Packing List for Students

Pinkshoes
When we are pushed for time we heat water and a little alcohol in the micro wave and wash up with that. It just takes a few minutes.. However in your situation with a stranger ( trainer) of sorts that may be a bit intimidating and could be a bit embarrassing.
Baby wipes are ok but warm water is better and the alcohol tends to help eliminate odor. When in some truck stops I think it is pilot it will ask if you need a shower for co driver.? Doesn't cost from what I heard.
As far as credit cards . I would opt for a debit card with little money on it. You will only need it to buy stuff like food and little else. That way your personal info cannot be stolen

 

Thanks good idea with debit card i suspect you need credit cards for gas. I like to wash up with water over babywipes too

 

Baby wipes are a bit small. Go for the adult wipes in the pharmacy section next to the adult diapers. In addition to cleaning yourself they are great for mopping up the floor, cleaning your hands from grease, etc. Baby wipes tend to fall apart, adult wipes are stronger and do a much better job.

An adult wipe clean up and change of clothes every day with deodorant and I'm good to go if a shower isn't available. The idea of heating water in a microwave may not work if your trainer doesn't have a microwave. Instead put a water bottle in the dash during a sunny day. It will be nice and warm by the time you stop if you are driving during the day. I've used that for shampooing my hair.

I'd be leery of carrying any kind of alcohol in the truck. That's in violation of DOT regulations. Even cold medicines with alcohol in them aren't allowed. If you want to use the hot water method of cleaning then consider essential oils or other ways of scenting the water. Alcohol swabs in those little packets might be another option. But IMHO adult wipes are the best.

 

Truckers use Comdata cards, not credit cards. The company will give you a Comdata card to pay for fuel or other truck related expenses like lumper charges, oil, truck washes, etc.

Regarding credit or debit cards for personal use, I use a debit card with direct deposit. I get $100 cash every week or so as I need it by getting cash back at a Walmart for incidental expenses. I have a second bank account debit card and transfer money to that one for my savings plan and never use that one for expenses, so my main card never has more than a few hundred dollars in it.

 

Thanks I will check into those adult wipes. I like alcohol wipes but they are so small.

 

enough cloth 3/4 days, flash light, work glove and most importance, you have to have enough money to last at least a month .OTR, You never know where you going, save enough money so you have an exit plant (ride/fly back home)

 

It is not against the DOT regs to have isopropyl alcohol in the truck. We are talking about the usual few ounce bottle. The same stuff that come in some first aid kits. it is not consumable . It is not used in making beer or other alcoholic beverages. When the term alcohol is used with CMV in mind it is used in the context of drinking alcohol such as wine, beer or hard liquor.

To correct a myth .
If you are drinking beer or other alcoholic beverage in a CMV it can be considered operating a motor vehicle under the influence if the keys are in the ignition.. REMOVE THE KEYS and that changes the picture. ARK and several other states has this rule. It matters not whether the engine is running or not. Keys in ignition means you intend on driving.

 

I have heard many stories of people getting fed up with the job and abandoning their truck and just taking the first bus or plane home is that what you are talking about when you say that you need to have enough money saved up for that
I have also heard of people having to pay for their own hotel stay for 1-2 weeks when their truck breaks down.
It would be hard to have enough cash for everything I would rather get debit cards and maybe credit cards.

 

No, not abandon truck, u do not want to do that. It be very hard to look for your next driving job. all truck company can fired you at will. They have no mercy for you. And yes, credit card/ debit is good. u never trust a trainer or co-driver. If you for some reason don't like company, look for another company when you have your day off and let them know you not coming back

 

I hear of people doing that just picking up and leaving. The way I hear about it is that when people quit they don't give much notice if any they
just leave. I like to give notice. I have to get maybe 1 year experience before looking anywhere else.
I have no idea how much money to bring and how long I will be out for the first few months during training. How long is a normal training session.
Is it 6 weeks or a few months. Is it hard to trust trainers with anything do you think if they fire you they the company will pay for your trip back
that is what I was told but it seems like its not happening you probably have to pay for your own trip back.