Looking back at the semi-truck with sleepers history, you realize that the first sleepers didn't provide truck drivers with the kind of comfort that would make them consider the idea of living in the sleeper cab over the road.
But things have changed.
Since then, the basic semi-truck sleeper cabs became more comfortable and attractive to truck drivers while the inside layouts provide better sleeping in the sleeper cab.
Because of that, some truck drivers are now considering selling their houses and living in sleeper cabs for weeks or even for months in a row.
Find below why truck drivers are ok about living in a sleeper cab.
Are sleeper cabs comfortable to live in?
Today, sleeper cabs are much more different from what they used to be.
They have a kitchen, a cooler, storage places for clothes, food, and other accessories in their sleeper cabs.
However, the basic sleeper cabs provide you with enough things to have a good sleep and rest.
And if the driver wants, he can buy additional things for his sleeper.
Do semi sleeper cabs have bathrooms?
The basic design of the semi-truck sleeper cabs doesn't include bathrooms.
But if you are allowed to make little optimization in the sleeper. Or if you own the truck, you can order a customized sleeper where you can have anything that you want including a bathroom.
And still considering all these features that sleepers have today, is it enough to keep the driver on the road?
Can truck drivers live in their trucks? [3 situations]
Yes, they can but there 3 types of circumstances in life that dictate OTR truck drivers' experience.
1. The first option is when the truck driver has a family with kids.
2. The second option is when the wife and husband are team drivers.
3. The third option is when the truck driver is single.
1. The first option
Once we have established that, today, sleepers cabs provide the truck drivers with the required comfort to have a good sleep and rest but some truck drivers are still missing something. Their families.
When truck drivers meet their wife, they may have to convince her to join him as his co-driver. If not then It's going to be difficult to be away from home for so long. Many couples have divorced because of that.
When a truck driver finds himself in this kind of situation, no matter how much you love the trucking lifestyle, but you might need to choose what you want more in your life - a family or an adventure.
It's not an easy choice.
2. The second option
If the truck driver convinces his wife to go out on the road with him then this is huge luck.
In that way, both drivers can be together 24/7 for as long as they are on the road.
This is a perfect scenario for two adventurous personalities who are bored to stay home.
3. The third option
When you are single, there is nothing to hold you back.
When a single truck driver spends 3 or 4 nights per month at home then paying for an apartment or home feels like a waste of money. This money would rather be spent on buying meals, a laptop, a printer, a TV, etc.
Or if the driver stopped somewhere that appealed to him and he'd reset his log, he'd spend the money on renting a car to go sightseeing.
When you come back to your hometown you can stay in a very nice 5-star hotel because you have the money.
So, if the single truck driver is adventurous, he'll enjoy the many benefits of being an over-the-road truck driver.
And if you are a smart owner-operator then you'd control your expenses and save just enough to buy a house in pay cash.
Why do truck drivers decide to live in their trucks? (Benefits)
I don't mean that truck drivers with family and kids can't live in their sleeper cabs. I'm just saying that they have more hurdles than a single truck driver would have.
But those truck drivers that do live in their trucks, especially single truck drivers and wife and husband team drivers enjoy the following benefits of living in their sleeper cabs:
- They save an average of between $600 to $1200, depending on where you live, on renting an apartment or house where you'd spend 1 to 4 days per month.
- Besides the rent or mortgage payment, there are utility bills, somebody has to cut the lawn, clean the gutters, make the repairs, and you don't need to take care of that anymore as an OTR truck driver.
- They use that OTR part of their careers to put apart some money and later, hopefully, transition to a job with far fewer demands on their lives.
- They live an adventurous life because you may wake up in different places every day.
- They have the freedom to plan and schedule their day.
- It's a great way to save for something that you want to do.
Conclusion
Ultimately, choosing a career as a long-haul trucker has its perks. With a modern home on 18 wheels to live and work in, an owner-operator can comfortably see the country while earning a good living.
