I'm worried about a friend who is a driver who is still out there.

Last edited Wed Mar 18, 2020, 08:11 PM - Edit history (1)

Always with the worst problem solving skills anywhere!

denbot is praising his boss for supporting him.

People not being able to have access to clean bathrooms and running water with soap will NOT help this situation. I'm sorry they are doing this to you and your industry

Just asking.

was that there was toilet paper of some sort in the porta potty, but no way to wash up. But if they don't have toilet paper, I feel like having access to clean water is still a top priority. I'm not sure that having duel issues of no toilet paper and no clean water just compounds the issues :/

Have to keep the supplies moving.

We need to increase services available for truck drivers, to keep them healthy and rolling.

Back in the 70s, I was lucky to find a bathroom anywhere for women. I learned to carry at least a gallon of washing water in the side box and used it for cleaning up. That, soap leaves and bandanas got me through hundreds of thousands of miles of not needing facilities that I was not welcome to use.

I’ve read your recollections regarding being one of women truckers pioneers. You have my utmost respect.

So if you have a spray bottle, the water can last forever almost. You can spray the nasty parts, one area at a time works best, soap it up and spray rinse and dry. Great way to freshen up anywhere, especially if you have a bunk, just put a folded towel under you.

The one thing I really was grateful for when I finally retired was the ability to just walk over to a sink and wash my face and hands whenever I felt like it! And showers!

I have one spray bottle on board that is filled with windshield wash, my general purpose cleaner.
I’m snagging a “personal” spray bottle at my earliest opportunity. Thanks for the tip 2naSalit!

Once a road warrior, always a road warrior. Take care, be safe and keep it between the ditches!

I retired in '92. But I started in the 70s.

Life is so different now, I hardly think much about it anymore.

By putting it that way, you got me thinking.

Maybe the world's grown softer, but anyway, it's been my recent experience that when people hear a story like yours, they marvel (like I did). Having road tripped around 100 times, I've always admired long haulers.

Funny thing about people's pasts, is that we often forget how bad we once were. What once seemed normal can later seem extraordinary to others.

It's not something people trot out as a "great story." Still, in more recent contexts, our lives do seem greater than the sum of our experienced parts.

as time distances us from important episodes in our past we find that we have priorities and comforts that help us see what we didn't see before. I know that sounds a little pretzely but it kind of makes sense.

I must say it was like living in a different country, a separate society of a sort. It was certainly an education.

I'm supposed to write a book, but I haven't been able to organize the whole mess.

And has known many a bestselling writer and professional journalist:

There's an adage in the community that applies to all writers: When you're creating your first drafts, don't worry about getting it right; get it WRITTEN.

You have an advantage in writing a biography/memoir that novelists don't have--You can log your memories as you go and organize them later, so don't worry so much about creating the whole work in perfect order for now. It's getting your memories recorded that matters, not the order of them.

As for what to do while writing to help you later, it will depend on what kind of narrative you choose to do. If it's a chronological narrative, make a note at the start of a page with the rough date of what you're writing about. You know, March, 1980, or July, 1972. That sort of thing. It will make it easier to put everything in a chronological order when the time comes. You can do the same thing with a thematic approach--Say, stories about sexist problems you encountered marked with an S or funny tales about your experiences with non-truckers marked with a C for civilians and a smiley face. That sort of thing.

Either way, getting it written and then having a "clue" at the top of a printed page or word processing file can help you organize your work at a glance when you're ready to put it all together. All you need to do from there is order it how you like, and then add a few sentences or paragraphs to link up what you have, to create smooth transitions within your narrative.

I hope to see your memoir. It sounds interesting!

That's actually very helpful. I have asked a couple of tried and true authors for help but they avoided the subject after I mentioned it. I guess I should start writing the "stories" and organize them as I go like you mentioned. Never know how long any of us will be around this time next year.

Good advice I will be using!

just keep at it. Write down what comes to mind whenever.

To me, "I must say it was like living in a different country, a separate society of a sort. It was certainly an education." sound like good opening lines.

There's probably a whole world you could open up for readers.

And spend the extra 10 bucks on one that self pressureizes... the water lasts waaaaay longer and more out on a single trigger push.
I keep one in the trunk of the car in a gym bag in case I have to be up early for work n dont have time to shower and 'fix' my stupid bedhead hair lol.
Best non essential toiletry item I've ever bought.

My sleeper is equipped with the latest tech. I have a tiny washroom with a 10 gallon fresh water tahk for washing up, but I use the available facilities every chance I get.

Very comfortable, flatscreen, big refrigerator with freezer, microwave, and toaster ovens. Did not know I would be wishing I had a sink though.. Live and learn.

My profile tells you what I pilot down the road, also the picture I have is my truck, a Peterbilt 389 long nose.

I've always preferred Pete's they've been very good to me.

Sweet!

Greatly appreciated.

they've been kind enough to let me use their facilities to wash up and use their parking lot to park my truck and get some sleep.

Never had a problem accessing bathrooms, but being allowed to sleep on site is a new one.

Pahrump and Las Vegas, I'll pick up at their distribution center just outside of Barstow and take it to the S. Nev. stores.

They've been really great to us owner/operators trying to keep their stores stocked.

And not all Walmart’s will let you sleep in the store lots.

they've contracted out to other companies, and owner/operators, I've seen Swift trucks hauling Walmart trailers, I even saw a JB Hunt truck the other day at the Pahrump, NV Walmart.

The times, they are a changin.

they've been pretty good about this.

I know there's been a lot of bad things said about Walmart, but they've been nothing but fantastic during this health emergency, they've been paying top dollar for us owner/operators.

My company does a lot of business with Walmart. Obviously, they need and consume a lot of capacity. And you know what, they are a great customer to deal with. They work with you, offer tons of 24 hour drop and hook, and don't beat you up on service. They also realize their carriers need a profit, shoo they don't beat you down too much on rates.

Target offs fairly similar to Walmart in how they approach their transportation function. A good company.

Now, with Amazon, it's another thing--extremely service-sensitve, and they will whittle on your price to just barely what you are willing to accept. And the moment they are unhappy with your performance on the ever-changing transits they require or they find a better price, they yank the freight away immediately, contract be damned. No loyalty and cutthroat. The Bezos culture permeates down to transportation. The trans purchasing team is constantly changing because they can't keep food people.

A couple of locations are always super popular with truckers. One is a Home Depot in a super-safe and quiet neighborhood on the north side, for the reason you stated of letting them use the lot and having access to bathrooms and so on. Used to, that Home Depot was a 24-hour facility, but not anymore. However, it's right off a major freeway and easy walking distance to grocery, fast food and some gas/convenience stores that seem to be super-accommodating to the truckers when they come in to use washrooms. Some of those places are open 24/7/365, and I'm sure that helps as well. Nowadays, the Home Depot guys even have very quick access to a 24-hour urgent care center. All of this must be why that Home Depot area is so popular.

Another area they like is a quiet little street in an industrial park area not far from there. They don't have the walking distance to as many amenities, although I think they have access to the nearby motels for some things. At night, that street is always lined up with truckers.

Just the c-store and fuel.

My company sent out a message to all the drivers asking us to avoid coming into the terminal if possible. If we do we are to stay 6 feet away from any of the office or shop people.

The shipper I visited this morning didn’t require that I sign any bills. They had a mailbox outside that the loader put the paperwork into and yelled to me that I could get my paperwork and leave when the light turned green.

It’s getting crazy out there.

It seems like something needs to be done about it; it's not right.

It maybe insurance or lawyer liability issues to do the social distance thing to the max to protect all parties concerned/involved ?

When you stop to eat/fuel up - keep your space 6ft, wash up after the bathroom visit then head right back to your cab and alcohol wipe your hands again.

Be aware of potential health/germ issues in public. Keep healthy, do not bring home the virus to your family. With forethought and good habits we can keep this killer at bay and get through this.

Thank you for bringing merchandise to the retail locations - but keep yourself safe in the process. Without truckers the world would skid to a total halt.

We have to watch out for each other - so we make it through this. There are bound to be inconveniences,... but in time the heightened state of awareness will pass, and we can relax somewhat.

Store after store is sold out of everything of that nature. No hand sanitizer, no anti-bacterial wet-wipes, no isopropyl alcohol, no toilet paper.......nothing. People are going crazy, like they're going to stop producing these things or something.

... but few people realize, so often you find them in stock. Try the Dollar Stores too.

Also too see a Walgreen or CVS pharmacist and ask for 90% rubbing alcohol, that is all you really need. Apply with a folded paper towel. You need in excess of 60% alcohol.

the word is out. People have been putting homemade sanitizer formulas online, so the alcohol is gone everywhere. I did manage to find small bottles of hand sanitizer yesterday (2 oz. in each, "travel" size) but they limited them to two per person, and I donated them both to the local Food Shelf volunteers who are dealing with people all day long. I went back to the same store today but they were all gone.

I'll be OK. I don't go out much and I've pretty much washed the skin off my hands the past few weeks. I always was a compulsive hand washer because I worked in research labs all my life, but it's reached ridiculous proportions now. This too shall pass......someday.

At least during this crisis, seems fair for you to get a motel room periodically for shave/shit & shower.

I feel also for the local delivery truckers. They're probably getting similar treatment.

Hope you have supplies to sanitize while using those damned portalets during this mess. I have many years of experience with those on construction but didn't have this sort of shit to worry about back then.

We really appreciate your service to the nation.........

Yours?!?

I own a 2016 Peterbilt 389 long nose, that pic is just one I found on the net.

Trucks with the super sleepers are usually moving trucks, they can afford the extra weight because of the less weight when moving a household to another state.

awhile. I used to go with him occasionally, it was fun.

so I bought my first truck and the rest is history, I love the nomadic lifestyle, I have a 40 ft. 5th wheel travel trailer in Prescott, AZ for when I'm not on the road.

It's not like we can get our trucks thru those drive thru's.

allow walk ups in the drive thru i thought this would be helpful. ☺

I thought that was cool. I think it is a Loves station.

Thanks, next time I'm up around that way, I'll check it out.

It wouldn't surprise me if it is a Love's, they seem to be the leader in innovations for truck stops.

One of my favorite truck stops is the Love's just north of Las Vegas on I-15, nice, clean and very modern.

I do not remember if I was screaming or yelling at him as this huge ass truck was rolling our direction ( on my side. )

Glad nothing happened to the 2 of you.

Company I work for just rented a few hand washing stations for truckers.

I've been hauling nothing but Walmart trailers for the past 2 weeks, they've been great at letting us use their facilities to wash up and let us use their lots to park our trucks and get some sleep.

I definitely, and another company driver were denied access today. And I wasn’t demanding to use the warehouse facilities, they have a separate “drivers lounge” area. What do you think the chances are that this cascades to other shipping and receiving locations?

I’m sitting here waiting for someone to check my seal before I can bump dock, then I move to a different dock, to load out of this same location. I’ll be here for some time before I can even hope to find a truckstop bathroom.

BTW, nice of you to imply I’m immature. You never did that before during the last eight years we chatted on this board about the job..

That happened to me at an Albertson's distribution center one time, I ended up spending the night at their facility, they were kind enough to feed me at their cafeteria and let me use their shower facilities.

so people shouldn't be afraid of catching it from truckers

food on the shelves.

I will offer.

and if the trucks stop, this country stops. We can't allow that to happen. It's bad enough they try to cut your profits razor thin with tax after tax. The indie trucker is a dying breed.

Shutting down bathrooms in many stores.

Carriers are increasingly giving drivers tools to give reviews on shippers and receivers, much like diners can do for restaurants on TripAdvisor or Yelp. Transportation purchasers who consistently receive bad reviews will eventually see the rates they get from carriers go up. Treat drivers like shit, hold up drivers for hours waiting to get unloaded, being unforgiving for a slightly late driver, or having limited shipping/receiving hours, then you pay more.

Drivers are too precious and scarce to allow bad customers make their jobs all the more difficult!

Many businesses here don’t even provide that. My truck’s too big to pull into a mall or most other places.