Packing List for Students

thanks guys i start on Monday and i bought i good new bag at wal-mart and flannel from a local fabric store (12' by 2') folded that in half sewed the sides up and its a nice warm liner did the same with a sheet and a cheep store bought blanket i know this sound like a lot for going with a trainer but i got a cheep compression bag and it all together 2' by 1' when in the bag all together $45 went up to the snow 5 degrees out and slept on a tarp i was warm thanks again

 

...STOP!!! LOL!!! YOU'RE KILLING ME....LOL!!!!:smt043:smt044:smt044

 

seems pretty basic to me. Im a long ways from training (but time goes fast I guess) being I dont have a job lined up and dont start training til the 11th.

for training I should only need:
clothes
blankets or sleeping bag,pillow
bathroom supplies
labtop

once i'm on my own:
more clothes
more blankets
food and mini microwave,fridge
small tv, ps3

 

Now remember what happened to all of those Arrow drivers left to sit on the sidewalks trying to get home with that $200 from the dealers IF they turned in their trucks.

Remember that airlines and bus lines charge for each 50 pounds after the 1st bag and that can get expensive!

When collecting "junk" you need to think what you will be able to take with you in case you get fired, major road repairs, laid off, medically disabled or some other thing that will NOT get you back to the yard or home to clean out your truck and also if at the yard is your car or actually a pick up truck there as I've actually seen drivers fill a P/U up and STILL not have enough room for everything! NO kidding!

You still do not need more than the basic amount of clothing shown in post #168. When you hang those jeans and shirts in the usual sized closet in a truck, they take up every inch! I use a milk crate under the bunk for my under wear and socks spare towel wash rag sweat pants and shirt (for sleeping in on those really cold nights) and another for caned food and 1 more for gallon jugs of water for my coffee.

My coffee pot and micro wave can be left where ever I have to along with anything that will not fit in the bags! My inverter and CB will fit in my second bag My laptop and shoulder bags are carry ons if I fly. (Greyhound is like running a team and I do not play well with others so I don't go there!)

The most important thing I didn't even think to put into post 168 which I didn't think about until on 12/23 when ARROW closed the doors and stranded over 1000 drivers on the side of the road with only a $200 bounty for the truck if the driver could get them to the dealer.

This idem evey one of you rookies MUST HAVE before you sign on with a training company and keep even after you have your own truck is:
#1: Enough money either in cash or on debit/credit card that can get you home from the FARTHEST point in America to your doorstep! This will include the money for extra bags, taxi, and FOOD and drink for several days! The credit card is best as it will never be used except in an emergency. A new toy is NOT that emergency!
#2: operating capital to feed yourself while in orientation, and several weeks of training! Figure at LEAST $100 a week and thats being VERY conservative! Until you get with your trainer and can discuss the carryinf and cooking of food in "his" truck expect to eat out every day! I used to be able to eat on $100 a week but the past year that went up to about $150 and I'm a skinny old F'er! Look at my picture!

Do NOT believe all the spit told to you by the recruiter about "paid" orientation, motel, being fed while in orientation and transportation. Some do pay but others have a "must finish training" rule or some other strings attached ripoff deal.
Others have a pizza delivered to the class room and 1 or 2 pieces must tide you over and that might be all you get in food for the day!

Some put you in a motel/hotel out in the freaking boonies where you have to walk miles or get a taxi to go eat!

If you took a bus or flew to orientation and you don't meet the standards they need such as fail the medical exam, urine test, driving test or they "ran out of trucks" or didn't like you and they won't pay the ticket home what are you going to do? Walk? Then there is the CR England move where they try to get you to go lease and you decline and they sit you for a week or so till a "truck comes open" Do you think they will feed you while you sit? Not this century!

If you do not have the cash do not apply for the job as a trainee! If you can, use your own car or P/U to get to this dream job. They will pay you the same as what the bus ticket was and that should cover your gas unless you are taking a job with some company 1000 miles from your door step which I would frown on! I've NEVER taken a job any further than 650 miles from my home in 32 years of driving but that's actually 19 of company driving!

Have the cash to cover your arse! Do NOT put your life in some bottom feeders hands! In God we trust all others have cash!

 

i have been looking at this list to see if there is anyting i have that is not on the list. I think i found one. Towel and washcloth. ok maybe two.

 

what about toilet paper and Lysol? as some rest areas might not be clean and have paper

 

I didn't put a towel or wash cloth in the list as they will waste space. You will have enough shower tickets so you will not need them until you get your own truck and need them for when you have to 'bucket wash" in the truck or if your company is to cheap to supply towels in the showers at the yard. I guess it would be a good idea to ask if they do have towels at the company terminals and if not them add to the list.

 

For all new drivers...this will get your heart pumping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y29QSaWd9io

Free site. Great videos. Thanks for letting me post this here!

 

Rare Earth singing on that video! Only white band signed to Motown records.

Nobody mentioned packing your favorite bottle of hot sauce!