Winter pack for local drivers

Local means day cab?

Well... I always got the weather situation from several sources before I get to the yard to touch that day cab. I would already know if there is icing going on on my route and what to expect for battle. Sometimes online I will follow a developing winter storm as NOAA follows it days prior to it's development. Forecasting has gotten pretty good.

 

I always keep a stocked overnight bag underneath my passenger seat, year round, for those unexpected situations where I don't make it home for whatever reason. I would say there are maybe 4 or 5 nights a year I have to use it. It's also nice to have an extra shirt and deodorant handy for those hot days when I get sweaty (yeah that happens once in awhile lol).

But I am lucky enough to have an assigned day cab, I take it home (no slip seating), so I can keep it stocked up with whatever I want.

 

as myself being a local driver, all i can fit into my day cab is my windshield snow brush, a 5 gallon pail of kitty litter or speedi-dri, and extra washer fluid. i always have some sort of small carry-on bag, with at least 2 extra pairs of socks, gloves, and a spare shirt. most of this fits nicely under the passenger seat, and on top of it. since i drive the same truck nightly, i can leave everything but my carry-on bag.

 

Roads don't get closed around here much except parleys summit on occasion. But we have access to salt. We do have mountain passes that close for the season. Worse case scenario. 2 chains on truck and maybe 1 on trailer. I'm going home. Don't know about the other drivers since most don't know how to use chains. Or are too lazy.

 

All of the above mentioned are good for all year round. For winter the most important thing is something to keep warm if your truck breaks down and you have no heat source. I learned this lesson the hard way a few years back when a deer decided to go through the grill of my truck while I was doing 70 mph. I sat for 4.5 hrs in 10 degree weather and no heat wearing blue jeans, socks, t shirt, sweatshirt,and a Carhartt jacket that normally rides on the shotgun seat. Fine for when the engine is running and the heats pumping. I must have walked around that truck 1000 times trying to warm up. Now when winter comes I keep a bag in the truck with some long johns, heavy socks and a wool blanket in it. I drive a day cab so it takes up some space but I'll never drive October - April without it again.

 

you wont ever get me in a day cab even doing day cab work. lol im always prepared for overnight even when the plan is to be home every night. plans are always subject to change.

though that said if im heading to the house iv always made it home. if the big roads are shut down ill throw iron and run the secondary roads. i have shut it down heading somewhere other than home for whiteout conditions or at least waited somewhere for a slight improvement in conditions.

that being said though being prepaid has a lot to do with being outside in the elements more than making sure you have a tooth brush, just the things that happen in severe cold and snow. mechanical break downs plugged fuel filters frozen airlines/breaks. loading unloading duties iv found myself in much more dangerous situations in extreme weather due to these kind of things rather than navigating bad roads in heavy snowfalls and blizzard conditions.