OTR Truck driver necessities.

I have to agree with road, it don't matter what you are driving, if it is commerical, it shouldn't be there. i was driving a limo and got nailed for speeding and since that was commercial, i was hit with a fine for that too. not cheap. i will test to that.

 

Absolute Nessecity:

*CB Radio w/ Coax and decent antenna (to hell with the #### the company gives you)

*motorcarrier laminated road atlas no older then 1 year (07 or 08 )

*laptop with aircard thru cell phone company so you can connect to the internet wirelessly to stay in touch with family freinds and look up directions on google earth or windows live (i highly reccomend the ones with sattalite or airal photos) also a usb keyboard so you can lay in your bunk and chat without having the laptop in the bunk with you so u can reach the keyboard. but thats more of a personal preferance

*electric stove for making warm meals with

*cell phone w/ bluetooth headset and car adapter for both

*cloths for 2 weeks or more along with boots sneakers and possibly slippers cuz the floor of the truck gets cold on winter nights

*mini fridge/plug in cooler to keep drinks cold (i keep mine next to the drivers seat when im driving so i can get drinks and food at my liesure)

*a mini backpack/bag with snacks suchs as granolla bars candy or other grab up snacks to munch on while you drive (this cuts down on stoping for food and such and prolongs periods between meals)

*personal items such as posters, photos, or other things to make your truck more home-y. me i got posters on the walls and ceiling.

*a medium sized knife (such as a survival knife) that can easily be explained off as a utility tool but is really your self defense weapon should someone decide to see whats in ur truck while youre in your truck.

*kidde - nighthawk technology carbon monoxide detector

*cobra power inverter (get the one that plugs intot he 12v outlet so you dont have to install it. works great for laptops heating pads and tvs as well as other normal household acessories)

*med & first aide kit. first aid kit with bandages ointment ect ect and a med kit with tums pepto and advil also the day/nyquil combo pack jsut inc ase u catch a cold on the road

and most importantly: *sattilite radio (sirus preferably) because the music and comedy.. or talk if u like such, makes those 11 hours of drivin more enjoyable


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Not Nessecity But Preferable:
*Custom Acessories such as a shifter boot, seat covers or your name in vynal lettering on the door
-me i have all of the above. plus non skid mats cut to fit as my flooring in my truck too. easy to maintain and looks nice too!

*computer acessories such as the aforementioned keyboard for easy typing/chating/forum posting without having to move the laptop all the time.
-i got me a siatek eclipse II. it lights up with laser etched keys so i can see it easily in the dark

*collection of dvds and games to kill time with
-i have a couple PC games, a PSP, and i bring out several dvds each trip

*stock up on foodage in case your stuck or not near a truckstop. also its cheaper then eating out all the time.
-easy mac, oatmeal, and soup w/ an electric stove are all good choices

*work acessories/tools
-i got a toolbox with various everyday tools, a hammer is almost a must. work gloves for fueling and other dirty jobs. also a gladhand airhose for airing up low tires or cleaning out the inside of your cab (requires 2 differnt adapters, one for each task)

*digital camera w/ usb cord for your internet connected laptop
-for both photos on the road and for when maintiance wants to argue about the severity of a problem you can email them a photo (had to do this with a tire issue)

*air freshener and fabreeze

*mini garbage can and laundry basket

and remeber this isnt just your office.. its your home too. treat it as such! keep it clean and tidy. neat and organaized. posters photos and other things to make it feel like home. spice it up with custom acessories to make it more stylish, even if ur the only one that sees it.

 

Just think, if you need it at home, you will likely need it on the road. PLENTY of paper towels, you WILL spill something in your truck, besides you will need them for cleaning windows, etc. as well as doing dishes (I use the GOOD blue paper/shop towels for cleaning/cooking as they are sturdier). I use a military style mess kit for cooking/eating, you can get these at wallyworld (yuck). As for heat I prefer to use a gel can fuel source with the folding type "oven", also available at wally world. Takes less space in the truck, heats MUCH faster than electric, and can provide emergency heat in dire situations, drawback is you must be VERY careful with open flame in your truck, cant/shouldnt use it when hauling flammable, etc. You also need to make sure you have proper ventilation when using this type of heating. I have used the gel cans for years and never had any problems other than forgetting to bring a spare can and running out. Carry a pack of extra ink pens, you will run out at the worst time/place. I also carry a couple of large bath towels in case the ones in the shower arent "up to my specs", they are also nice to have for the times you get caught out in a toad strangler downpour, you can dry off a bit and protect your trucks interior this way, I HATE to take off down the road sopping wet. Carry extra fuses, not only for the truck, but for your electrical items that use them, it sucks to be going down the road and blow the fuse on your cb in the middle of nowhere, or blow the fuse on your inverter when your all snuggled in for the night at the dock, waiting to load/unload in the am, and you were fixin to watch that new movie youve been dyin to see. Just set a bit and try to imagine what you will need on the road and grab a few more things, you'll be fine. After 12 years on the road, ive learned that more stuff is better than not having something you need when you really NEED it. It usually takes me 2 or 3 hours to change trucks if that gives you any idea of what I carry with me. Be safe, Be Free, But dont be mean.

 

I'm sure I can't be the only one to appreciate this post. Thanks.

 

Always looking to confirm/ add to my growing list of stuff I'll need in my first year after training. I'm buying and storing it ahead of time.
BY THE WAY....... You and I should get together sometime and ride in a truck. I see you're 6'7" and 300 lbs. I'm 6'6" and about 350. I'm sure we could be a team and fill up a truck. Though we might not meet the DOT height and weight requirements at the scales.

 

Yeah? Those inverters you plug into the 12v outlet really work ok? What wattage do you use? I've been pitching a fit cuz we are not allowed to have ones wired to the battery.
Can I run a 24in plasma tv off it?

You run the electric stove off it??
How about a crock pot? I saw a crock pot at walmart recently with a lid that clamps down so that it doesnt spill. You think I could run one off a plug in inverter?

 

Did you guys know you can hook up your LCD tv to your computer and have a honking big screen . I just discovered that.

 

Tools are always a good idea, there has been other threads on what tools to bring but a few of the basics are your adjustable/cresent wrench, standard size box/open ends, screwdrivers and now days torx bits, crow bar, 2 or 3lb sledge, or at least a regular hammer, duct tape, few extra bungees, bailing wire, VISE GRIPS. One thing that I always carried because we hauled alot of paper loads, was a small propane torch in case there was any damp spots that were not really an issue, but a picky warehouseman could make it one. Just dry the spot before you get to your pick up. I would forgo the bat as your hammer/s can be your thumper, if you have ever seen how dirty and greasy a fifth wheel and surrounding area can get you will find that whatever you put in there to hold it up will get pretty nasty, so a scrap of wood that you can toss works well, or a pop can, you can even bungee it in place, not so sure about the drill, but if you got room...........