Trucker Wife/ The Cost of owning a truck

This is a LONG post--so get ready!

Lucas and I went to Denver for Easter and saw a show Saturday night called

Mama Hates Diesels or Mama Hated Diesels--can't remember.

I was so happy our two worlds finally collided. Really I NEVER thought it would happen!

I cried twice during the show. Yep--a show about truckers and I cried. It takes place in a truck stop and it is just some truckers (a married trucking couple, a single guy, a trucking women, a man whose married, but wife's at home with their kid).

The thing that got me was --of course-- when they would tell about the truckers wife side. I didn't really know what it looked like to other people--this life I live being married to a trucker--until I saw it from a real point of view staring you in the face on stage!

I know other trucker wives and all of that--but I never really thought about the way they showed it on stage. Over all it was sad. A life of a trucker isn't the happiest thing out there. There is alot of pride in the trucking world and MOST of the truckers are good guys--It is sad that a few of the scummy ones are what most people know.

A few things that totally suck being a truckers wife.

-Even when your husband is home--he is so tired he isn't really "there"--or the truck needs worked on so he is gone working on the truck.

-Your conversations over the phone are often cut short because of traffic, lost signals, or just lack of things to say to each other.

-You get in a routine that works and then your husband comes home and changes that routine--DON'T get me wrong--I would rather have him home, but it just messes things up sometimes.

-You life is kind of "on-hold". You don't plan evening activities with friends (or church), because your husband MIGHT be home that night--or you do have plans and then have to break them because he comes home unexpected.

-Since he isn't home much most of all the house work/paper work/and to do things fall on your lap.

-you live separate lives

-you raise the kids alone alot

A few things I am thankful for

-I NEVER worry about Lucas being interested in Lot Lizards (prostitutes that hang out at truck stops)

-Lucas works hard to make ends meet and he doesn't buy alot of BLING for the truck--

-Lucas doesn't really enjoy trucking--so hopefully that means it won't last forever

-Luke is NOT an over the road--long haul trucker! I see him a couple times a weeks! Never more than a week goes by where I don't see him--some wives only see their hubby every couple months!

-I am thankful that Lucas hauls hay and other things instead of hot oil or hazardous materiel--like last year.

I was lured into thinking this was a great job because our friends showed us paychecks weekly for $5000 dollars. WOW! I was AMAZED! Who wouldn't be? BUT what they LEFT OUT was that -- You MIGHT take home $500 a week--once you figure in everything it really doesn't add up!

Some costs for owning a truck....

Truck Payment: We did a 2 year lease--and that is about $1500.00 a month--so image ANOTHER mortgage on something that if it breaks down--you are out of luck!

Truck Insurance: it is scary all the issues a trucker deals with--most places won't hire you unless you have at least a million dollar insurance plan. So we pay about $700 a month on insurance (which is good since most people pay that much for health!)

2290--$550 --(the tax you pay to OWN a truck)--Due this month!

IFTA--International Fuel Tax agreement--don't really understand--but you pay based on how much fuel you used in each state and how much you drove in each state--pay every three months.

IRP--once a year--again don't understand it much--you pay about $2500. to get licences plates that allow Trucks in each state.

Road Distant--A "Special" tax that new Mexico does every 3 months--you figure pay just like you do for IFTA, but only in NM--other states have special taxes, but NM is the only state that Lucas runs that does it.

OOIDA--not really a MUST, but it is for Owner/operators of trucks--the yearly fee goes towards have people lobbing for the trucker and their needs!

PLUS

-Tires--at least $300.00 Per tire--and remember we have 18 of them--Plus with easily going 500 miles a day--they wear out pretty fast!

-Other truck parts/tools needed. It is amazing how quickly a monthly oil change adds up--a trucks average oil change is about $300.00 if you do the labor yourself! Again--since you can go about 800 miles a day--that could be at least one oil change a month, if not more. (we spent about $10,000 in this category this past year--and in 2010 we have already spent about $15,000--thanks to a transmission going out!)

-Paper work--while it is a small cost you have special forms and papers you have to fill out EVERYDAY--after a while it adds up about $5.00-$10.00 a month

-Truck washes--if you haul any live stock--this is important, but still with mud, snow, or salt--it can ruin tires easily, rust away trailers (which is a whole other issue and $$ deal-we spent about $9,000 on trailer payments this year), and just make a truck look bad-which could lead to fewer loads from other companies.

-Scales--each time you load up you are supposed to weight your truck to make sure you are not over weight--I think it is 80,000 in Colorado and 85,000 in NM--each state has it own rules on this--which can make you legal in some state and illegal in others-I think it is about $3 to $7 to get weighted depending on where you are (and plus add in the extra diesel if you have to drive out of your way to FIND a scale)

-food/showers/hotels--Lucas is rare--he gets in the truck and looses his appetite (and weight! The only trucker I know who looses weight while on the truck!) But when he does eat (only about once a day) it is always at a truck stop food or fast food place so it can add up. Thankfully he has only had to shower a few times at truck stop showers-yuck!--and only had to stay at a hotel a few times--truck was getting fixed somewhere and he had to stay the night.

-Diesel!--this is the big one! This year it was about $28,000.00--This is WAY less than last year-when diesel prices were really high last summer Lucas was working the most--so last year way over $50,000. This year we have been thankful for lower diesel prices since loads are harder to come by!

So why would I be so open with our expenses and how much we pay!? BECAUSE I would hate to see someone be lured into trucking thinking they were going to be rich. Yes, it does pay more than what Lucas was making just doing mechanic work, but we are further in debt (big trucks and trailers cost alot) and I see Lucas even LESS than before (which I didn't think was possible).

Hopefully I helped someone out there!