Originally Posted by Rollover the Original

For you students out there ready to do the big plunge and are heading to your first assignment and are wondering what to take with you for the first month or so in that truck I’m hoping my 30+ years of traveling can help you out. For you women (and guys) who are slaves to fashion and just HAVE to wear 3 and 4 shirts a day and have a suitcase full of makeup, STOP and reevaluate your wanting to become a truck driver! Modeling or an office job might be more up your alley!



Dirty clothes take up room and remember there are 2 people and their belongings in that rolling closet called a truck, and you are only there temporally! Plan on a 1 month road trip with 1 suitcase! I can tell you from experience that hard sided suitcases hurt when they hit your co driver in the head,and they hurt even worse when thrown back at the owner! They do not expand that needed extra inch and stay the same size when empty! You’ll be moving it around several times a day and you’ll come to thank yourself for only bringing the 1 large travel bag! Remember you only have 2 hands so 2 bags are the limit! You will also be traveling by bus or plane. You can do without the kitchen sink for a month! (Ok, I hear you saying the total is actually 3! The laptop case goes over your shoulder! ROFL!)

I’ve seen posts where you are told to bring a sleeping bag. Yes, a sleeping bag, LIGHTWEIGHT is ok but I would just wait till you are ready to roll and stop at Wal-Mart and get a cheapie 40degree bag to use and a pillow with case and a set of flat sheets. (as a liner in the bag). Why have something else to carry! Another note is sleeping bags start to smell after long use and cleaning a cheap bag is a waste of money! Buy a new one! Donate the old one!

You can find large 36”x 24” nylon gym/ski bags at Wal-Mart or other stores. The larger the better! For a little more money you can get the same size with wheels, which is great for walking more than a few feet! {Google suitcases!} I also have a small nylon bag that I fit 1 pair of clothes, ditty bag and thermos for going in for my shower. Why carry the whole suitcase? You can use this as a carry on for the flight or bus ride to your new job as well.

Do you want to know how many clothes to carry? Fill the laundry bag up with full sets of clothes except for those you are wearing and that will tell you your limit! Also remember you will need to carry this bag how ever far it is to the washing machines! Get the idea yet? More isn’t better always better.

Yes, you are heading to a new job and you might be low on cash to buy the few things you will need. You might be a little short on money but I’ll be honest with you. BRING AS MUCH AS YOU HAVE! Note above; you will need to buy a sleeping bag ,sheets and a pillow. BUT you will also have to eat and drink and wash clothes! I can tell you most sit down meals at the truck stops are getting pricey! $8.00 is AVERAGE but $10.00 and higher is the norm and I’m a skinny little old guy and I don’t eat much! Even Mickey D’s and the King are getting stupid with their prices! You will be able to get advances against your pay but if you do not keep up with what you are advancing yourself you’ll wonder where your paycheck went! My rule is, I leave home with $150.00 (used to only be $100.00 till this year!) in my pocket (I have a steady paycheck ) and every time I pull out of my pocket for the company I will advance that amount and ONLY that amount to put back into my pocket! This keeps the wife from asking the question, where did your money go or why did you need this? She has a P/C to spend and I have peace of mind!

Just another tip: Truck stops are nice but money hogs! The only things I buy at a truck stop is fuel, food repairs and CB equipment. Anything else can be bought elsewhere and a freaking whole lot cheaper!

Good luck out there,
Rollover

The list

1) 1 large nylon ski bag light weight
2) 1 smaller nylon gym bag for going to shower.
3) Laundry bag
4) 7 pairs of clothing: undies, socks, pants, shirts/blouse/T’s , PJ’s if you wear them
5) 1 light weight jacket and sweater, WINTER 1 heavy jacket with gloves. You will be wearing the winter jacket (in winter) but the light weight jacket and sweater you’ll pack as you might need them for cool docks or hot blooded co drivers!
6) 2 pairs of shoes (closed toes!), 1 must fit in the bag! 1 flip flop for showers
7) Ditty bag (shaving kit) with your personal hygiene stuff. Ladies an extra SMALL bag for your make up.
8.)Laptop in a case
9) Briefcase with:
Paper work from school
NOTARIZED copy of your Birth Cert. (ask if you need original as this is one piece of paper you don’t want to loose!)
Resume
Bank account info
SSN card
Calculator
Black ink pens
Yellow highlighter marker,
2 or 3 spiral note PADs 5x3” and/or 6x4” (fits in a pocket type)
1 large spiral notebook for taking notes
Flashlight a GOOD heavy metal one!
Leatherman tool or one similar do not buy a cheapo!
IPod & Cell phone and HEADSET (learn to use it and like it as the laws are changing and your co driver might not like your taste in music and your phone conservations!
The charging equipment preferably DC
1 Rand McNally road atlas (truckers)
Stapler (small)
Magnifying glass
Scissors
Sewing kit
EXTRA pair of glasses if it says so on your CDL (you MUST have 2 pairs of glasses) and your sunglasses
Good_book
Writing pad and envelopes (if you still write)
Kleenex
Several 1 qt sized Ziploc bags (good for loose stuff)
Immodium AD ( you WILL need it!)
Asprin and your regular meds
Batteries to fit anything needing them!

10) 2 pair of work gloves 1 of these will be used for fueling ONLY!

If it doesn’t fit into the 1 bag, 1 laptop case or the briefcase you DO NOT NEED IT! You will not need tools until you get on your own truck. Do not take cooking idems or such until you talk to your trainer! Your company should be able to give you a contact number for him/her so you can ask them questions. Keep this advice in mind if you are going to a company where you have to slip seat each time you get time off or go home. You might even be reducing some of the clothes to fit the CB radio in the bag or that XM radio rig! You'll be able to adjust what you need when you get out on your own! The 7 changes of clothing will get you 14 days before you need to wash as you will not be showering every day! Every other day if not getting sweaty is about the norm and those washing machines are pushing $2.00 a load now! Don't think you need every little thing you want while solo! I've seen drivers fill up the bed of a pick up truck with all of their junk not to mention the trash they threw away! I could keep on but I'm wasting valuable bandwidth here!
Again,
Good Luck
Rollover

Rollover: this is an old post but since it is still out here I thought of one thing else you need to post on the list; For those taking prescription medications, you need to make sure to have a current prescription on hand at some place like a Walmart where it can be easily filled if need be. This may mean that you have to go to your local doctor and have it written; don't get out someplace like Salt Lake City and your home is in Mobile, AL and dr. won't write it without seeing you; dm's have a fit on stuff like this.

Oh and my husband works for the other national lease/fleece company. No money if you don't train.

As a recent CDL school graduate (Lake Superior College - Duluth, MN), I can really appreciate each of the Packing List suggestions. I'll be getting a chance to build my own cache of gear as I start with a local trucking firm next week.

I'm a newby and I know it and believe realizing that is going to help me in the long run...

keep a thermos for water:filled near the coffee pots usally for free., instant just add water stuff> mashed potaters, noodl family size.s and soup, get a jug or two for clean water. buy a 12 volt water heater its like a coffee pot butmore compact hot choclate, instant coffee for me.(heck I chew that stuff and make my cowboy coffee) fruits FRUITS!!! buy wide mouth drinks like poweraid (keeep the pottle) you can usally get tin foods that dont need chilled nor heated with pull tops. I havent used a nuclearwave oven in years! thinking bout getting a 12volt crockpot with secured locks on handles and plastic liners. breakfast bars i love them banana bread ones,and oatmeal raisen. roman noodles get a few in cups you can crush up the ramon bricks and reuse that cup. summer sausage by the foot. dried meats. plenty of cashews (I don't like peanuts)protein. presweetened koolaid. dont forget a mess kit> knife fork spoon x3 and camping dishs they have a nice flat bottom and have bowl sides bring along a short tub if you wanna. nothing glass nothing ceramic. dont cook your soup in its can youd get sick after awhile. and know what kinda. stay away from chips theyll kill ya. know your food balance and needs. just remember the auto and camping area is our area at wallmart. from fuses to blue tabs.

Thanks. Excellent heads up. Will come in handy for alot of guys/gals...

Interesting lisr