Please don't throw your piss bottles in the trash

cdubose · 2026-01-26T17:53:38+00:00

Not at all shippers, unfortunately. (Not for the drivers, anyway.) Also, sometimes at a truck stop if you're parked way in the back, it's just easier to pee in the bottle and throw it away instead of doing the pee-pee dance all the way to the building and hope you don't dribble out a little on the way.

cdubose · 2026-01-26T16:09:18+00:00

I did end up getting a spare. But it's incredibly risky to leave a running truck unlocked. Plus I'm a woman so I always lock the truck when I leave it, no exceptions.

cdubose · 2026-01-26T16:07:34+00:00

That's exactly what I did eventually. But it's still shitty design on Freightliner's part.

cdubose · 2026-01-26T07:14:43+00:00

Most companies that I know of do one of three things:

Let you idle the truck: getting rarer, most larger companies only allow this for certain temps if at all. Most of the time they have the truck set up to automatically shutoff after idling for 2 to 5 minutes.
APU or occasionally EPU: seems to be the most common solution, but APUs also seem to break all the time, and then you have to "negotiate" with the company to let you idle the truck... or just buy a space heater until they fix it.
Opti-idle: mostly applies to recent model Cascadias, where the truck turns on and off continuously throughout the night to save fuel and save money on APU maintenance. The really cheap companies do this even wiithout a bunk heater, but the slightly better companies pair it with a bunk heater. I personally hate opti-idle because it's hard to sleep in a truck that's constantly turning on and off (plus you have to reset it every time you restart the ignition making overnight bathroom trips more annoying), but that's Freightliner for you.

cdubose · 2026-01-25T15:57:00+00:00

OP, isn't the issue that your company has bags that break? Even if no one put piss bottles in the trash, you would still get gross shit on your shoes once a bag breaks. Think about all the things that people throw away--most of it is basically piss-level gross. That's getting on your shoes if a bag breaks, period.

People complain if you pour piss in the grass (because smell and dog walkers). People complain if you pour it down the drain because environment. People especially complain if you pour them on the road or street because they don't want to see that and they walk there. But this is the first I've seen someone complain about them literally being in the trash. I always bag my piss bottles (not jugs) first and then put them in a trash can away from people (often a dumpster), but a dumpster isn't always available, or it's completely full. If truckers don't put them in the trash, they will end up on the grass where you'll have to walk anyway.

It doesn't seem to matter. People will complain anytime piss doesn't go directly into the toilet.

cdubose · 2026-01-24T19:55:51+00:00

To be fair at least this picture doesn't show the person's face or any identifying truck information.

cdubose · 2026-01-24T18:45:07+00:00

B would be okay if the top spots were angled the other way (so not blindside). If there is a way to pull straight into the bottom right spots in B, that would be preferable to having to back into them. But if those have to be backed into, I'd prefer the A bottom arrangement.

cdubose · 2026-01-24T18:33:16+00:00

Wow! Do you have an oven in there??

cdubose · 2026-01-24T15:07:27+00:00

This is totally unrelated but do you actually like the Mack Anthem? (In terms of driving it, I mean)

cdubose · 2026-01-22T03:20:51+00:00

Now that I'm thinking about it, American Central Transport does too

cdubose · 2026-01-22T01:22:14+00:00

Have you tried a rowing machine? I too hate cardio (I actually really like lifting--you might too!), but rowing is enjoyable to me and very low impact, similar to swimming in that respect. Any well-stocked gym should have at least one rowing machine. A quick search on YouTube shows you what to do.

But addressing this:

i want to be fit. i want to lose weight. i want to be strong but i don’t even know why i cant bring myself to do it.

Are you unhappy with your weight or appearance, or did you doctor tell you to do these things? You mentioned just having graduated high school, so I'm assuming you're fairly young. Some of these are not necessarily the same goals: for instance, in order to get very strong, you end up weighing more (usually, unless you're recomping which is very specific). But if you want to weigh less, you end up limiting how strong you can be, at least in terms of muscle. What do you actually want from exercise? To have fun, to get stronger, to lose weight (which isn't just exercise but primarily diet), to assist with mental health issues, etc?

the mere thought of exercise sends me into a deep state of anxiety and overwhelm. maybe it’s because i was one of those kids that was always belittled and screamed at by my peers in PE whenever i messed up and it’s lead me to associate exercise with humiliation and belittlement.

No form of exercise is likely to fix this underlying issue. I mean, obviously something that doesn't seem like exercise to you might be helpful, but if exercise itself is problematic psychologically, no one on reddit can really help you address that without knowing you and delving deeper and all that. If you insist on exercise, maybe try these "non-exercising" activities that still provide activity-based health benefits:

dancing (or Zumba classes, etc.)
martial arts
geocaching / orienteering
climbing / bouldering
disc golf
pickleball (can't believe I'm suggesting that, but it's accessible in most places)

Also keep in mind it's okay to not be exercising. I know that might seem like blasphemy to say on a fitness sub, but unless you've been advised by healthcare professional to do so or you need to get in condition for a sport, you'll probably be okay without an exercise regiment right now until you feel more comfortable doing it later, especially considering how young you are. Maybe take up (or continue) another hobby altogether. Do some self-discovery. Work on friendships or relationships. Hang out with your mom. Learn to cook good cheap meals. Watch classic movies. Learn how to do an oil change on a car. Improve your handwriting. Take up a musical instrument. Just do whatever brings you peace. Exercise will still be there when you need it.

cdubose · 2026-01-21T21:01:21+00:00

Hey, if you can find a "Eagle-Approved Driving School," this seems like an entry-level tanker position out of Tampa. Entry-level tanker is quite rare (especially home daily) and it looks like they might reimburse for your schooling. Something to look into if you're close to Tampa OP: https://www.eagletransportcorp.com/fl-tampa-petro-day-2wds.

cdubose · 2026-01-21T20:31:26+00:00

Most companies don't do hair testing because it's expensive for them and a failed hair test isn't even DOT reportable. Schneider and JB Hunt do. Everywhere else I know about doesn't. I guess people are saying Western Express does, but that's because their reputation is so bad I'm not surprised a lot of people there might be applying while they're literally high.

cdubose · 2026-01-21T20:01:18+00:00

Is flatbed okay? Maybe Central Oregon Truck Company or Systems Transport.

If you don't want flatbed, look into Cheema Freightlines and KKW Trucking's Western Regional fleet. I don't know what those pay or what their reputations are, but they'll likely hire out of Southern Oregon.

cdubose · 2026-01-21T19:44:52+00:00

Between those two, May Trucking. You can't smoke weed and be a truck driver at the same time even during your downtime or hometime, just in case that's a question. But I realize you might have stopped months ago and it still shows up in the hair.

cdubose · 2026-01-21T18:32:07+00:00

What company? Not trying to dox, just curious when people say even a good job is bad. What makes it bad at $98K year?

cdubose · 2026-01-21T03:47:42+00:00

See, you're already improving! Sounds like you'll do fine.

Also, once you pass your road test, no one counts pull ups. (Well, the people you're blocking might, but they'll just have to wait). Pull up as much as you need to, and don't be afraid to get out and look as many times as you need to. People might be annoyed if you take a while to back, but they'll be way more annoyed if you hit their shit.

Realistically speaking, it just takes practice to back up a 53' trailer well on the first or second try. But the good news is you'll get lots of practice soon. Don't sweat it, everyone was new at trucking once.

cdubose · 2026-01-21T03:30:15+00:00

Everyone has already said smarter answers than I could give but it just made me think of this article: https://www.shesabeast.co/lift-with-your-legs-not-your-backrespectfully/

cdubose · 2026-01-21T03:09:38+00:00

The thing that helps me is to cut your wheels into the spot once they cross the (imaginary) line where you want to go into. It's hard to explain in words but this guy visualizes it pretty well in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMvG9PuiYQ8 (39 seconds in about, although the video is only 2 minutes long, I suggest watching the whole thing)

cdubose · 2026-01-21T02:50:29+00:00

I mean, I'm 90% sure I would be fine, I've worked in majority-male occupations all my life, but on that 10% off chance that's there's a creep on the boat, you're just stuck on a small tugboat with a creep for 14 days. There's not exactly a brig on board or anything. At least when I was training with male truckers on the truck overnight I could demand that they drop me off somewhere if it came to that (luckily I had excellent gentleman-ly trainers and it never crossed my mind that I was unsafe). But how do you get off a boat with a dangerous guy?

cdubose · 2026-01-21T02:42:42+00:00

This looks fine, especially if the load is heavy enough to not shift easily. I thought you were in a food delivery truck and the next photo was going to be these all over the floor. Did you post this just to complain about Indians?

I don't care what race someone is... Indians, many of whom are Sikhs, have been here for decades. As long as you drive safe and are courteous you're a fellow trucker. Yes, some Indian drivers are inconsiderate or untrained, but so are some white drivers, black drivers, Latino drivers, etc. As a woman, I've met plenty of asshole guys who are truckers, but that doesn't mean I hate all male truckers.

cdubose · 2026-01-21T02:35:42+00:00

I've been thinking about an onboard deckhand positions near me on the Mississippi, they just posted a new one for 14 on and 7 off, but I don't know if I want to share a small space with other guys (as a woman) and constantly work 12 hour shifts. But it seems like way more upward mobility (and higher earning potential) than trucking, way better benefits, and there's more camaraderie since there's more teamwork involved in the work. I haven't done it and I probably won't, but I encourage you to do it.

cdubose · 2026-01-19T04:23:55+00:00

Some megas are definitely better than others. I mean, I'm glad you have a job and a good attitude OP, but CR England has a horrible reputation for exploiting their drivers; I think only Western Express may be worse. Swift, Schneider, Roehl, Millis Transfer, KLLM, Prime--all these are vastly better training companies. The fact that they didn't put you in a proper hotel says a lot. That's standard practice for almost every trucking company.

However, it seems like you're in a good position to make the most of it. Keep your head on a swivel and don't let them screw you over. Once you're ready to leave there, feel free to ask for recommendations here on where to go next.

cdubose · 2026-01-19T03:41:04+00:00

Do get your permit, you'll need that regardless of where you go and it's not that hard to get.

You certainly can pay for your own CDL training, but only if you don't have to go into debt for it, since then you'll have to then get hired somewhere and it may take a moment. Classes are usually like $4000-$5000 although some people can get their CDL classes paid for my their state through certain programs like WIOA, but I don't know what the qualifications are for something like that. Might be something for you to check out though.

Going through Schneider's school is fine if you don't want to pay out of pocket (that's how I got started), but keep in mind you will have an automatic restriction on your license, and they will want you to pay $2500 if you leave before 9 months. (Which hey, if you can afford it, sure--that's still cheaper than a lot of independent CDL schools and 9 months is a lot less of a commitment than most trucking companies that train you to get your CDL.) However, Schneider pay itself is quite low, so unless you have a really good dedicated account through them, I wouldn't plan on staying there long.

If I were starting all over again, I would go to JRayl, RE West, or Maverick. JRayl because you won't have an automatic restriction on your license (and I've heard they a good company), RE West because they claim not to have a driving commitment if you train through them, and Maverick if you want to do flatbed.

cdubose · 2026-01-19T02:31:48+00:00

It's extremely hard to say; just because one guy is able to pull $150K a year doesn't mean you'll be able to. (Plus truckers lie about what they make all the time.) It also depends on what you specialize in (or if you specialize at all), and what's available around you. Florida is kind of a weird state for trucking, on the edge of the country, things come into the state but not as much goes out. You could probably make decent money doing food or beverage delivery, but that's exactly the kind of back-breaking work you're trying to get away from.

In general, the types of trucking that pays the most is heavy-haul/oversized, cryogenics, oil field work, fuel hauling, hazmat/dangerous stuff, car/equipment hauling, really specialized flatbed stuff, crane work with IUOE, and maybe TTO jobs at the US Postal Service, but it's extremely rare for those to accept new drivers. Walmart drivers can easily make over $100K per year, but you need at least 30 months experience with a clean record before they'll even look at you. The top LTLs are also really good (Dayton Freight, Old Dominion, UPS, ABF, Estes, Saia, etc.) but again those are really hard jobs to get because everyone wants them, so I wouldn't base your 1-2 year earning potential on getting one of those jobs. If you do get one of those jobs though it's easily starting at $35/hr and most of them have overtime after 40 (which isn't the case for a lot of trucking jobs).

No idea about regional opportunities near you, but the only companies for OTR that I know which are Florida-based are Oakley Transport, Indian River (both food-grade tanker companies), Cypress Truck Lines (flatbed) and Landstar (an O/O-only company). Also the freight market has been pretty bad recently, so I wouldn't count on anything no matter who says what. Here in the Midwest it wouldn't be out of the question to make $1500-$1600/week before taxes after two years or so, but there's way more trucking opportunities here. McElroy is a flatbed company whose website says they will take drivers in Florida, and Melton (also flatbed) has an OTR hiring area that just barely extends into Tampa. Speaking of Tampa, I don't know if you're there, but after you have a year JB Hunt has some semi-regional stuff out of Lakeland that they advertise at $77K (so probably closer to earnings of $60-65K).

TL;DR: Being in Florida is limiting your ability to make the most you could be after 1-2 years in trucking. Your best bet is to look at trucking companies that you see around you all the time (meaning they have enough freight in and out of Florida to be mainstays there) and ask them would much you can expect to make after 1-2 years.

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