What to Bring in your Truck?

[dblclutch]

Hi everyone.. i'm a newbie here.

I am just in the cthrc (earning your wheels) 12 week course, and about to take my road test next week.

I was wondering if anyone or everyone could help me come up with a list of things that are a must... to have or bring in the truck with you while on the road.. any little things that make life and living in the truck easier..

I will be home for 3 or 4 days a month. so 3 1/2 weeks out at a time means i will need to make the truck as much of a home as i can, while keeping it clutter free.

I have not yet enjoyed any of our canadian winters in the truck, and i've never been a driver of one before now... so i am at a loss as to what i should bring with me.

I'm sure there are lots of must bring items that make driving, living, and life much nicer.. would love to hear your take on it.


:cook[1]:

[hellcat_99]

st & foremost, get an inverter. Then a cooler, & microwave. Save's money, & you can eat what you like. You want to stay away from the fast food as much as possible.
Make sure you have warm clothing & bedding.
Flashlight & some tool's.
Get yourself a lap top & a gps. It helps so much. Make you you have a current atlas.
There is so much more.

Holly

[ROADHUGGER]

Pack a small survival kit , most of the stuff you can get at Canadian Tire or Walmart for the WINTER MONTHS

Space blanket
Crank style flashlight with built in radio , some even have cell phone charging cord
candles ( keeps the inside of a truck warm NOT HOT ) but warm if your stuck and have limited fuel to run the truck for warmth
Good pair of coveralls
Gloves
Toque
Boots
metal coffee cup for melting snow for drinking water ( use the candles )

As HC 99 noted get bedding but get durable / warm stuff

[buzzy]

Well, if you only plan on being home 3-4 days a month, a change of clothes and

LAUNDRY SUPPLIES.

Get a big box of latex gloves (the kind drs use) Wear them as liners inside your leather gloves. Keeps your hands dry and wards off frostbite. You'd be surprised just how fast those fingers freeze in wet gloves @ 40 below.

Books, videos etc. for entertainmment.

Get a good road atlas. DO NOT rely solely on GPS programs.

Go to Wal-Mart. Buy there long distance phone cards. They are the best value for their money and work both sides of the border.

Go buy a strait-jacket, put it on and get a really good friend to tighten up all the straps and smack you in the ear. YOU GOTTA BE CRAZY to get into to trucking. This initiation is only the first step to a life-time career of wandering "WHAT THE HE77 was I THINKING???"

[Mr Bee]

You folks forgot to mention duct tape and WD40.

[hellcat_99]

Mr. Bee, everyone know's duct tape is an alway's.:devil[1]:

Holly

[lexmark]

I had a mechanic tell me that wd40 dries out so he recommended "jig-a-loo". Said it works better.

[ROADHUGGER]

WD 40 is a great cleaner but a very poor long term lubricant. Jig a Loo is good as is FLUID FILM even LIQUID wrench outlasts WD 40.

[Daycab]

I do mostly local P&D, but some of this may help:

A box of pens (or two)
Small stapler and staples
Plastic hanging file rack containing

Last month's logbook
Empty logbook for next month
Spare DVIR book in case I need to switch trucks mid-shift
Fuel/mileage sheets
Run Sheets
Blank Waybills
Dangerous Goods Book
Local Map, Ontario Map
Behind the driver's seat lives my:


Work Gloves
Orange fuel handling gloves
Big ass flashlight
Two or three spare logistics straps (both hook and E clip)
Tire thumper
Pin Puller
In my trailer is a tote containing:


More logistics straps
Plastic wrap
Packing tape
Bungee cords
Pin Puller/Transmission dragger/Door closer (actually, it hangs on the wall by the back door)
Dock Plate
It also doesn't hurt to carry stuff like spare bulbs, fuses, multibit screwdriver, a couple of gladhand rubbers, paper towel, glass cleaner etc. Don't forget a good lock. Also, don't forget to secure a spare key for your tractor somewhere for when you inevitably lock yourself out.

[Pipeman]

One more thing if you can find the space, "Tire Chains". Don't leave home without them.

I realise the employer is responsible for them but make sure they're on the truck as is a tow sling (nylon) or tow chain. Nylon sling is a lot better.

[ROADHUGGER]

Good point , only problem is with the majority of the young people TODAY they would ask how to DOWNLOAD it . The middle aged will look at you kind of funny if you mention it and the older folks likely just quit using it as the other 2 age groups think its out dated.

Had a newer driver the other day having problems with the electrical cord / plug on a trailer , asked if I knew where to get it fixed and could he use my cell phone to call his company to get told how to handle the EMERGENCY.

I took 6 tyewraps and made a harness that held it in place for him. Got a HOWD YA FIGURE THAT OUT , I replied common sense , got a WHERD YA LEARN THAT. Another driver from his companie waddled over and added his $0.02 , THAT AINT GOING TO WORK , ( funny how it was ) besides your going to need more TYEWRAPS when you hook up to another trailer when you get to California.

Explained to him it was a QUICK fix to allow the trailer to be moved to a shop to get properly fixed , saved a road call and the there was a shop 10 minutes up the road and that his company had an account there . Got a HOWD YA KNOW THAT , told him I TOOK A GUESS , got a THOUGHTS SO.

[sentiplum]

well, I think you gotta bring extra tires, and some maintenance, for trailer, I usually go and bring a trailer wiring harness.

[OilPatchTrucker]

WD 40 is a great cleaner but a very poor long term lubricant. Jig a Loo is good as is FLUID FILM even LIQUID wrench outlasts WD 40.
WD -40 will act as a starter fluid in a pinch too instead of eather.. a good pair of vice grips, a small socket/wrench set and a screw driver with multiple heads

[Pipeman]

A Blow-Up Doll ??????????

[Noname]

..........

[bull]

flesh lights are better than blow up dolls smaller feel more realistic and easyier to clean \lol

[red_5.0]

A couple of simple things:

4 liter jug of water (for drinking, cleaning up, brushing teeth or whatever).
A container of wet wipes (kleenex brand will get grease off your hands).
A good air freshener/bottle of febreze.

[JReid]

Unless your goin out on your own,(you said you're a newb) your trainer will tell you what will fit in his truck and where you can put it.

[Noname]

..........

[RaceFan]

A camera just in case #^*% happens.

[Pipeman]

A couple of simple things:

4 liter jug of water (for drinking, cleaning up, brushing teeth or whatever).
A container of wet wipes (kleenex brand will get grease off your hands).
A good air freshener/bottle of febreze.Have a daily shower and you don't need febreeze/air freshner.

[mc94xr7]

make sure to bring some really good porn. and a laptop for when you gotta hurry up and wait. keep yr empty (500 ml) water bottles for when nature calls. it just so unprofessional to "making da pee pee" in a customers yard or get charged with indecent exposure for goin on the side of the road

[mc94xr7]

bring canned food and bread and peanut butter and stuff

[red_5.0]

Have a daily shower and you don't need febreeze/air freshner.

Agreed, but the truck a new driver is assigned will have seen half a dozen slobs that didn't take that advice.

[Noname]

..........