Trucking: Making the Most of Your Time on the Road
Simply Hired Staff
OTR (over the road) trucking can net some serious cash for those who turn and burn the miles. But, the long and winding road is, well… long and winding (Don’t get me started on Nebraska). Spending upwards of twelve hours a day inside what amounts to a fishbowl can be quite monotonous. One may even feel that the walls are closing in at times.
There are, however, some great ways to get the best out of all that seat time. It doesn’t always have to be one long shuffling playlist of music. There are plenty of options for you to get your entertainment and education over the road.
The Joy of Long-Format Podcasts
If top-10 radio has you pulling your hair out, reach for a good long-format source of media. There are a plethora of podcasts to fit everyone’s interests no matter who you are. Some are informative. Some are political. Some are purely entertainment. Either way, you can sit back and let your mind engage in good conversation about your favorite, or random topics. It’s like the modern-day equivalent to Art Bell’s Coast the Coast. You never know what you’ll hear.
Audio Books
Trying to brush up on your quantum physics can be hard when you’re driving. Amazingly you can get audible books on that subject and many more. You can even get most of the current, and pasts best sellers list through markets like Audible, Itunes, and Amazon. Most of the time they are narrated by famous actors or the writers themselves. Think of how well “read” you will be at next year’s family gettogether.
Learning Another Language
As well as audiobooks, you can get whole language courses to help you lean that one language you’ve always wanted… or brush up in the two semesters of the foreign language you have now forgotten.
Being bilingual has great benefits. From ordering some amazing food in the southwest to traveling abroad and having a better time navigating and communicating. And you get paid to do it while you drive OTR.
Breaker Breaker One Niner for Entertainment
Now chances are your rig is equipped with a citizens band (CB) radio. While they aren’t as popular as they use to be, they are still a good source of human interaction. Cb radios can be utilized for a wide variety of things like keeping up on traffic ahead, monitoring weather, looking out for smokey (Highway Patrol for you younguns) and for general chat.
There are some know best-practices and etiquette when operating a radio, but a quick search on the net will clue you in. Just be sure to follow protocol and chat away.
Friends and Family Need a Vacation?
Who doesn’t want to get out of the house for some sightseeing? And, you are just the person to provide that opportunity. So, one of your siblings or friends wants to go to New Orlands for a vacation. You can save them a ton on airfare by syncing up both of your schedules. They provide you with some company and you drop them off in the town along your route. It might be even possible to swing back through and pick them up if your route matches.
Driving OTR is only as fun as you make it. Sure you can’t tour every town every time. But, there is a ton of productivity and fun that can be had with the time. Get creative, keep your eyes on the road and stay safe.
Article Updated from the Original on January 4, 2019
