What are some abnormal items to make trucking easier?

one more thing i have that is real usefull is a business notebook/ folder with a calculator and a ruler in it, its amazing how much easier it seems to make it when your tired and just want to add your hours up and draw a few lines in the log book without digging around for a calculator and a ruler, if you lose the ruler just reach up to the card holder on the sun visor and grab the fuel card, they work just as well for drawing a line

 

Im still thinking of things but IMHO the less you have in your truck the better, less clutter and junk to get in your way. use the basic essentials and ditch the other junk.

 

If you have a smart phone or an Iphone they have a next exit app. I have it on mine and it is awesome.

 

Laptop w/ internet, but as to writing on the windshield?, not for me, Ive got a pad with a holder thats ive sercured to the dash with a small blue light I can right and read with out blinding me, OH YEAH, my dog, she great company

 

Clorox wipes are a must have, they really help keep things clean.

5 gallon bucket and plenty of trash bags.

Kitty litter or oil dry is great in the winter if you spin out. I have used it several times to get a truck moving, Ironically only once on my own truck.

having a curtian you can cover your cab windows with is nice too, it is much better being able to keep the cab open to the sleeper, makes it feel a lot bigger, and on really hot or cold days it will make a huge difference in controlling the temp in your truck.

 

I found this on e bay by accdent, it's a cooling vest that you soak in water , it will stay cool for 8 hours, the price will go on the model you buy , i got mine for 39 bucks and change, best thing i ever bought, i can turn off the truck and stay cool, i even went too sleep with it on , which is a big no no, it said it will freeze up your organs inside you , as said in the manual, but shure is great on those hot days on the docks.

 

Just rember this simple rule and you be fine, carry no more then you can carry in a army duffel bag and you be fine, why, becuse if your truck breaks down and you have too cacth a bus too the next termail or a truck drop lot 345 miles away, are you gonna put all your stuff on that bus and hopes your stuff will be there , when you get back too the freightliner shop too get your truck and drop off the loaner truck, i've been down that road and not a purty site too see all yor stuff get stolen out of your truck, siting out in a an opean lot, waiting for you too pick it up .

 

I didn't see anyone mention those giant paperclips. I used them for marking the pages in my atlas. Just clip one on each page of the states you're going to drive through. They're good for a lot of other things as well.
Those calculators, I've got an el cheapo solar powered one I've had for years, works with the interior lights in cab, and no batteries to run down.

 

Maybe carry some 2x4's pieces of lumber say about 18"-24" long.

These could be helpful to help lower the landing gear if someone dropped it too high (if your company uses different brands/types of tractors).

Could also be used when/if you need to drop a trailer in the hot sun----put under the landing gear pads so that it doesn't sink into the pavement. Alternatively, you could get a very used wooden pallet that no-one really wants and take it apart for this.


As far as the cushion for your feet, i think bubble wrap---with the big bubbles not the small, corn-kernal bubbles, would work well and be cheap.

 

What i did was setup my bank account for direct depoist, , that way i can see every move the trucking company paid me or not, with out the worry of sending my check's home waiting too be cashed, they just send the paystub home, this way i was never out of money for food or other stuff i might need along the way, never ever get a credit card, them will steal you blind, just get a debt card and work's wonder's, i use the fuel card for lumper's, and thing i hate, this last company or mayby all company's do it , is run the lumper thru your fuel card , on like a payroll advance, i dont care for that, but thats how they do it,in company truck's anyway, next is cell phones, i had 2 pre paid phones, one was for my wife at the time, her direct line too me, then i had a direct line too my dispacther, for the other phone, becuse half time i was booking my loads and i was a company driver, but becuse my q-com is always goofed up , he call me and told me it was ok too look at the load board and see if i could get back close too the shop too get fixed the q quil com, i said shure long as ok with boss, he said it was a go , just bring paper work in when you come , ok will do,but those are couple more things i like in my truck,