1st Road Trip Gear

Recent graduate from a CDL school, I am leaving for my first road trip in a few days for 3 weeks or so with a trainer. It's a smaller company that has already impressed me with their knack for minding their own business, so I have been left to my own discretion about what to pack along. Does anyone have suggestions (or even a prepared list they use)?

 

Thanks for the link, tygosurf. As a happily married 48y/o male and ex-military (not to mention road dawg) to boot, I've packed it up many times but this trip had me stumped to say the least. My company runs in teams only, so I do realize the importance of keeping it down to a dull roar but didn't want to miss something I might regret. Appreciate your prompt advice.

 

Have no idea who I'm being assigned to, as I said it's a smaller company and the only thing I've been told is it will be an "experienced driver" (whatever their criteria is for that is anyone's guess). As a former head a company for many years who has trained many, it sounds rather loose -- but hey, it must work for them.

Oh, and as for the entertainment, I just purchased my first ever personal cell phone yesterday (welcome to the 90's, kid) and haven't even owned a tv for years -- so I'm sure I'll be more than happy just to read a book or meditate and am looking forward to soaking up as much knowledge (and life) as I can....

 

Ear Plugs, absolutely outstanding suggestion.... Thanks

 

I'm a firm believer in peace & quiet and have used earplugs at gyms for years when I workout -- I go there to "get" healthy and don't believe their environments are conducive to that goal.

I also prefer traveling (and living) without the blare; our society is so constantly "in your face" that no one really can really learn to discover, know and understand themselves without first flipping the off switch. And until I found it, I was stuck in the endless cycle of being constantly anesthetized into trying to become (and prove) myself as the gold standard (be it pro or con) of what the world screamed to be my role, profession, time of my life, etc. instead of learning how to just peacefully "BE."

When I worked as a non-CDL P&D driver before becoming the boss, I did 100,000 miles a year without so much as a sound. Yet when other employees wondered how I was able to daily outperform them and move up so fast (became GM within 18 months), they failed to believe me when I told them I simply eliminated the distractions I could influence and actually paid attention to what I was doing -- and honestly enjoyed every minute of it.

 

Just wanted to say thanks to tjgosurf and alot-to-learn for your suggestions and even lettin' me get up on my soapbox a bit. Managed to easily put together a good list (and then cut it down to size) and figure if there's something I left without I'll live without.

Got my first dispatch call to report early tomorrow morning. Looking forward learning plenty and just enjoying the solitude....