Hi all, I just got my cdl a few weeks ago and I'm starting with a local/regional company in a few weeks running day cab. Since this is my first driving job I was wondering what I should bring with me. I know I'll need a flashlight since I'll be working at night, but what else am I missing?

Thanks!

Well if yo are running day cab you really won't need much,Gloves are a must, if the company you work for has slip seating you might want to invest in your own portable CB box( i forgot the technical term) but they have a slot for your CB and a loud speaker, my has a cd radio in with two 6 inch speakers but i never use the cd player though..If i were you since you are driving at night it would be a good investment to pick up a nice set of vice grips and a crow bar, so you can slide the tansams when the stick(and god will they stick) You can get a grow bar at home depot called the "fat max" it's yellow and it costs abut $20. I can't count ow many times my grow bar and vice grips have saved my butt. Ou yeah a good ATLAS i don't care how well you know the area, you that short gut you take with your car is not so good in a truck. And a small pad of paper for wrighting down directions plus a clipboard for yuour paperwork.

Short list.
1. flashlight and gloves
2. clip board
3.small pad of paper / pen
4. crow bar and vice grips(trust me)
5. poriable CB box with handle( mine cost about $80 5 years ago)
Thats about it, Good luck......

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-Edmund Burke: "All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"

Toilet tissue!! Just in case, dont want to find yourself using leaves!!

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yes a flash light most definitely but make it a good one i cant count the number of dead flash lights the have committed suicide jumping out of the door without me i would go with a nice mag light and do be fooled by the imitation ive tossed a good number of though to i personally also like L.E.D.s over conventional bulbs they just dont burn out and your battery's will last longer and i believe the term wahwah70 was looking for is a slipseat box you can buy one or make one the basic consept is spot for your CB a speaker so you can hear it and a cigeret lighter plug so you can put it in the jump seat and plug it into the cigeret light but thats only if your not going to have your own truck or if someone will be in it when your not there gloves a small basic tool box past that you will figure out what you need as you go being a day cab driver im assuming your getting home every day so changing what you take shouldnt be to hard for you

Gloves ,papertowels,water bottle,coffee thermos,all in one tool,tire thumper

a paper cup full of ink pens... they have a way of disappearing as customers sign bol's...

I also have a fifth wheel pin puller rod??? lol stored in the step grating...

no point in grabbing a greasy handle... it just gets the gloves nasty. 13 at your finer truck stops...

sun glasses and a magnifying glass depending on your eyesight...

I also tucked a spare change of clothes behind the seat... just in case of an uh-ohhh... like the fuel hose spraying you with diesel or whatever...

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Though your argument is very clever, I don't think it will lead to the results you desire. gandhi

thanks for the help!!!

Funny thing --- it worked the opposite for me. I had a habit of walking off with THEIR pens.
Same thing at banks.
It's probably because of me that they chain their pens down now.

Excellent point!
Saves the shirt shoulders from collecting grease when y'all bump into the underside of the trailer when pulling the pin release handle.
Track THAT back into the Big truck interior and you've got a hail of a mess.
YuCK!
I suggest QUALITY, well fitting gloves as opposed to cheapies. YuP!
And reading glasses, and a spare pair.

Would you recommend a tuxedo?
You know, just in case I run into a high-class lot lizard?

Here's another thread that's many pages long which gives more suggestions.

[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

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Keep that diesel burnin' and those tires turnin', but get there safe to keep on earnin'!!

A cooler with food/drink

Multi-Tool )I favor the Winchester brand over Leatherman(

I have a 5th wheel puller - it's never been used. Why bother when your arms are 4 feet long?

Change of clothes includes a change of shoes/boots!

Paper towels and windex

A set of hex wrenches if your multitool doesn't have a driver fitting

tire gauge

My trainer swore by a soap/water mixture for stuck tandem pins. Myself, I've yet to find a set I can't loosen by simply locking the trailer brakes and backing and pulling against them a couple times.

Baby wipes - these things actually get 5th wheel grease off skin and out of some clothing!

I had a $25 pair of gloves - it lasted 3 weeks. My $3 gloves last about a week.

A CB is optional. A Cellphone is a must. I suggest a blackberry, or some other phone that can access google.maps or something similar. Don't forget the charger.

Reading material, if you are going to spend any time at all sitting somewhere.

Flashlight - I carry several, but the one I use most is the AA sized mini-mag

3 pens and a highlighter. Nobody uses my pens but me

Good atlas.

A camera - point and click if you must, but SLR if you can

Duct Tape

rain gear

Medications

Hairbrush/comb etc.

First aid kit.



Shower gear if you expect to overnight (I have a friend who does that - daycab 400 miles out, sleep in motel, 400 miles back)

It should all fit into a small duffel (well, except the cooler). I use a "Captain's Case" to hold most of the above AND my laptop. Not that I drive daycabs - but when I come home from the road, I don't want to carry 400 bags to the car.

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