It's a Team's Life

Inches Matter

By Linda Caffee
Posted Mar 21st 2018 6:00AM

Over the past thirteen years, we have always poo-pooed the idea of a shower in our truck.  We wanted the storage space that a shower would use up and a larger refrigerator.  These past few years though have got us to thinking a little more about a shower.

We spend a lot of time under loads that require extra security or time spent in an undisclosed location, out in the boonies, no facilities, dirt lot and by the time we are able to get to a truck stop and shower we feel grimy.  It is the pits to finish up one of these loads and talk to a customer when we know we need a shower.

I was reminded of this the other day when we were walking out to our truck with a shipper and she turned to me and said “Wow, not only do you not look like typical truck drivers you also smell good, I cannot wait to get back to my office and tell my co-workers I have seen a unicorn.” That is how we prefer to be remembered by a shipper that we smell good and we are professionals.

Over the years we have talked to drivers who have showers that use them exclusively and to others that use theirs as a coat closet. The last thing we need is an expensive coat closet in our truck. Now I do think the shower will be great for hanging up wet jackets after walking in the rain or the snow.

We are pretty much decided on getting a sleeper with a shower and now the debate is how big will the sleeper be?  First, we talked about a 120” sleeper and going with an under-sink refrigerator so that we can keep our hang-up closet and still have a 20’ freight box.  Then I talked to some friends who have a 130” sleeper about their storage and placement of their refrigerator.  Thinking about the ability to have a standup refrigerator, hanging closet, shower, as well as a table and bench seating really sounds good.

Keep in mind that all of this sleeper area will condense our freight box size.  The last thing we want to do is have a very comfortable sleeper and not be able to haul freight.  Not being able to haul loads will make it a little difficult to pay for the comfort of a big sleeper.  I keep pretty good records on the freight that we haul which includes the weight.  We have more of a problem with our door opening not being big enough then we have ever had with weight.  Our loads average less than 3000 lbs. and we have only had a full box a couple of times in the past thirteen years. 

With this move to get a bigger sleeper we are rethinking the storage of our blankets, straps, and freight moving equipment.  The next truck will have belly boxes lining the sides of the truck and they will be sized to store our equipment so that we can maximize the size of the smaller box. 

As of right now, we are unsure if we will go with the 120” or the 130” as we still have to do some pricing on the sleeper as well as the box.  We are also looking at putting solar panels on the top of the freight box that we hope will drastically reduce the need for a large generator.  I will write more about that as we get closer to installing the solar panels.

Lots to think about and decide as time is counting down to when our Cascadia will be built. 

Bob & Linda Caffee

TeamCaffee

Saint Louis MO

Expediters since January 2005

[email protected]

 

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