Over the Road pics from an american trucker

[[N.O.G.F]_Cathal_Brugha]

An Over the Road trucker is a driver who goes to multiple states anywhere in the country with no dedicated route, simply going where the next load takes them. I generally drive about 500 to 600 miles a day, and stay out on the road for 4 to 6 weeks at a time. My truck has a bed, minifridge and toaster oven. You get a shower credit at the truck stop for getting 50 gallons of fuel. Here are a few pics I have.

 

My truck 

 

 

Warehouse in the Missouri caverns

 

 

The cockpit

 

Flight sim pit and my Copilot, Flibert

 

 

I don't have many pictures as I am too busy driving 

[Danziger]

It's 60 gallons at T/A and Petro now.

[[N.O.G.F]_Cathal_Brugha]

I know, they also got rid of the shower credit for a PM service. I am not very happy about that. 

[Wolfram-Harms]

58 minutes ago, Cathal_Brugha said:

Flight sim pit and my Copilot, Flibert

I don't have many pictures as I am too busy driving 

 

Wow, impressive truck and cockpit!

Your co-pilot doesn't appear like a guy who could guard your track, but then he'd fit into any cockpit beside you - even the crammed Bf 109's.

Must you play/fly on batteries, or is there power on the truck stops for you to connect to?

[[N.O.G.F]_Cathal_Brugha]

I have a 1500 watt inverter connected to the truck batteries for power. Some truck stops have a power source and heat A/C system to connect to, and many trucks have APUs, Auxiliary Power Units, a small few horsepower engine to power a heater A/C and charge Batteries.

My co-pilot sleeps in my lap all day, any minute not in my lap is wasted in his book.

[Heliopause]

[NETSCAPE]

A couple of my best friends are truckers. ?

[Lemon]

@Cathal_Brugha

 hi sir, I did a delivery of few skids of pharmaceutical  one time in  those underground warehouses , in 2006 if I recall well, i remember it was a really strange feeling to enter an underground hole with a semi, there is lot of weight over your head there !  I was told it was a military base before but not sure of my source tough.

 

take care and be safe on the road driver

Edited June 4, 2018 by Lemon

[56RAF_Roblex]

1 hour ago, Lemon said:

it was a really strange feeling to enter an underground hole with a semi

 

Like trying to stuff a marshmallow into a slot machine.

 

[[N.O.G.F]_Cathal_Brugha]

There are a few refrigerated warehouses in some other caverns, makes for good insulation. These caverns are an interesting place to drive a truck.

[[N.O.G.F]_Cathal_Brugha]

The best part of being a driver is honking the horn for kids.

[Danziger]

1 hour ago, Cathal_Brugha said:

The best part of being a driver is honking the horn for kids.

Not many kids care about it anymore. All I usually saw were cars full of people on the phone. 

[[N.O.G.F]_Cathal_Brugha]

Just now, BorysVorobyov said:

Not many kids care about it anymore. All I usually saw were cars full of people on the phone. 

That is the norm now. Even many of the drivers  Since I have been doing local morning deliveries for the summer it has been younger kids waiting for the bus mostly. School has been extended by a week at least here in Maine due to all the snow days this winter.

[Lemon]

8 hours ago, Cathal_Brugha said:

The best part of being a driver is honking the horn for kids.

I d say it is the second best thing on the road haha if you know what I mean

[Legioneod]

Nice. That a Freightliner?  Used to drive some beat up ole internationals hauling fuel and oil around my local area, had to be the most uncomfortable ride I've ever had.

[[N.O.G.F]_Cathal_Brugha]

6 minutes ago, Legioneod said:

Nice. That a Freightliner?  Used to drive some beat up ole internationals hauling fuel and oil around my local area, had to be the most uncomfortable ride I've ever had.

Freightliner Classic XL. Detroit 60 Series 515hp 18 speed trany. Air ride on all axles, even the steer, makes a nice ride.

[Legioneod]

5 minutes ago, Cathal_Brugha said:

Freightliner Classic XL. Detroit 60 Series 515hp 18 speed trany. Air ride on all axles, even the steer, makes a nice ride.

Nice, wish we had that for our trucks, but I guess it doesn't make much sense to put all that work into a truck that will be run into the ground, oilfield is very rough on our trucks.

[[CPT]CptJackSparrow]

I worked at a truck stop when I was high school.

 

Fueling rigs, checking tires, pumping reefer fuel etc. I loved seeing them merge off I-40, jam on the jake brake,  make the corner for the diesel side. I'd be standing in the lane giving 2 thumbs up which was "you want both sides topped off?" They'd reply with a nod, and they would slide the front end to about a foot from me and stop.

 

Pop the tanks and they'd open the door "tanks just polished, don't spill". I'd hook up the main, start it, run around, start the slave. Come back driver side "even gallons or dollars?" Gallons man. Do your thing sport but don't touch my mirrors! I'd lean the hood back, clean the windshield, top off washer fluid, ease the hood back down. "Refeer is thirsty, top it off too". Check all the tires, finish the fueling etc. The drivers would be inside doing the fleet fuel thing and trying to flirt up the girls at the counter. On a busy night I'd have 10 lanes full and jamming.

 

We didn't ask for tips, but countless times drivers would come back out, be pleased and I'd hear "climb up in the cab, ashtray has change in it, you can have it all" Do you know how much a guy OTR'ing a 53 footer full of salsa from PA to AZ has in his ashtray? I made a killing in tips. I fueled Nascar rigs, ZZ Top rig, met some cool drivers too. I enjoyed that job quite a bit.

 

Fuel was 67cents a gallon, if that tells you when this was.

 

I still remember the jokes they'd tell me and I wouldn't get at the time "Whats a JB Hunt driver with AIDS called? National Carrier!"

 

Roll on OTR! ?

 

 

 

[[N.O.G.F]_Cathal_Brugha]

@[CPT]CptJackSparrowas much as drivers keep the goods moving, you people at the truck stops keep the drivers moving. Thank You for your part.

[[CPT]CptJackSparrow]

Mercy this brought back memories. When you're young and get to climb inside that cab, it was like climbing into the cockpit of a F16. The air gauges, the shifter with 3 buttons on it, the console that wrapped towards the driver. The smell of coffee, Marlboro and aftershave. I have a box to this day full of hats drivers gave me. C&R Trucking, JB Hunt, Werner, National Carrier and the ones we always look at as demi-gods England Trucking (England Flagships were huge rigs, small houses inside them) Knight-Swift, Schneider National, Southeastern Freight, Crete Carrier, Con-Way Freight, Falcon, CR England.

 

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, Cathal_Brugha said:

@[CPT]CptJackSparrowas much as drivers keep the goods moving, you people at the truck stops keep the drivers moving. Thank You for your part.

 

It was a epic part of my early years, loved every minute of it. To this day I'll still flash when your 78,000lb ass is clear to hop lanes and if I'm in my truck or jeep I'll grab the mic and give a quick, "you're clear JB hunt, slide her over" on 19. And 90% of the time, I'll get a "10-4 four wheeler"