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cynatnite

(31,011 posts)
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 09:15 AM Mar 2020

Some advice from my truck driver husband...

He's been running hard since all of this started. There is no shortage of loads for the time being. He's talked to his dispatcher and a couple of brokers. They're saying that his job is safe and he will have plenty of work. With good miles comes a good check.

What he has learned is that brokers and load managers have raised their rates because of the high demand for trucks. It's good for my husband because he makes more money, but it's bad for the consumer because these costs eventually gets to them.

He's been telling his family to only buy what they need. There is no need to hoard or go crazy. Trucks are running and they are doing their jobs. Be patient, he tells me. Food and other items are still in good supply.

He hasn't had many problems other than sometimes there are an excess of trucks at some receivers or shippers. Production appears to have been raised from what he can tell because of all this.

For a long time now, he rarely eats at a truck stop. They are horribly unhealthy and expensive. He's cooked his own food inside his truck and he knows it's relatively healthy and more often than not, better than he can get anywhere else.

The biggest complaint for him is the lack of parking at truck stops and some rest areas.

The takeaway is to shop as you normally would. Don't be excessive and be patient.

84 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Some advice from my truck driver husband... (Original Post) cynatnite Mar 2020 OP
yeah, the only reason I bought extra of some items getagrip_already Mar 2020 #1
Me to with being retired shopping used marlakay Mar 2020 #24
Wonderful post, cynatnite. Thank you for sharing this. Hope you will all be safe. n/t Judi Lynn Mar 2020 #2
Please thank your husband Scarsdale Mar 2020 #3
+1 MoonlitKnight Mar 2020 #64
Second that! madeup64 Mar 2020 #68
Best advice of the day: "Don't be excessive and be patient." Raven Mar 2020 #4
People may have thought that goods would be rationed CaptYossarian Mar 2020 #11
Thank you for posting and thank your husband for keeping supply chain going MaryMagdaline Mar 2020 #5
Are there still schools open in the U.S.? luvtheGWN Mar 2020 #67
They are closed in Florida. I don't know about the interior states MaryMagdaline Mar 2020 #69
The schools, daycare, colleges AND Universities are ALL closed here in CALIFORNIA The_REAL_Ecumenist Mar 2020 #74
I hope he stays healthy. (And you) There was a post the other day from a trucker who... FailureToCommunicate Mar 2020 #6
He's got a fridge, a microwave and an electric skillet... cynatnite Mar 2020 #8
Same here, dware Mar 2020 #36
I always wondered if a slow cooker would be a good thing to have in a truck- beans, or whatever. NBachers Mar 2020 #55
Instant Pots are good. mwooldri Mar 2020 #57
Yeah, I had thought about the Insta pot too. I have an Insta pot and I really love it! NBachers Mar 2020 #61
You know, that's a hell of an idea, dware Mar 2020 #58
Cooking does not prevent botulism poisoning GulfCoast66 Mar 2020 #9
Good to know. I can't remember if the trucker said the cans were past date or actually swelled up. FailureToCommunicate Mar 2020 #10
Cooking destroys botulinum toxin. Mariana Mar 2020 #44
If it had been botulism DENVERPOPS Mar 2020 #50
Hug your husband for me! redstatebluegirl Mar 2020 #7
I had an order to pickup early yesterday at Sam's Club... Historic NY Mar 2020 #12
We let our membership lapse... cynatnite Mar 2020 #14
Happiness has a monetary value to me. oldsoftie Mar 2020 #30
Once America's cupboards are full with a 7 month supply bucolic_frolic Mar 2020 #13
My husband thinks that it will be back to normal by fall... cynatnite Mar 2020 #16
I've been thinking that about toilet paper for 2 weeks. STILL none around here. oldsoftie Mar 2020 #32
Meat? Price hikes bucolic_frolic Mar 2020 #39
Just curious here...where does '7 month' come from? Is there some guide or survivalist book ... SWBTATTReg Mar 2020 #43
Thank him for me too! LittleGirl Mar 2020 #15
Yeah I would love to shop as normal if there were items on the shelves. MrsCoffee Mar 2020 #17
This. Hoarding begets hoarding. Once stuff is back in stock, those who have been out for weeks CousinIT Mar 2020 #38
Well, I agree w/ you, but this happened pretty fast, and the economy is adjusting somewhat... SWBTATTReg Mar 2020 #48
Factor in whole families are home mercuryblues Mar 2020 #63
Yup... to all the things you are saying here. druidity33 Mar 2020 #71
It's not always so simple. cab67 Mar 2020 #18
I won't set foot in a Walmart... cynatnite Mar 2020 #19
Thank you for posting this. mountain grammy Mar 2020 #20
Thank you for your post, and thank your husband for his good work. Stay healthy both of you. c-rational Mar 2020 #21
Thank You For Sharing This, Ma'am The Magistrate Mar 2020 #22
In Dallas, we're still seeing people hoard TP, tissues, paper towels, hand sanitizers, BREAD (FFS!), Texin Mar 2020 #23
Hydrogen peroxide is easier on the hands. You still have to watch out for clothing. oldsoftie Mar 2020 #33
Good damn luck finding that too! Earlier in the week I tried to source some online and couldn't find Texin Mar 2020 #45
Wow, It seemed like it was staying under the radar. Bought mine at Walgreens. oldsoftie Mar 2020 #51
Everclear is 180 proof... druidity33 Mar 2020 #72
Contact the store managers and ask them to set limits. They SHOULD have all done this CousinIT Mar 2020 #41
You probably do not need to be washing your hands twenty to thirty times a day. PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2020 #42
I presume that EVERYTHING that can be touched by human hands has been and that all those hands Texin Mar 2020 #46
plain old fashioned bar soap is fine and kills the virus as well as harsh chemicals Kali Mar 2020 #62
Yes thank goodness for bar soap FakeNoose Mar 2020 #83
Thanks to your husband..... McKim Mar 2020 #25
Thank you and please thank your husband! MuseRider Mar 2020 #26
The damn hoarders have. . CousinIT Mar 2020 #27
You call it hoarding, I call it stocking up Boomer Mar 2020 #84
Tell hubs be safe TEB Mar 2020 #28
Thank you both lefthandedskyhook Mar 2020 #29
I'm buying in bulk simply to l8mit 5he n7mber of shopping trips I need to make Dream Girl Mar 2020 #31
Keep on Truckin' Roy Rolling Mar 2020 #34
That has been exactly my experience also, dware Mar 2020 #35
Thanks! What your husband does is great. If it is on a shelf, then PatrickforO Mar 2020 #37
Hey... tell him from me, please... "THANK YOU!" n/t TygrBright Mar 2020 #40
I'll echo everyone in saying tell your hubby thanks from all of us ms liberty Mar 2020 #47
Please thank your husband on behalf of all of us for the important and essential work smirkymonkey Mar 2020 #49
Huge thanks to your husband, and all truckers keeping it going! Anon-C Mar 2020 #52
Just curious customerserviceguy Mar 2020 #53
Please give your husband a big high 5 for all he is doing. Thank God for the truck drivers! BComplex Mar 2020 #54
Tell your husband to hammer down and keep them wheels turning. mwooldri Mar 2020 #56
A lady in our senior park is selling toliet paper for a dollar a roll. Oppaloopa Mar 2020 #59
There's never been enough parking at truck stops and rest areas Warpy Mar 2020 #60
Also, GIVE 'EM THE ROAD! They're supplying everything we need. Don't need wrecks. Hermit-The-Prog Mar 2020 #65
I have not gone shopping since Mar. third. appleannie1 Mar 2020 #66
I am worried for the states who get food from CA. BigmanPigman Mar 2020 #70
Thanks for the info and reassuring words. magicarpet Mar 2020 #73
I have been shopping normally ... except that soldierant Mar 2020 #75
Thanks. I was at a supermarket yesterday Renew Deal Mar 2020 #76
Great post. Recommended. panader0 Mar 2020 #77
I work at a major grocery store, and we have trucks coming in EVERY night. n/t Permanut Mar 2020 #78
Thank you for this post. nt Laffy Kat Mar 2020 #79
Thank you for this post MustLoveBeagles Mar 2020 #80
I refuse to shop as I normally would KentuckyWoman Mar 2020 #81
k&r n/t lordsummerisle Mar 2020 #82

getagrip_already

(14,743 posts)
1. yeah, the only reason I bought extra of some items
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 09:22 AM
Mar 2020

was that I wouldn't have to go out in public very much. I used to stop at a store a few times a week to pick up a few items. Now the trips are way fewer and I try to get what I'll need for a while.

But yeah, stores do seem to be coming back on inventories.

marlakay

(11,458 posts)
24. Me to with being retired shopping used
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:31 AM
Mar 2020

To be a fun activity, go to 2-3 few times a week for something to do, to get out of the house, for my husband and I to give each other time alone in the house as we took turns shopping.

Now its as brief as possible. I have a good supply and only go out mostly for produce and I found a store that is being anal about cleaning register area after every customer. I only go there now.

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
3. Please thank your husband
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 09:38 AM
Mar 2020

and fellow truckers for the great job they are doing. Also, thanks to you for spreading the sensible news about hoarding. Stay healthy.

MoonlitKnight

(1,584 posts)
64. +1
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 04:49 PM
Mar 2020

The most essential job right now.

If we don’t eat we die. If hospitals get no supplies the healthcare professionals and other staff can’t take care of anyone.

madeup64

(257 posts)
68. Second that!
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 06:00 PM
Mar 2020

Truck drivers in a sense literally hold the fate of society in there hands/steering wheels. If food runs out at stores and medical supplies don't come that doesn't bode well for the whole social order thing.

CaptYossarian

(6,448 posts)
11. People may have thought that goods would be rationed
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:01 AM
Mar 2020

just like during WWII. Our grandparents often told us about those hard times.

The possibility of production workers staying at home for months was also a possibility. That would reduce supply of necessities.

It's human nature to panic when facing the unknown, but toilet paper? I hope we can laugh about the TP hoarders some day.

I also like the "be patient" advice. Especially with the increase in gun sales in our screwed up times.

Another silver lining is that our schools are the safest they've been in 20 years.

luvtheGWN

(1,336 posts)
67. Are there still schools open in the U.S.?
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 05:32 PM
Mar 2020

They've been closed here in Ontario (and other provinces) for the last couple of weeks -- universities too. Not expected to re-open for the rest of the school year.

The_REAL_Ecumenist

(721 posts)
74. The schools, daycare, colleges AND Universities are ALL closed here in CALIFORNIA
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 09:23 PM
Mar 2020

I don't know about the elementary, middle & highschools BUT the colleges & universities HERE in the northstate have migrated the curricula online. The only real concern &/or question is for the hard science majors because as you might guess, ALOT of lab work is part of their study & I've been wondering what they're going to do about that most important part of the syllabus 'cuz you can't learn what you need to if you can't do labs. So...

FailureToCommunicate

(14,014 posts)
6. I hope he stays healthy. (And you) There was a post the other day from a trucker who...
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 09:46 AM
Mar 2020

was cooking his own food and got terribly sick. He eventually blamed it on some bad (old) canned food he warmed up. Warmed, but not enough to kill the botulism apparently.

cynatnite

(31,011 posts)
8. He's got a fridge, a microwave and an electric skillet...
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 09:55 AM
Mar 2020

He's a great cook so no worries there. He rarely eats out of a can anyway.

dware

(12,374 posts)
36. Same here,
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:59 AM
Mar 2020

my sleeper is equipped with a 2 burner hot plate, a small microwave and a small refrig/freezer and I cook most of my own meals when possible.

NBachers

(17,108 posts)
55. I always wondered if a slow cooker would be a good thing to have in a truck- beans, or whatever.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 01:53 PM
Mar 2020

dware

(12,374 posts)
58. You know, that's a hell of an idea,
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 02:44 PM
Mar 2020

my truck is equipped with a 3500 watt inverter so I do have 110 A/C power.

Think I'll give it a try and let y'all know how it turns out.

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
9. Cooking does not prevent botulism poisoning
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 09:55 AM
Mar 2020

Because it is not the bacteria that kills you but its waste. Once in food it is deadly no matter how you cook it.

DENVERPOPS

(8,820 posts)
50. If it had been botulism
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 12:21 PM
Mar 2020

he would have been DEAD, period. Something else made him sick.......
Botulism is the most feared chemical/toxic bio hazardous stuff on earth....
Botulism is far worse than nerve gas, BX, mustard gas, or any other bio/chem weapon.......

redstatebluegirl

(12,265 posts)
7. Hug your husband for me!
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 09:52 AM
Mar 2020

My favorite uncle, Uncle Ralph, was a long haul driver for 45 years. Truckers are the life blood of our country. Nothing happens without them!

Historic NY

(37,449 posts)
12. I had an order to pickup early yesterday at Sam's Club...
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:01 AM
Mar 2020

Walmart truck followed me up the interstate. I went in they had it all ready to go 7 minutes I was back on the way home. What a difference the store was well stocked. The clerk said they have everything. In fact the truck was bring in a load. Big difference from the one in Largo Florida.. Now that I'm back in Ny. I travel across the Hudson River its faster.

If your a member you can go online shop and they will text you a pickup time. No need to wander. You can specify payment online or in the store, curb or inside pickup.

Now remember to mask up.

Sign on the Walmart truck - drivers wanted.

cynatnite

(31,011 posts)
14. We let our membership lapse...
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:06 AM
Mar 2020

We're down to three people in our household so we can't justify the expense of a membership. Plus we now live in an apartment. No space.

We did get a small freezer to put in one of the closets.

Husband will not work for Walmart. He doesn't like the hours that Walmart would likely make him run. He's been a truck driver close to 25 years now and he'll only work for a company that offers him flexibility of setting his own running times. Where he's at, it works pretty well for him. He gets plenty of miles and has his hours of operation set for the most part.

bucolic_frolic

(43,155 posts)
13. Once America's cupboards are full with a 7 month supply
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:05 AM
Mar 2020

demand will drop off and stores won't be moving very much. Probably by June.

cynatnite

(31,011 posts)
16. My husband thinks that it will be back to normal by fall...
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:08 AM
Mar 2020

The way the virus runs, there will be ups and downs in the coming months.

But with how things are now, it will take quite a while for normality to come to the trucking industry. He hauls more than food items.

oldsoftie

(12,533 posts)
32. I've been thinking that about toilet paper for 2 weeks. STILL none around here.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:46 AM
Mar 2020

And meat; WTH? You can fill up a bedroom with TP but you gotta have a freezer to put meat in!!!

bucolic_frolic

(43,155 posts)
39. Meat? Price hikes
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:05 AM
Mar 2020

There was some industry spokesman on CNBC the other day talking about the prices as no big deal, they were justified because next winter they would have no businesses so they have to lay it aside while they can. Sounds like a planned vacation to me.

SWBTATTReg

(22,114 posts)
43. Just curious here...where does '7 month' come from? Is there some guide or survivalist book ...
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:45 AM
Mar 2020

that I missed or something? 7 month is such an odd time and I was just curious. Thanks so much!

MrsCoffee

(5,801 posts)
17. Yeah I would love to shop as normal if there were items on the shelves.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:12 AM
Mar 2020

It’s great that the food and products are out there. But they aren’t in my stores when I get there and I can’t seem to get anything delivered.

Out of tp, paper towels, eggs, milk, laundry soap, dish soap, water, butter, cleaning products, flour, sugar, peanut butter, tuna, chicken broth... etc, etc, etc. And there is no ice cream, lol.

Thanks to your husband and thanks for the post.

CousinIT

(9,241 posts)
38. This. Hoarding begets hoarding. Once stuff is back in stock, those who have been out for weeks
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:02 AM
Mar 2020

Will NEED to buy more to stock back up!

"I bought more because I wanted to make fewer trips to the store!" - I see a lot of people saying that. But what about OTHER PEOPLE? That - they don't think about. They're making this much worse. The virus isn't causing this issue, PEOPLE are.

They should get enough for two weeks, not two months. If everyone did that, you'd be able to find what you need. We all would.

SWBTATTReg

(22,114 posts)
48. Well, I agree w/ you, but this happened pretty fast, and the economy is adjusting somewhat...
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 12:01 PM
Mar 2020

In my case, deliveries, I couldn't really rely on, so I don't use. I wish that I could, I would definitely use, and thus, wouldn't require so much so I don't have to go out. However, this means that someone else, is exposed to CV possibly. I don't want that or anyone to place themselves in harms' way for me.

Also, people that are hoarding now. Shame on them. Shame mainly for deciding to do the hoarding at the last minute. These are the people I suspect that would football tackle a grandma over a cabbage patch doll or something like that. Pathetic and selfish. We're seeing the very worse of humanity now. Remember these idiots folks, and burn their actions into our minds. Instead of holding out a hand to our fellow person, they spit on the rest of us.

The stocking up is okay, but this should (building a stocked pantry) over a period of a couple of years to do, not all in one shopping trip. As one who's lived in the country, with no transportation (lived w/ grandma and great grandma), we'd go to town perhaps once a month, a 25 mile one way trip, so one couldn't just walk there and back. We did live near a state park and a river, so I could go fishing and would home trout for dinner. We also had a big garden and did lots of canning and sometimes hunting (I didn't like deer or squirrel, rabbit was okay). Possum and/or groundhog soup? It was the BEST!

mercuryblues

(14,531 posts)
63. Factor in whole families are home
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 04:45 PM
Mar 2020

No one is working, the kids out of school. Restaurants are closed except for take out. People are home 24/7, when before they grabbed a bite at work, kids had their meals at school etc. My grocery bill went up almost 50 a week because the youngest came home from school. I am also doing just 1 trip to the store a week, instead of 2-3. Families are also going through more TP because they are home all day and not using it at work, school, public restrooms at stores, while shopping. The demand has shifted, practically overnight.


But yes, people are hoarding.

druidity33

(6,446 posts)
71. Yup... to all the things you are saying here.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 08:54 PM
Mar 2020

I work in a grocery store. Our distributor has been spotty on deliveries, I think because it's more profitable for them to send extra trucks eastern MA/Boston way than it is to send them to western MA and our small co-ops. All of our small communities are trying to shelter in place. With our children home (in my case a 7 month old and a daughter home from cancelled college) and lots of time... we have been cooking and eating A LOT MORE. And of course needing more toilet paper too because we're ALMOST ALWAYS HOME! I keep about an extra weeks worth of TP in the house usually, but that normal supply is being used every 3 days. It's like the meme that keeps popping up for me saying "Damn, this is the second time this week i've had to replenish my 2-week liquor supply!"



cab67

(2,992 posts)
18. It's not always so simple.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:14 AM
Mar 2020

Where we live, few grocery stores offer delivery or curbside pickup. The few that do are parts of corporations I genuinely do not want to patronize, and they are forever out of many items.

My wife wants me to avoid going into stores at all costs.

I'm not actually hoarding, but I have found myself buying two when I formerly would buy one.

cynatnite

(31,011 posts)
19. I won't set foot in a Walmart...
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:17 AM
Mar 2020

Fortunately, we have other options for stores which has helped.

I think you have to go with what works best for you. Not every area is the same and some aren't getting supplied as others are.

The Magistrate

(95,247 posts)
22. Thank You For Sharing This, Ma'am
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:19 AM
Mar 2020

Good to have such a report from what is now one of the front lines of our society.

Texin

(2,596 posts)
23. In Dallas, we're still seeing people hoard TP, tissues, paper towels, hand sanitizers, BREAD (FFS!),
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:27 AM
Mar 2020

antibacterial sprays, and liquid dish soap (not just the antibacterial ones, but regular). I just ordered liquid dish soap from Amazon (Simplehuman), and received an email this morning that the seller is out of stock and won't receive a new shipment for a week to two weeks (if I'm lucky). At the rate I'm washing my hands - probably twenty to thirty times a day or more, I'm streaking through liquid hand soap and our household will be completely depleted before receipt of the order I'm waiting on. So, this business about there being plenty of stuff may be true, but it's being bought up apparently ever day (maybe multiple times/day) by certain people who probably live within easy walking distance of a supermarket.

We have a stay-at-home order in Dallas County and it's prohibited by law to hoard TP, but cleaning supplies appear to be a free-for-all. Now I'm using diluted bleach cleanser (homemade and effective - I hope - but hell on the hands) and I use that to wipe countertops in the kitchen and spray down all the produce and let them dry before rinsing them off.

oldsoftie

(12,533 posts)
33. Hydrogen peroxide is easier on the hands. You still have to watch out for clothing.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:48 AM
Mar 2020

The CDC says its effective; just wipe a mixture on and wipe off a few mins later.

Texin

(2,596 posts)
45. Good damn luck finding that too! Earlier in the week I tried to source some online and couldn't find
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:53 AM
Mar 2020

a single bottle available. Larger quantities are marked - everywhere - "out of stock" - and ditto that for isopropyl alcohol. I guess I could buy up some rotgut gin, but there's probably been a run on that, as well as vodka and light rum!

oldsoftie

(12,533 posts)
51. Wow, It seemed like it was staying under the radar. Bought mine at Walgreens.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 12:31 PM
Mar 2020

Now i did buy my last bottle over a week ago; maybe its gone the way of toilet paper now!

druidity33

(6,446 posts)
72. Everclear is 180 proof...
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 08:57 PM
Mar 2020

probably the only alcohol sold in liquor stores that might be effective for this.



CousinIT

(9,241 posts)
41. Contact the store managers and ask them to set limits. They SHOULD have all done this
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:15 AM
Mar 2020

by last week of February or 1st week of March. They failed to do so. Between lazy store managers not paying attention to do what's right and dumb, selfish hoarders, everyone else is f*cked. EVERYBODY needs disinfecting cleaners, bleach, peroxide, alcohol, wipes, lysol spray - SOMETHING. People buying it by the case for themselves is DANGEROUS because then others are left without.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,855 posts)
42. You probably do not need to be washing your hands twenty to thirty times a day.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:29 AM
Mar 2020

Especially if you are not going out, or handling things that someone else just recently handled. Just the normal handwashing after using the toilet or in after getting your hands a bit dirty is all.

Texin

(2,596 posts)
46. I presume that EVERYTHING that can be touched by human hands has been and that all those hands
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:58 AM
Mar 2020

are covered in Covid19 virus. I wash fruit and veggies that I'm even going to peel before eating or preparing them for cooking. I presume that everything is contaminated by anyone who stocked it on the shelves or packaged it for store pick-up, etc. Same for delivered items - including the boxes that contain the shipment - which get a spray of the bleach solution (for now) or the Lysol spray I'm trying to use very, very sparingly. Assume all things are covered in it.

Kali

(55,008 posts)
62. plain old fashioned bar soap is fine and kills the virus as well as harsh chemicals
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 04:15 PM
Mar 2020

diluted liquid bleach is fine for hard surfaces. if you can't find it look for liquid chlorine (sometimes called shock) in the pool dept of lowes, Home Depot, or wallyworld. it is the same stuff, just tends to be a little stronger so dilute it more.

FakeNoose

(32,638 posts)
83. Yes thank goodness for bar soap
Sun Mar 29, 2020, 08:52 AM
Mar 2020

It seems that people aren't hoarding it the way they are buying up the liquid antibacterial soaps. Bar soap lasts longer and does just as good of a job for washing hands.

I never thought of using liquid chlorine (the pool chemical) but it would be effective but perhaps dangerous for novices to use.



McKim

(2,412 posts)
25. Thanks to your husband.....
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:32 AM
Mar 2020

Thanks to your husband from the bottom of our hearts!!!!!! Hopefully the highways are empty to ease his route. There will be a new genre of truck drivin’ songs to come out of this crisis and I hope one of them is about him and his heroic efforts to keep the nation fed!!!!

MuseRider

(34,108 posts)
26. Thank you and please thank your husband!
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:34 AM
Mar 2020

This is welcome news, something I would not have know without your post.

CousinIT

(9,241 posts)
27. The damn hoarders have. .
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:38 AM
Mar 2020

Made this pandemic worse and more dangerous. Because of them there are temporary shortages and prices have shot up. People can't get essential cleaning & paper products. This was NOT. NECESSARY. And particularly now, its DANGEROUS (cleaning supplies).

EVERY expert has said you only need 2 weeks worth. Yet the selfish jackasses bought EVERY SPECK & DROP of paper & disinfectant cleaner. They've hoarded MONTHS of the stuff for themselves or to resell at higher prices to make a profit off of a pandemic.

Ignorant, selfish, vile people.

STOP. FUCKING. HOARDING.

Jackasses.

Boomer

(4,168 posts)
84. You call it hoarding, I call it stocking up
Sun Mar 29, 2020, 09:32 AM
Mar 2020

Every trip my wife and I make out of our home puts us in danger. We're both in multiple-risk groups for people vulnerable to serious illness or death from COVID-19. So the fewer trips we take, the fewer the opportunities for us to risk death.

Two weeks? I'm basically looking at two years of self-isolation, until a vaccine is developed.

lefthandedskyhook

(964 posts)
29. Thank you both
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:42 AM
Mar 2020

Fast food is relatively safe but not available to an 18 wheeler. All our truckers deserve more than thanks

 

Dream Girl

(5,111 posts)
31. I'm buying in bulk simply to l8mit 5he n7mber of shopping trips I need to make
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:46 AM
Mar 2020

I’m not expecting shortages anytime soon.

dware

(12,374 posts)
35. That has been exactly my experience also,
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:57 AM
Mar 2020

I've been hauling Walmart trailers exclusively from their distribution center just north of Barstow, Ca to the Walmart's in Las Vegas and Pahrump, NV. non stop except to get some sleep and do my 34 hour restarts.

Walmart has been fantastic to us independents during this crises, they let us use their facilities to wash up and use their parking lots to park our trucks and get some sleep and they've been paying top mileage rates.

Tell your husband from one truck driver to another truck driver, Keep On Truckin.

ms liberty

(8,574 posts)
47. I'll echo everyone in saying tell your hubby thanks from all of us
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 12:01 PM
Mar 2020

We appreciate the people who have to work thru this. My husband works for Fed Ex so he's considered essential too as they deliver to hospitals and nursing homes as well as doctors offices, businesses and homes.

 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
49. Please thank your husband on behalf of all of us for the important and essential work
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 12:08 PM
Mar 2020

he is doing in keeping this nation functioning and free from panic. Speaking for myself, my biggest fear is lack of access to food and other necessary supplies, and thanks to people like your husband our fears are assuaged for now.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
53. Just curious
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 12:50 PM
Mar 2020

Has he told you that traffic on the interstates has lightened up? I would imagine that with less people in cars traveling for either business, leisure, or commuting purposes, it would be easier on the truck drivers who have to constantly look out for idiots on the highways.

BComplex

(8,049 posts)
54. Please give your husband a big high 5 for all he is doing. Thank God for the truck drivers!
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 01:04 PM
Mar 2020

My cousin used to drive the big rigs, in his younger years. They have a hard job.

mwooldri

(10,303 posts)
56. Tell your husband to hammer down and keep them wheels turning.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 02:12 PM
Mar 2020

Helps with the paycheck that's for sure.

Parking has always been a problem. Pennsylvania went overboard in my opinion in shutting down all the rest areas for parking - even the ones with no facilities. Fortunately they relented for the most part and most have reopened. Indiana though different story - they opened up their weigh stations for parking and unless signposted one does not normally park at weigh stations.

Sounds like your husband pulls dry van or reefer freight. The company I work for (Maverick) is mainly a flatbed and glass hauling company, with some boats on the side. Now that freight has slowed to a crawl with foundries shutting down and glass fabricators (not the float glass manufacturers themselves - they can't easily shut down) we have found ourselves with little freight. Fortunately our office team (mostly working from home) have found some dry van work - we have a crew who are now doing work for Walmart under a power only arrangement - for the Clarksville AR distribution center.

You're right that there is no need to panic buy. However I feel that demand will still be up because people are at home, will eat more at home, and sometimes will go grocery shopping because they are bored and want to relieve their cabin fever even though their fridge and cupboards are well stocked.

Warpy

(111,255 posts)
60. There's never been enough parking at truck stops and rest areas
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 03:11 PM
Mar 2020

I see them lined up on the shoulders of on and off ramps outside town. Improving and increasing the number of rest stops on Interstates is long overdue.

appleannie1

(5,067 posts)
66. I have not gone shopping since Mar. third.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 05:14 PM
Mar 2020

I will have to go next week because two of my prescriptions will need refilled. I am making a list of things I am low on. Bread, dish soap etc. I will only buy enough to last another month. I miss fresh produce but frozen is not all that bad. Milk freezes and I have canned milk in case I run out. But I do need more bread and some lunch meat. I can only eat low salt and it ran out almost a week ago. I can't do canned soup because of the sodium but still have some homemade in the freezer. We aren't all greedy and hoarding things so others have none. Like many here, I am in the elderly group and just the thought of shopping has me figuring out all the ways I can protect myself. Good luck and stay healthy to all of you. And tell your husband to stay safe.

BigmanPigman

(51,590 posts)
70. I am worried for the states who get food from CA.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 07:16 PM
Mar 2020

Last edited Sun Apr 5, 2020, 09:15 PM - Edit history (1)

If workers get sick they can't pick food. Last year farmers couldn't get enough people to pick their crops mainly due to tRump and immigration. This virus may limit what is picked even more.

https://www.kpbs.org/news/2020/apr/05/coronavirus-san-diego-live-updates-covid-19/

magicarpet

(14,149 posts)
73. Thanks for the info and reassuring words.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 08:57 PM
Mar 2020

Tell your hubby we wish well for him.

Face, hands, mouth, nose, eyes - don't open the door for an entry point.

Be Well !

soldierant

(6,857 posts)
75. I have been shopping normally ... except that
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:45 PM
Mar 2020

normally for me is stocking up. And I don't go out in public very much because everything that can be delivered, I have delivered.

It's not paranoia. It's arthritis. And being an introvert anyway.

So this is good to know. I can't see the shelves because I don't go there. But from what you say, probably, when I start getting low on things and need to reorder, they are likely to be in stock by then. Good to know.

Renew Deal

(81,856 posts)
76. Thanks. I was at a supermarket yesterday
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:50 PM
Mar 2020

And things are getting restocked. It's not all back to normal, but much better than the week before. Also, supermarkets are used to refreshing stock of fresh food. It doesn't look like they've missed a beat there.

I don't think that people are talking enough about the change in culture from take out and dine-in to home cooking. That change alone will empty shelves.

KentuckyWoman

(6,679 posts)
81. I refuse to shop as I normally would
Sun Mar 29, 2020, 02:35 AM
Mar 2020

First, my thanks to your husband and also to you.

Second. I'm in the highest risk group and don't have someone more likely to survive the virus to do shopping for me. I did, and will continue to shop so that my trips to the store are as limited as I possibly can.

I last shopped on March 8 and got roughly double of what I would normally get and shifted to frozen veggies over fresh. I bought a 3# bag of taters and onions instead of a couple. I did not buy any TP. The date on the milk was April 2. So I got enough of everything to do me that long.

My friend and I plan to go shop on Thursday. Milk, bread and eggs didn't quite last but that's OK. Watered down canned milk is meh, but it works fine in the biscuits and the dry milk that has been hanging around in my pantry awhile was pretty good in the tater soup.

When I shop next I will do the same... shop enough to run until the date on the milk. Hopefully 3 weeks. This time round I do need TP but if I can't find it I can certainly go "India style" using water. If it gets too dangerous to get out at all at point the food will be a little bland, but I won't starve.

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