Must have tools

You just won the turkey! I can tell you that truckers that are the sons of truckers generally know how to keep that rig running then drivers that were not raised around watching them being worked on as small children.

 

I actually decided to stay on the wrenches instead. It was a tough choice to make though. I have my class 1 license and after 10 years on the wrenches (professionally) I'm getting closer to wanting to try my hand at driving for a while. Just keeping my eyes open for a good starting gig. No way in hell am I going to get roped in to working for a mega. My BS tolerance is wayyyy to low to survive a week at one if the stories I read on here are true lol.

I could never do an office job. I'm much happier outside, chasing trucks and equipment in my service truck.

 

It’s hard work holding that smart phone in one hand while texting with your thumb!

 

Took me some time to assemble my tool kit, and it's still growing. I'll start with what I use the most often.
Small sledge hammer
Needle nose
Tin snips
Bolt cutters
Standard and metric wrenches
Various crescent/monkey wrenches
Rubber mallet
Framing hammer
25' measuring tape (though I highly recommend 50' if you do Amy travelling through CA)
Hose clamps
Gladhand gaskets
Tire pressure and tread depth gauges
Spare fuses, bulbs, filters, belts
Torque wrench with sockets
Pry bar
Broom
Chains
Wd40 and loctite
Duct tape and electrical tape

The list grows as you need stuff. Remember that waiting in line at the shop or on the shoulder for a rescue costs you time and money too.

 

My last few years I did not carry a lot of tools and other comfort items because as a company driver there was never a guarantee I might not have to move out of a hopelessly broke down tractor and go get on a bus to get another one. If I could not get my belongings into 2 large duffel bags I bought cheap and was prepared to abandon the item. This has happened to me 2 times. Thankfully the last time I knew someone close that came out brought his pickup and took me to my next tractor. Just for the record I know a driver that drives for USA Truck that had a break down in Missouri. Was told by his fleet manager he was going to be able to go get a tractor and be dispatched on a load headed back through there. Oh it happened alright. About 4 weeks later. By that time the company decided to get rid of the truck and moved it. The shop did not help and by the time the driver got back he found the truck gone and with it almost $2,000 worth of things. He called USA Truck and basically was told the company was not responsible. This is always a danger company drivers have to be concerned about. This is why I kept my tools simple.

 

I have a tool box with me full of tools, but I also keep two flashlights and two knives. This is in a daycab with no storage, along with my air hose. There is no excuse besides incompetence for a truck driver to not carry tools and flashlights. How do you pretrip at night without one? You don’t.

 

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I'm a packrat and I had to move a sleeper truck's worth of contents inside a daycab and bring my dog. When I drove daycabs everyday I showed up at worked I looked like I was moving to Mexico. There are ways to have the essentials, but many drivers would rather blame the company and the industry and the universe for them not knowing how to change a fuse than buy a $2 pack of fuses, if the shop won't give you some for free. I also learned to only leave in the truck items you can afford to be stolen.

 

I put all my tools back in the roll-away where they belong, purchased a extra power cell that will charge my phone and the go pro, if the truck breaks down I will call them, there truck, there responsibility. I can fix the truck not a problem, i won't because that's not my job, my job, pick up and deliver safely & keep the customer happy, there job, keep me in a truck that runs. that's why I fill out a DVIR everyday.