First Solo Trip in My First Truck

Something I can’t not have with me anymore and probably not gonna be mentioned are my airpods for sleeping. A holes with air dryers purging every minute parking next to me at night have made me want to quit otr more than anything. I used to pc away from them now I just pop those in and can get back to sleep.

 

Basic tools, pliers, Channel locks, needle nose, screwdrivers, small and larger adjustable wrenches. Basic socket set, wrench set, SAE and Metric. Utility knife, Vise grips, regular type, and 2 ea. flat needle nose type, for crimping off an air line if needed. Big hammer, big crow bar. Maybe a pair of wire cutters, small and large. Flashlights, a 12v test light, electrical tape, duct tape, zip ties, Goop hand cleaner, paper towels. Make a trip to Harbor Freight. Won’t cost much. Spare rear tail light at least, from the company shop, if possible, along with some oil, washer fluid, A set old wiper blades if possible, just in case, Pick up a ripped off mudflap someone left behind for a spare. Easily found at any Pilot. You can cut a few inches off the top, and drill new holes. Might save time in the future, and avoid being shut down at a scale house, waiting on road service, because of something simple, or losing time and money, waiting in line at a Shop. You shouldn’t have to work on the Truck, but why lose time, and money for minor things. Easier to just fix small things yourself, and keep rolling. Bath towels, for yourself, and old ones, for rags. Laundry soap. At least $100 cash, set aside onboard, for emergencies. A spare key made somewhere, hidden in the battery box, or under hood just in case. I guarantee it will someday be used.

 

I’m glad you got through your first solo day. Sounds like you kept your cool more or less, lol. It does get better. Every day is a learning day.

 

It's perfectly normal for lost of small details about the shipper, the load, the receiver, fueling, etc to not make it to the driver. I was always shocked when I started driving about how much vital info never made it to me. The last thing on many people's mind from shippers/receivers and trucking companies is how to get that info to the driver. For example, you may arrive and find the driveway is permanently blocked off and all trucks need to enter/leave via an unmarked driveway. When you report this to your dispatcher expect to hear "oh yeah they changed that 8 years ago" or "nobody every told me" even though EVERY new driver hired in the last 8 years has reported the info to the dispatcher. The best thing to do is look at the customer property (company name or street address) on Google maps and look for the truck entrance. Then call the customer to confirm the appointment date/time and ask if the truck entrance is still on Maple street, or on the corner before Elm street?

There will be lots of stuff you will learn quickly and each one of them will make the next trips easier. It definitely gets better as you gain experience.

 

A Hammer Tools to change a mud flap(ask for a extra one at terminal shop) and extra glad hand seals,, Also use google maps satellite view and check out shippers receivers before you get there

 

I'm scared of heights

 

Ya the air purge deal drives me nuts ear plugs and a tornado fan help a bit