My boyfriend just got his CDL and will be heading off for training in a week or two. He spent his last dime on the training program. I want to get him some congratulatory gifts that he will need and can use as he starts this new chapter. Price is no object. Help me help him, please!

__________________
New Trucker's Girlfriend

A motor carriers atlas such as Rand Mcnally from a truckstop. I would get the laminated one because it will last alot longer and is easier to wipe off should he spill his coffee on it or soda. This should cost about $25.00
A 40 channel CB radio. This can run from as little as $50.00 to several hundred dollars. A cobra 29ltd classic is what I use and can be "tuned up" by a reputable cb repair shop to give more power if need be. Others will prefer a radio from Uniden or for the higher end users a Ranger or Galaxy radio will be the radio of choice. Just be aware the higher end radios will run $500.00 plus after they have been "super tuned."
A sirius satellite radio subscription and radio would be a wonderful gift as well. 150 plus channels of all kinds of entertainment from music to talk to comedy to classic radio programming from the 40's and 50's. Should run about $100.00 for the radio and activation and about $13.00 per month for the subscription.
A truck tire guage will cost around $20.00 at a truckstop and is essential for any driver to have.
A laptop computer with internal wifi and an air card from verizon or att would be an awesome gift but will cost $750.00 low end to $4000.00 high end. This will alow him to connect to the internet, watch movies, and do his trip planning with a truck routing software program (Pc Miler 20 is what I would recommend or you could go with the co-pilot gps program for about $350.00).
Any of the above would be great gifts for a beginning driver.

Nothing says congratulations like a Sirius radio it is the best thing I have bought for my truck. Since he will spend hour after hour searching for a decent radio station every time he touches that satellite radio he will thank you satellite radio cost about 50 bucks at walmart and a subscription runs 12 bucks a month so for 62 bucks you are up and running.

Great ideas--I already have Sirius in my car so I can just add him to my account I think. Also, he has a laptop so I'll just figure out what kind of wi-fi card he needs. I'm assembling a basket of terrific goodies for him. (And then, of course, he'll have me when he gets home!)

__________________
New Trucker's Girlfriend

That will be the best gift and support for him. Times are lonely on the road.

Alan

I understand that the Verizon broadband card works great wherever you can get a cell signal(Sprint gets good reviews as well). Either one runs about $45/mo. and he's not tied to a WiFi location.

Your man's a lucky guy. The right person at home can make or break a trucker.

__________________
No load is worth your life. Or anyone else's.

RON PAUL IN 2008!!

You may want to start off with some personal gear. I always carried a small maglite flashlight and one of those multi use tools like Gerber makes. He can wear both of those on his belt and he'll need both of them. When he finds out what kind of truck he'll be driving then you can buy him the truck items that we all use. Good luck to both of you and remember your support is the number one item he'll need when out for awhile. Let him vent if he needs to and try to keep house problems to a minimum if possible. You play a large part in his success as well.

The one thing I find invaluble is a colman plug in cooler. Especially if he is short on cash after driving school. That way he can load up on food at a local WalMart and save allot of money by not eating at Truck Stops all the time.

Who did he get hired on with? A good flashlight is always handy, actually if I was OTR or something similar I would get the bigger 6 volt flashlight and a smaller (which is what I carry now) LED that takes one AA battery, slips right into the pocket and very convenient for the times you dont need alot of light. Gloves? A good pair of deer skin or pig skin is nice but for the general stuff like hooking and unhooking the $1.99 leather ones work great, you can go through them very quick depending on what kind of work you do. Travel bag, not so big that it would weigh 100 lbs when going to the shower, or a smaller travel bag to go take his shower. A tire gauge is nice like 777 mentioned but depending on who your boyfriend gets hired on with, maybe he can make a friend in the shop who will just give him one. Tools: Vice grips, 3lb sledge/tire thumper, adjustable wrench, screwdrivers...those are the very basics. The atlas is a must. Does he have something to put his log book and paperwork in? A good pen (thin line) for his log book. Calculator is also a must (at least it was for me). A gift wrapped roll of duct tape and a little bailing wire maybe. Will he be going up into the colder regions or staying down south there, for cold weather gear.

Looks like Cypress. . . hopefully home more weekends than not. And generally spending time in the southeast. . . We'll see. My job's a busy one so we'll see how it goes. . . I'll just miss those Thursday evenings watching The Office together.

__________________
New Trucker's Girlfriend