CORONA How do truck drivers eat, with all of these restaurants closed

[CTFIREBATTCHIEF]

I'm in Connecticut, with all restaurants and bars shut down except for take out and delivery. States all around me are in the same boat. So you're a long haul trucker bringing in needed foodstuffs. You sure as heck aren't bringing a 55 foot tractor trailer through the drive through, so how are these folks going to eat. Not only that, but Greyhound drivers and other long haul bus drivers make regular food stops at fast food restaurants near exits. What about those folks. As you may tell, I'm not on the "we're all gonna die from the wuhan virus" bandwagon anyway so maybe I'm a bit biased here. But still, knee jerk reaction to this damn thing is going to have some unintended consequences and this is one of them.

 

[Publius]

There are truck stops where they can fuel up and most of these places are like mini-marts and some even have Subway and a restaurants like Denny's or some other chain restaurant. But once off the interstate roadways then it's a completely different story and pulling into a supermarket is there only thing they can do and that if they can find one thats open for biz.

 

[tiredude]

there is always truck stops

 

[Gercarson]

We are now at the mercy of timely delivery. Next step of the pandemic "crisis" will be to somehow stop truckers from making those deliveries. Far fetched? Bwhahahahahahahaha - people, look where we are NOW and the ease that we are manipulated "for our own good".

 

[Millwright]

Truck stops are like a micro-town geared for drivers.

Often, there is different window food within walking distance.

The procedural question I have is how will they do the showers? Lotsa bleach after every use, I guess.

 

[Just Plain Mom]

Excellent question. It was hard before in some states (MA and CT come to mind).

My trucker kiddo called this morning. (I posted this elsewhere, but since you asked. ) He's on I95 at the moment, delivering meat to a Walmart DC. He said the road is crowded with RVs and so are the truck stops, making it nearly impossible to find a spot to stop. He ended up parking between two RVs last night and they were irritated because his APU was on all night.

They have cleaned out truck stops. No nonperishables or food at all, except sweet snacks. He said that if the restaurants close down, he doesn't know how they'll eat. This already means no food at shippers/receivers.

Meemur replied elsewhere that maybe the shippers/receivers will feed them. The truth is, they are slammed. All doors full, loading and unloading as fast as humanly possible. (This is...rare, lol) Not sure they're even taking their time to eat much, but at least they get to go home.

 

[Meemur]

Meemur replied elsewhere that maybe the shippers/receivers will feed them. The truth is, they are slammed. All doors full, loading and unloading as fast as humanly possible. (This is...rare, lol) Not sure they're even taking their time to eat much, but at least they get to go home.

No, I said maybe someone nice will pack them a cooler with good sandwiches like I used to do for my cousin. It stinks, but prepared truckers may have to carry some meals with them and a thermos or two of coffee.

 

[parsonswife]

Family member is a trucker. He has a frig and microwave in his cab. Loaded up with canned foods too. Since he has diet restrictions he always wanted to avoid the food at truck stops......now everyone will have to plan too. Husband is a delivery driver for H$D$. ( building materiels) Working extra long hours sending material to hemp/ pot farmers who are trying to get their spring crops growing. Stopped at taco bell yesterday (north calif) to use restroom. No napkins cups tp plastic forks etc. They were told to remove everything that customers could serve themselves with. Unusual amount f traffic headed out of Cali to Oregon both in cars and rvs

 

[Just Plain Mom]

Meemur said
No, I said maybe someone nice will pack them a cooler with good sandwiches like I used to do for my cousin. It stinks, but prepared truckers may have to carry some meals with them and a thermos or two of coffee.

You're right; I extrapolated, because my kiddo doesn't have anyone within 1500 miles who might give him a care package. Wishful thinking. I'm just worried about him, but if he skips a meal or two, he'll be ok.

He does have some meals that he can prepare on the truck, but not enough to last for a few weeks.

 

[Blacknarwhal]

No, I said maybe someone nice will pack them a cooler with good sandwiches like I used to do for my cousin. It stinks, but prepared truckers may have to carry some meals with them and a thermos or two of coffee.

Which would be a class move for some of these trucking companies. Pack some lunches for the drivers.

My mom worked for a high school cafeteria before she retired, and they still turn to her from time to time as a sub. They keep her in the loop on everything; with school shut down, they're actually making sack lunches--with a breakfast for the next day--for pretty much anyone who shows up. No proof you have a kid in the system required. People have been, apparently, super grateful for this.

I confess, I'm seeing a LOT more civility these days. Hit the store yesterday to round out some holes ahead of the shutdown that seems less likely to happen now, and no pushing, no shoving. Any time there was any people were quick to offer apology. Requests to be excused (excuse me) were taken with great propriety, and people allowed people past, sometimes with apologies themselves.

 

[zeker]

There are truck stops where they can fuel up and most of these places are like mini-marts and some even have Subway and a restaurants like Denny's or some other chain restaurant. But once off the interstate roadways then it's a completely different story and pulling into a supermarket is there only thing they can do and that if they can find one thats open for biz.

supermarket in the hood

and a tractor trailer

what could go wrong?

 

[straightstreet]

My Dad was a trucker. He took a lunchbox with non perishables and a cooler with perishables, and a thermos of black coffee. He tried not to eat at truck stops because it wasn't healthy food for him. He did refill his thermos with coffee at truck stops.

 

[parsonswife]

I am seeing the civility also. Everyone in my area has been really courteous. I visit 4-6 groceries stores a day for work. I would hate to be in a big city like chicago

 

[Bps1691]

Does anyone know if the rest areas on the interstates are still open?

Used to drive by several in my traveling days and they were always a place that at least you could use a rest room and use the vending machines without getting far off the Interstate.

 

[Bps1691]

Deleted double post

 

[Josie]

We have a few truck stops in my town...close to interstate. I haven't been out to check to see if things are still moving along. But I can hear that the traffic doesn't seem to be down any. But there is always Walmart for food and facilities. Our Wally World actually has truck parking.

 

[Dozdoats]

Where we used to live (Pembroke, NC) got a lot of rail traffic, some 80 trains a day. NO ONE is taking a train anywhere off the tracks, much less a drive-through. But the crews would stop in places they did not block streets and go to Pizza Hut or whatever.

 

[mzkitty]

In the news briefing this morning, Trump said they are really going to ramp up take-out and drive-thru for all the major food places, like McD's et al. Truck drivers will have a place to go.

 

[WalknTrot]

I expect drive-through fast food will stay open everywhere for the truly desperate.

Most OTR truckers have some kind of set-up in their truck or a portable fridge/cooler and can pack food for themselves. Grocery stores with deli food are also real popular with truckers.

 

[closet squirrel]

i just spoke to a driver a few minutes ago who was making a delivery in DC. I thought of this thread and said, hey how are you going to eat since you cant take that truck through a drive thru? He said he packed some food but noticed that all the hot dog vendors are still on all the corners in DC.

 

[Texas Writer]

Does anyone know if the rest areas on the interstates are still open?

Used to drive by several in my traveling days and they were always a place that at least you could use a rest room and use the vending machines without getting far off the Interstate.

Texas has closed its rest areas, although the restrooms remain available.

 

[Laurane]

All the people who spent winter in AZ/TX/CA are now heading north to their homes in cars and RVs.

They will be wanting to eat and drink and stay over in motels - it is going to put so much pressure on those who cater to travelers and truckers.

Our friends who were traveling up the coast back to Canada, have cut the last week off their holiday as it is miserable trying to plan where to stay and dine, so they are heading home cross country and omitting Oregon and coastal Washington, and will be back in a couple of days. They are in an SUV, so do need to find hotels and food (with no buffets) at their hotels.

They are the lucky ones.

 

[nomifyle]

I subscribe to a youtuber that is a trucker, Highwayman Trucking, he has a couple of videos about and what he carries in his truck. He and his wife are long time preppers. I think he said in his last video or two that he was only taking jobs where he didn't get too too far from home. He had open heart surgery not long ago and has to be careful.

Judy

 

[privatemom]

Spoke to my sister today - her husband is a trucker. He has a mini fridge and a coffee pot in the truck, which is good. His problem - truck stops are closing their shower facilities. That is going to be another problem for these folks.

 

[packyderms_wife]

Excellent question. It was hard before in some states (MA and CT come to mind).

My trucker kiddo called this morning. (I posted this elsewhere, but since you asked. ) He's on I95 at the moment, delivering meat to a Walmart DC. He said the road is crowded with RVs and so are the truck stops, making it nearly impossible to find a spot to stop. He ended up parking between two RVs last night and they were irritated because his APU was on all night.

They have cleaned out truck stops. No nonperishables or food at all, except sweet snacks. He said that if the restaurants close down, he doesn't know how they'll eat. This already means no food at shippers/receivers.

Meemur replied elsewhere that maybe the shippers/receivers will feed them. The truth is, they are slammed. All doors full, loading and unloading as fast as humanly possible. (This is...rare, lol) Not sure they're even taking their time to eat much, but at least they get to go home.

State and National parks, along with other RV parks are closing up shop due to this virus, so he can expect to see a surge in RV's on the road here in the next few days.

 

[packyderms_wife]

My mom worked for a high school cafeteria before she retired, and they still turn to her from time to time as a sub. They keep her in the loop on everything; with school shut down, they're actually making sack lunches--with a breakfast for the next day--for pretty much anyone who shows up. No proof you have a kid in the system required. People have been, apparently, super grateful for this.

This would be a good time for them to ask if they have any food at home and if they would like a care package of say beans, rice, fruit, canned veggies, etc. BON some people are completely lost in a grocery store and have no clue where or how to start shopping.

 

[Mary Contrary]

Family member is a trucker. He has a frig and microwave in his cab. Loaded up with canned foods too. Since he has diet restrictions he always wanted to avoid the food at truck stops......now everyone will have to plan too. Husband is a delivery driver for H$D$. ( building materiels) Working extra long hours sending material to hemp/ pot farmers who are trying to get their spring crops growing. Stopped at taco bell yesterday (north calif) to use restroom. No napkins cups tp plastic forks etc. They were told to remove everything that customers could serve themselves with. Unusual amount f traffic headed out of Cali to Oregon both in cars and rvs

Yep last wk i was at taco bell and they took away all the stuff you mentioned even the damn napkins. They gave me what i asked for.

 

[Snyper]

He said that if the restaurants close down, he doesn't know how they'll eat.

Grocery stores are still open.

 

[Mary Contrary]

State and National parks, along with other RV parks are closing up shop due to this virus, so he can expect to see a surge in RV's on the road here in the next few days.

My neighbor has old parents about age 70 who live near me. They winter in Florida every winter. They are driving on their way home, but will take awhile she said. Bad time to be traveling.

 

[cowboy]

I am afraid that electronic logging is going to be their bigger problem. Try killing all the down time that is forced onto them with nowhere to go then balancing around curfews and delivery times that is going to eat up on duty hours. Smelly truckers isn't something new just forgotten.

 

[Laurane]

Phoenix to Western Canada - I-15 will be bumper to bumper as nobody will want to stop/be able to find a hotel.

 

[Laurane]

Long-haul truck drivers have tough time eating, finding bathrooms - Penticton News

Is this really what it’s come to? Not allowing truck drivers to get a meal, or relieve themselves in dignity.

www.castanet.net

 

[OldMan]

I have a question that is kinda naive but somewhat on topic ... what are the federal guvmint rules for truck drivers that travel in pairs and the truck (tractor) has a big cab with a sleeper in the back? Can one driver sleep (or go "off duty") in the back and maybe fix meals for both of them while the other drives "on duty"? In this case, are the guvmint rules such that there will be times when both drivers are forced to rest? I'm asking because it seems that a two-person rig might be able to keep going on the road and minimize some of the current difficulties.

 

[lakemom]

I have a question that is kinda naive but somewhat on topic ... what are the federal guvmint rules for truck drivers that travel in pairs and the truck (tractor) has a big cab with a sleeper in the back? Can one driver sleep (or go "off duty") in the back and maybe fix meals for both of them while the other drives "on duty"? In this case, are the guvmint rules such that there will be times when both drivers are forced to rest? I'm asking because it seems that a two-person rig might be able to keep going on the road and minimize some of the current difficulties.

IIRC, they are relaxing the rules somewhat so that the truckers can get their deliveries through. I don't know HOW they're relaxing them, other than doubling up on the drivers in the cab so they can drive non-stop.

 

[night driver]

Here in Ohio, the governor has authorised Food Trucks to sell from rest stops on interstates.

 

[rmomaha]

My brother is a trucker. He mostly eats food that he prepares in his truck and very seldom eats at truck stops.

 

[Barb]

Thanks for that tip Nomifyle. I am enjoying seeing the meals that truckers make in their trucks.