Helpful Tips for Traveling with a Truck Driver

Traveling in a big rig is a wonderful experience. The beautiful mountains of New Mexico and Wyoming, the stars in Arizona that look like you can touch them, the antelope in Wyoming, the wonderful sunrises and sunsets, the Saint Louis Arch and the Salt Flats of Missouri. All the wildlife and scenery just takes your breath away.

It can be pretty cramped in a truck with not to much room to put things so keep this in mind when packing to go on your trip.

Packing suggestions for a week:

7 shirts/blouses/dresses
7 pants/skirts
7 pairs of underwear/panties
7 pairs of socks
Shoes
Warm coat if in the winter
Any medications that you may need to take
Travel size Tooth paste & Tooth brush
Body soap
Travel size Shampoo & Conditioner
Cologne/Perfume
A pair of shower shoes (flip flops)
Brush/Comb
Pillow & Blanket
Wash cloth & Towel
Wipes and/or Hand Sanitizer
Moisturizer cream
Chapped lip balm
Camera

Most truck stops provide a towel, wash cloth and soap when you take a shower there but you may want to freshen up between showers because sometimes there's not enough time to shower every day.

When parking at a truck stops at night be aware of your surroundings some truck stops are not lit very well.

Little America is a great place to stay, the people are friendly and best of all they have $.05 soft serve ice cream cones and they are a very nice size.

Truck stop food is very expensive so you may also want to bring meals prepared form home if the driver has a plug-in cooler and a microwave or a lunch box oven. They can be prepared in advance and frozen.

If the driver has a microwave use air tight plastic microwavable containers and if he/she has a lunch box oven you will need to use 1lb. or the next larger mini loaf foil pan depending on if you are both going to share the meal.

If you decide to use the foil loaf pans, put the food in the pan and cover with aluminum foil tightly and place in a zip lock bag and freeze. Leftovers are good to use but I've noticed that pasta and rice doesn't freeze well and after it's been reheated it just doesn't taste very good.

Meal Suggestions:

Meatloaf
Pot Roast
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Stews
Soups
Pork Chops &/or Gravy
Turkey &/or Gravy
Lasagna
Chicken Pot Pie
Beef Pot Pie
Turkey Pot Pie
Blackberry Cobbler
Peach Cobbler
Chili Beans
Banana Bread
Zucchini Bread

I don't know if all truck drivers live mostly on sandwiches but I'm sure that he or she would be delighted that you have brought something home cooked along. But please make sure that you ask the driver before doing so, you don't have to tell him or her what you are cooking though not unless they may have a food allergy.

You can also purchase prepared meals at your local grocery store.

When riding for hours you may get bored of looking out of the window so it's a good idea to bring along something that will help pass the time. A few ideas are knitting, crocheting, or reading.

Sometimes you gotta go and there is know where to go, Travel John Disposable Urinal for Men, Women and Children comes in handy if that happens. You can purchase these on line at the Elder Store and some truck stops have them but they are hard to find. I only know of one and that's the Petro truck stop in Joplin, Missouri but I'm sure that there are more that do. They cost around $7.95 for three and are well worth the price.

Have a safe trip and don't forget to take plenty of pictures.