Must have tools

yes, each company is most certainly different.

if you take care of your workers, they will most certainly try to take care of you as well.

but when you work for LTL or truckload companies, and are basically "just a number", you do as told.

and I NEVER argued or debated many company policies.....it's how i lived and survived 48 years in this business.

 

It is easy enough to do. Several years ago I flew up and went north in a truck that I shouldn't have, the thermostat stuck open and I could not get the engine temp over 125, atigun was a total mess, when I crossed, so I knew I was probably the last one to get through that night, then I got in a bad blow with near zero visibility, so had to slow up. The fuel gelled at 2 mile, I got to spend the rest of the night and half the morning in a bad blow at 29 below . lol

 

Same thought here. I carry bulbs, fuses, and a Leatherman. If I can't get it with that it's a problem for maintenance.

 

maybe my crowbar is subpar quality, but I found a hammer with a claw end to work better for this.

Here's what I recommend:

Vice grips (once had a tandem release that wouldn't hold, vice grips held it enough to slide the axles)
Electronic contact cleaner (sometimes you can spray it on the electrical contacts to get the ABS light to go off)
Gloves for pre-trip and drop and hook (keep them behind the driver seat for easy access)
Gloves for fueling (I prefer those yellow soft leather ones - keep in side box)
large funnel for adding engine oil
Hammer with claw end as mentioned above
2.5 lb small sledge style hammer for banging on the brakes in winter
Screwdriver to remove glad hand grommets
Snips for cutting those thin metal seals (truck stops sell these for $10)