There is a lot of downtime in trucking that nobody warns you about. Waiting for loads, sitting out mandatory rest periods, and killing time between appointments can feel tedious if you are not prepared. Experienced drivers learn to fill that time in ways that are enjoyable, productive, or both. Here are some of the best ways truckers make downtime work for them.
Audiobooks, Podcasts, and Online Learning
Many long-haul drivers are voracious consumers of audiobooks and podcasts. Apps like Audible, Libby (free through your library card), and Spotify give you access to thousands of titles. Some drivers use downtime to take online courses, learning everything from a new language on Duolingo to business skills on Coursera. Over the course of a year, an OTR driver can easily finish 50-plus books or complete an entire certification program during rest hours alone.
Explore the Places You Deliver To
One of the underrated perks of trucking is seeing parts of the country most people never visit. When your schedule allows, explore local restaurants, parks, landmarks, or hiking trails near your stops. Keep a list of interesting spots along your regular routes. Some drivers maintain travel blogs or Instagram accounts documenting their journeys. You are getting paid to travel across the country — take advantage of it when you can.
Exercise and Outdoor Activities
Resistance bands, a jump rope, or a set of adjustable dumbbells take up minimal space in a cab and can provide a solid workout at any rest stop. Walking laps around a truck stop lot, doing bodyweight exercises, or following a YouTube workout in your sleeper cab are all options. Some truck stops and travel centers now have fitness rooms. Staying active on the road improves your energy, mood, and long-term health — all of which make the job more enjoyable.
Hobbies That Travel Well
Plenty of hobbies work in a truck cab. Photography, sketching, journaling, playing guitar, fishing (if you are near water during downtime), and gaming on a laptop or tablet are popular among drivers. Some truckers pick up CB radio communities, geocaching, or amateur astronomy in dark rural areas far from city light pollution. The key is finding something you look forward to during rest periods rather than just staring at your phone.
Life on the road is what you make of it. At National Standard Trucking School in Tacoma, we give our students an honest picture of the trucking lifestyle — the challenges and the rewards. Ready to hit the road? Call us at (253) 210-0505.
