Packing List for Students

Thanks I was wondering what I need but I'm still in school and got plenty of time to get it all together

 

if I need to keep my laptop secure?? wheres the best place for it??? certainly I dont trust the people that work at the motel...

 

maybe there are lockers in the terminal or school? the ones that have a key you keep with while your stuff is in there? other then that i have no ideas.

 

Bring it to orientation with you.That what I do.

 

One thing I recommend when you get on the road is a good pair of work gloves. The ones I like best are flexible fabric gloves that have a rubber like coating on the palms. These are great when you are fueling the truck (it's amazing how many handles at the fuel pumps have diesel fuel all over the handles), opening or closing the doors on the trailer, doing pretrip inspections, etc. I hate having my hands getting fowled up with diesel fuel or greasy dirt, then getting that all over the steering wheel and gear shift. Much better to be prepared with work gloves for those situations. Work gloves are available at every truck stop, so if you don't bring them with you then buy them at your first fuel stop.

I brought mine every day to orientation and it's with me on the truck during training. If you have a hotspot the laptop can be a valuable tool for using Google Maps, checking the weather, or accessing the company web site to watch training videos, etc.... or logging into this forum!

 

Hello – thanks for the post is very useful CDL license last Saturday. Ready to start new career in two weeks. Okay thanks

 

Good information about the gloves can't stand the smell of diesel fuel

 

Case in point regarding having gloves. We usually try to get the pumps started then get busy washing the windows, popping the hood, check fluids, etc. Beware that some pumps are very bad at staying put in the tank!!! If you see a thick layer of old diesel on the ground that is your first hint. A couple of days ago we put the pumps in the tank, turned around, and they flopped out, spewing diesel all over the side of the truck and on the ground. It was slippery and definitely a mess to handle. If I wasn't wearing gloves I'd have that all over my hands, getting it all over the truck, the door handles, etc. Usually there is diesel residue on the handles anyway, it seems most truckers have a hard time making sure there isn't a final bit of diesel leaking out before they put the pump away and it gets all over the handles.

Another item you might consider is a box full of those disposable latex gloves. Fifth wheel grease, lubricants, or glue are hard to clean off your regular work gloves and the latex gloves are disposable.

Having a clean truck is a good part of presenting yourself as a professional to your customers.

Having a really good rain slicker, like a Carhartt, is something that I'm going to invest in next. After getting absolutely soaked in my Goretex gear several times in the last couple of months it's time to get some really rainproof stuff. Rain pants and rubber boots will fill out this gear for me.

 

Is this for schooling or training with a carrier?

 

This is somewhat more comprehensive that just what you need for school. I've shamelessly copied pieces of it from other boards and added things of my own. Please feel free to add to the list, or recommend removal of items. I'm a newbie and just getting my feet wet.

Things to take on the road

Money and Documents:

• Wallet
• Debit Card
• Cash
• Social Security Card
• Driver’s License and DOT medical card
• Original copy of Birth Certificate
• Passport
• Log Book
• Address book with important names, numbers and addresses

Staying Organized:

• Rand-McNally Motor Carrier Atlas
• Notebooks (1 or 2)
• Folders
• Post-its
• Calculator
• Pens, pencils and a highlighting marker
• Ruler
• Padlock (in case you need to use a locker along the way)
• Digital Camera – should be easy to charge or have batteries; consider a Camcorder
• Backpack to put it all in

Personal Items:

• Reading material or Kindle/Nook electronic book
• iPod or MP3 player
• Good pocket or belt knife
• Glasses (prescription) and 2 pair Sunglasses
• Cell Phone, regular charger, and mobile charger
• Meds - some aspirin, Tylenol, antacid, Band-Aids, any prescriptions
• Ear Plugs

Necessities:

• Sunscreen
• Towels (only packed 3, they take up so much space)
• Wet Wipes (it’s messy out there w/o running water)
• Kleenex /Roll of Toilet Paper
• Little Scissors (nose hairs growing down into your mustache is NOT good) and a Nail Clipper
• Mesh Laundry Bag or trash bags
• Shampoo
• Soap (in individual Ziploc baggies)
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste (he won’t floss, the big dummy)
• Deodorant (spray and stick)
• Shave Cream and Disposable Razors
• Purex Three-in-one Detergent and Fabric Softener Sheets

Pack anything that could spill or would be getting wet in Ziploc bags and put in some extras for later.

Clothing:

• One extra pair of Tennis Shoes
• Jacket (consider a raincoat also), Parka between late August and June
• 2 Sweaters
• 5 pairs Jeans
• 10 T-Shirts/Button up shirts depending on preference
• A Dozen pairs each Socks and Underpants
• Hat
• Carry on style bag and/or suitcase – prepack to make sure it all fits

Laundry chores will be easier if you choose simple clothing that’s all dark (black, blue, etc.) so you can wash it all together, if you wear white socks and tightie-whities…pack a few white shirts so you have something to wash them with.

Tool Kit (choose carefully depending on available space):

• Tire Pressure Gauge
• Ratcheting Screwdriver with bits including Torx and Allen bits
• Crescent Wrench
• Small set of right size open/box end wrenches (for mudflaps, etc)
• Pliers – at least two, and good quality
• Vise Grips – Straight and Curved Jaw – real Vise Grips, not some cheap knock off
• Craftsmen knife
• Wire cutters – good for door seals
• Hammer
• Socket Set – don’t get the 200 piece set … just a small set with the right sizes for your truck
• Good LED flashlight – don’t be cheap here
• JB Weld
• Super Glue
• Gorilla Tape
• WD-40
• Glass Cleaner
• Armor All
• Roll of Shop towels
• Leather work gloves
• Cable ties, various sizes
• Tow Chain and Strap
• Extra Hose clamps, various sizes
• Heater hose tube – a couple feet and a splice adapter for emergencies
• Broom or Leaf Blower to clean out trailer between loads
• Windshield Washer Fluid
• Gallon of Oil
• Gallon of Coolant

Some of this will be not necessary or impossible to take while with finishing trainer. Don’t bring any of the tools for that period; wait for your own truck.