Petro in San Antonio, TX - This is a good place to park if you want to go see the Alamo, the Tower of Americas, the Riverwalk, San Antonio Zoo, Sea World, Art Museums, a San Antonio Spurs game, or whatever. You would have to take a taxi to get to these places or rent a car. They are all worth seeing. Coming up April 22-23 (Easter weekend) is a great big fiesta in San Antonio. There will be a parade Friday during the day and Saturday night, carnival rides and a completely festive atmosphere.

Sids Truck Stop, Sparks, NV or Alamo Truck Stop, Reno, NV - Want to gamble like all the non-truckers? These are the truck stops to do it. You can go in have a hot dinner, take a shower, play casino games (to include the one armed bandit), and get a room for the night if you want to.

Jubitz, Portland OR - Truck stops are few and between up here. We were always so happy to get to this one that had good parking, good food, and wonderful showers.

Rip Griffins, Barstow, CA - Another area that has few truck stops. We always stopped here to get our trucks washed (as Calif is very strict on their laws and would pull over a dirty truck and trailer), have a good shower, eat supper and then sleep in the truck knowing we would be safe.

World's Largest Truck Stop

Check with your trucking company first.

This is a picture of our dog Bandit who had been in our truck with us since he was 2 weeks old. He stayed in the truck until we lost our truck in December 2004. Some companies will allow pets, some won't. A lot of times, pets aren't allowed in trucks because the company has had drivers leave pets in the truck that tear the trucks up. Some will allow you to take a pet if you pay a deposit. Then there are the friendly trucking companies that will allow you to take your pet without a deposit. It doesn't hurt to ask if you can bring a pet with you. They make nice company, cut down on your stress, and have you do some exercise by walking them. Always keep your pets on a leash. Just one little slip-up by your pet could cause them to get run over by someone that is not watching....or that aim for them on purpose.

An introduction to the Dogs Between Doors organization and its website, www.dogsbetweendoors.com . The focus is on over-the-road drivers and their pets. The website is being improved every day and please view the video and hopefully, you'll visit the site...

A Lifesaver for Truckers on a Time Schedule

While we were in the truck, we decided we were tired of eating out all the time. We got ourselves an electric cooler that we plugged into a cigarette lighter in the truck to keep sodas, lunch meats and other foods cool. I also set it near an air vent for the AC. The other items that we carried with us were a coffee pot for hubby to make his own coffee and a large crockpot with a 1000 watt inverter. We could have probably used just a 500 watt inverter for the crockpot. I had been known to cook a roast with potatoes and carrots and invite other drivers over to eat supper with us. Many of them enjoyed a home (or should I say truck) cooked meal. I made a stew another time. I would put the food into the crockpot, place the crockpot on the floor of the sleep area and set it on low until supper that evening and it would be great.

This is now recommended to drivers so that they can save money and eat healthier while they are on the road. I know it saved us a lot of money and greasy food.

Sad song about a kid who is crippled and loves truckers because his dad was a trucker but died.

FYI - This is not done by Red Sovine. It is sang by an Aussie country music artist known as Nev Nicholls. It is a real tear jerker.

To Keep Them From Getting Bored

On the long trips, children tend to get bored, especially as they get older. Try playing some games with them.

One of the games that can be played is to identify how many of a certain type or color of car. Maybe change that to how many of a certain type of 18 wheeler you see on the road. For Instance, how many Wiley Sander's Trucks you see or how many cabovers you see.

Another is a word game where a category is chosen or not. The first player picks a word and the next has to come up with a word starting with the last letter of the other word and so on. Some children love this type of game and others don't. You will have to play it by ear.

You could make up some bingo card with different type things you might see on the trip and play travel bingo with your children. Have some little gifts you could give the winner....maybe a quarter toward playing one of the video games at the truck stop when you have the time to stop.

Here is a link to some printable travel games for you to take on the trip with you. Children tend to lean toward the handheld video games lately. If your child tends toward motion sickness, this could make it worse.

Remember if you don't keep their minds busy while they are awake on the trip with you, they might have a tendency toward boredom. I know as we took our grandson with us and that is all we heard. I have heard this from other truck drivers that have taken their children with them also.

Photo Credit: Melissa Gutierrez, Creative Commons License

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