Trucking Lifestyle
When I started trucking and living life on the road in 2015, it was a complete mystery to me as to how things worked in transport, why things were done the way they were and I had to learn a new trade in a sense. I quickly learned that all consumer products are transported by truck, also the different processes when loading/offloading commodities. In addition, customs rules about different commodities and the type of documents shippers and receivers have to prepare especially for cross border.
In my opinion, it is much easier to stay in your own country and do runs than to cross the border as there are less rules and work to do.
This taught me a lot about the transport system and how it works in North America, the rules, the way products are handled and how they eventually end up on the shelf in the store.
The rules are so micromanaged to control and ensure the right people are doing this job, also it is an integral part of public safety especially today. I never imagined the work involved in the transport industry, the different levels of standards that shippers/ customers have as well as the expectations they want from carriers.
Even drivers are different in terms of how they see their job, depending on which company they work for and if they are company drivers or owner operators. (see below) Also, the pay scale (rate per mile) plays a major role.
I learned that not all drivers see trucking as a lifestyle, but more of a job that pays better than a 9to5 traditional common work. I learned that one has to be positioned for this job, have minimum cost and it will actually be good.
Downside to Cross Border: One cannot bring food such as fruits and vegetables, nothing cooked at home either, the only thing allowed was chips, cookies, bread and cheese but it had to be sealed and bought from Walmart; most of the food out there is not always the healthiest and can be costly. Also, if you have dietary restrictions because of health or preference,(kosher) cross border will be a challenge since the food is pretty much all processed; in this case choose the shortest lanes or don’t cross the border.
Unless you run under your own authority (owning equipment, and choosing destinations) you may have the time to plan a stop at a Walmart and buy healthy food.
Different Types of Drivers:
Company Driver(s) VS Owner Operator
Company Driver: you work for a carrier and you drive their trucks and they plan your routes and control your income. You could be in an assigned truck where only you drive it (different carriers have various rules about this) generally, and in essence you move into it, you have to follow their pre-mandated off time if you have a contract. Your rate per mile is fixed by the carrier.
Depending on the carrier and their pay scale will determine how much your check will be.
Many new unfavorable rules are being introduced for company drivers making them just existing, but better than 9to5. The carrier is in control and depending on whether they are efficient, fair in load distribution will determine the drivers money.
Categories of Company Drivers:
Company Slipseat: every time you go out on the road you get a different truck. The main issue with this is these trucks are driven to shit by different drivers and they are not always mechanically good, APU (heater/AC) does not always work. Also, they are not always the cleanest as many different people use them.
A major point is the mattress on the bunk which is used by different drivers and can be quite dirty and gross since it is rarely changed; some of these drivers may have pets, this could result in bed bugs, allergy issues and more. Unless you are part time and just take with you the bare essentials for a trip, this may not be the best option for you. Also, slipseat usually get shorter lanes, the idea behind this is the truck is always moving. This is the worst due to cleanliness and mechanical issues since you never know the condition of the truck you will get, depending on how well the carrier maintains the trucks.
Company Assigned: A driver can move his stuff into it, and it is assigned to him. Depending on carrier policies other drivers might use it if there are no available trucks, so be warned your stuff may be handled by a stranger. Sometimes if the carrier respects the driver they will phone him/her to inform them that their truck will be used but his belongings will not be touched, other carriers don’t do anything they just take it and assign it to another driver.
Truck Share: Two drivers share a truck and each week one of them takes it on a trip, or whatever time period they agree on. They could agree to buy certain things such as water and ensure the truck is equipped with what it needs, like washer fluids, also the maintenance is up to date so they don’t have delays.
Owner Operator (Take Own Loads): They have their own DOT number,(USA cross border) permits to haul certain freight in certain states, their own company name/logo. They take their own loads and run under their own authority, their own company. They own their truck and sometimes even trailer and have their own broker to clear loads if they are doing cross border. These guys are in the best tier as they decide when they want to go out and which destination by using apps online. All the money per mile goes to them minus fuel cost and they have no third parties, they never wait for missing documents as they are the point of contact. As long as they can maintain their truck in top condition they pretty much rule. Now, one must have business mentality and be able to save up for truck maintenance, have the minimum cost in their life, like no mortgage, car payments and so on to be in this tier of trucking, since there may not always be enough steady work to pay those bills and repairs on a truck are extremely costly.
Owner Operator(with carrier):The carrier's logo, DOT# (department of transportation if crossing to the USA) they need to get steady work and have to be on the road more if they have bills, or truck payments and their off-time may be dictated depending on who they are working with. Their destinations are also dictated, but, in some cases they can refuse loads if they see them as unprofitable, or too much wait time. I heard in some cases when they have to wait for a reload back to Canada, they drop empty trailers in truck stops and go take a load from an app then head home. They are responsible for their truck to be well maintained and also the fuel costs.
As a passenger, I was taught the administration aspect of the job which to me was about 70% of the work especially if you are doing cross border long haul. There is customs paperwork to submit to what we call a broker which basically clears the shipment you are hauling so you can cross the border. In a nutshell they explain to either the US or CDN border who is hauling what and from where and how much.
The best thing for me was that we experienced every aspect from the good and the bad together which gave us a sense of adventure as well as commonality in terms of the run and what happened on the road. We always came up with ideas on how to best handle not so favourable situations that can happen when you run out of hours and have to stop at a different place than planned due to traffic, customer delays in loading or unloading. Waking up and making coffee in the morning at a truck stop and the adventure of what we will face on any given day is an experience on its own. I also got to see first hand cars and how they drive recklessly and end up in accidents, how they do everything but drive, for example some eat. Others are surfing the net, doing their makeup, but for the most part they are on their cell phone.
One thing to note, if a driver makes it to being owner operator they will never want to go back to company again, as you quickly realize the money compared to owner operator does not measure up. Carriers in my opinion prefer company drivers since they can implement any rules they want on them and most cannot leave as easily, but, an owner operator has more flexibility to jump carriers or take his own loads if their cost is minimum.
Travel Center/Truck Stops: Basically a place where truckers can park for overnight (10hrs off-duty, reset) buy food, any minor things they might need such as a cell phone charger, bedding, and tools for the truck. Each location varies by restaurant, number of parking spaces, number of showers. Now most of the truck stops have their own kitchen and they make their own food from hot chicken to sandwiches, salads and more.
Major chains: Pilot/Flying J (USA and Canada) , Loves (USA only), TA/Petro (Ontario and USA) each is unique by their points system which can be used to pay for parking, showers. Loves is the only one where points can be used in the store to buy food or anything available.
Each has its own logo and Pilot/Flying J has food they make themselves in their kitchen
Another smaller favorite but unique to Minnesota and Wisconsin is Kwik Trip: healthier food choices and a mini grocery store where they also have their own kitchen which was our favorite but they are only located in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Most of the time any place we would stop had food available we never went hungry!
Some truck stops have paid parking only; these are mainly local to the state. Also showers may not be available or if they are there is a fee.
Customer service in the USA was second to none as they always greet you with: Welcome to Loves, Welcome to Flying J/Pilot and everything and anything you need is available from cell phone chargers to basic truck parts like antennas, fuses, to toiletries in case you run out.
Comparison to Canadian Truck Stops: Husky/Esso BVD we are catching up and some locations have been renovated, downside food is criminally expensive as most truckers who drive Canada runs (no crossing) buy their food at Walmart/Superstore and I believe these places sometimes close quite early so food is expensive.
Paid Tourist/Photographer
This part of trucking I took advantage of as I was a passenger. Whenever we reseted, or stopped for the night at a unique travel center, we felt like paid tourists as we got to experience and see really cool places and at the same time buy cool souvenirs.
The beautiful scenery driving along route to certain destinations was also a huge advantage to take pictures, specifically mountainous areas, touristic areas like California.
This allowed us to actually temporarily experience life in the different areas we drove to and see how people live, the type of houses, streets, stores and more.
Along route no matter the destination, trucking can turn you into a photographer, since you never know what can happen when, suddenly an accident on the road can happen out of the blue and generally it’s a four wheeler (trucker term for car) who was distracted on their cell phone, was not paying attention to the road and caused an accident, other factors contributing to major accidents are weather which mainly happens during the winter months as the roads are snowy and icy, in some areas the roads are so bad the city has to close them down.
Some of the most memorable visits were ones where we took numerous pictures and videos, dined in restaurants and saw attractions considered iconic.
Depending on the destination we were assigned would determine what places we saw and wherever we were resetting (taking our 36hrs off before we can go back to work again), would reflect the attractions and activities we did and saw, this is if we did not come home.
Part of the off time when living on the road, is renting a car and exploring the place you are in which can give you a glimpse of what life is like there. We did that in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
Canada
June 2019 Pride Parade of Downtown Toronto
We were on a reset in Toronto and it was June 2019, hot and sunny weather, lots of people mingling about in the streets and the malls in the downtown core as it is known. We went to Eaton's Center and made out like bandits with souvenirs, as well dined on some great food before we proceeded to go and see the Pride Parade of 2019. Many of the Pride as the name suggests to me, is to be proud of who you are, love and accept all people. There will always be those who will oppose you, ignore them and move on, then you won’t be consumed by their hatred and misery.
It felt like being home experiencing something new. I have always accepted all types of people and never judged anyone. When the parade started we saw all walks of life, and even nudity in the street. A true expression of equality, sense of belonging and celebrating a symbol of equality to the LGBTQ community. This parade demonstrated the freedom to be who you are free from any judging. The symbol for Pride is the rainbow which is the color of my hair.
This community comprises of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender Queer.
One needs to take pride in their identity and not be ashamed of it or be forced to hide and live a double life because of society. One should not confuse this community with what is depicted online and the names and slurs used to describe the people, total misconception.
Evolution and acceptance comes from letting go of past beliefs and taking on new ones, especially today, where the world is moving rapidly toward social media as an identity.
Also, people are not afraid to show who they really are due to the online connection, since they virtually meet others who share their beliefs, likes and more.
Much hatred and discrimination is faced by this community in my opinion, because of how they live, how they identify themselves and society “the conservatives” are not evolved enough to accept it, some can mask their dislike others cannot.
Diversity is something that should be accepted and acknowledged not judged here diversity was welcomed. Many people say I am open minded, I accept anyone but in reality(behind closed doors) that is not the case.
Here we saw all colors, shapes, sizes and genders which showed a unique diversity in the community, where as long as you are open minded and accepting of people that’s what counts.
It was such a great experience to walk in the streets for quite some time and see so much freedom of expression and creativity. There were performers singing, dancing and also small souvenir stands where we purchased rings and other great stuff.
During this time reality faded away for that time, I lost track of time and any stress and worries I had. I really wish it could have lasted longer, but, on the positive side I will enjoy this again soon.
Niagara Falls
SkyWheel -fully enclosed gondolas equipped with heating and air conditioning for year round enjoyment , the ride is about 12 minute long and offers an all around aerial view of the entire Niagara Falls area. Taking pictures from above was amazing, videos are listed below.
Skylon Tower- taking an elevator to the observation decks overlooking 775feet above Niagara Falls we walked around and took pictures.
Clifton Hill- One of the most unique attractions
Louis Tussaud’s WaxWorks museum of wax figures of celebrities, presidents, horror villains, singers and much more, take a pic with a superstar.
Ripley's Museum: displays of rare oddities: incredible customs, weird artifacts, strange and odd people and the stuff they did like daredevils, and other bizarre hobbies which were all done by real people; example the lizard man, the vampire tattooed woman who is known for extensive body modifications which she chose to do as a form of activism on domestic violence.
USA
Another iconic visit which I feel quite fortunate to have experienced was our multiple visits to the IOWA80 World’s Biggest Truck Stop (yes, in the World, not just North America). This place I felt both hubby and I truly enjoyed as there were things we both enjoyed like the trucking museum of antique trucks, and the gift shops and restaurants inside.
IOWA80:Iconic World’s Biggest Truck Stop (most memorable)- Established in 1964
Founder Bill Moon 1932-1992
Trucking museum of antique trucks
Antique gas pumps
An entire section on the ground floor dedicated to truck parts, accessories from lights steering wheels and chairs and more
A gorgeous gift shop where you find clothing, jewelry, handbags and even household items.
Five restaurants to choose from with a one called the IOWA80 Kitchen
We spent a great deal of time inside the trucking museum where you can literally step back in time in history and see the type of trucks they used to have dating back to the early 1900’s all on display to marvel. Yes, history comes alive here.
Disneyland for truckers as this truck stop is referred to as it is truly designed for the trucker lifestyle.
I will be putting up videos and pictures to illustrate my favorite destinations and the ones I considered memorable and unique. I hope this will give a birds eye view of trucking through the eyes of a passenger paid tourist.
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