Com check

Your company should provide them to you. Ask for some the next time you go to a terminal.

 

Ask Cashier at a Truck stop.
They may only give out a couple at a time though.

So keep asking until you have enough.

 

Walk into any truck stop and ask the fuel desk. I always offer to pay, but I've never been charged.

 

I would just add something to the correct replies you have here. Get a blank piece of paper and make a checklist of things to do when at a home terminal. Keep this checklist close to you and try to remember it.

1. Check to see if either your tractor or trailer needs service.
2. Have your tires and brakes inspected by the shop. (this one is tough to get done but keep at it.)
3. Check your oil in both your main engine and your APU.
4. Have your QUALCOMM antenna looked at to make sure the metal band holding it together is there and locked.
5. Have your gladhands gaskets checked make sure the red and blue air lines are not kinked. (this is something that can get your rig put out of service.) if anything is wrong with them get it replaced.
6. Make sure your electrical connecting plug is tight.
7. Look at all your lights and lens and get anything out or broken replaced.
8. Make sure your wipers are OK/
9. Check your fire extinguisher and get it replaced if needed.
10. Take your permit book inside and make sure you have current permits.
11. Go into safety and get someone to make sure everything is OK. (I know some will say otherwise but it is best to fight this battle in a terminal then over the phone hundreds of miles away.)
12. Make sure you have all the supplies needed. This means scan sheets, logs and blank comchecks.


This list does not cover everything but keeping one will keep you from an oh crap moment several hours after leaving.

 

If you can't do number two and number five, you shouldn't be driving a truck.

 

Oh most of them should be done every day you drive. I was just saying that while in a terminal get these things checked by a mechanic so they could get them replaced.

 

Particularly the permit book. Go over each one in front of the Office staff responsible for them Replace and discard any out of date or obselete permits. In my day we had bingo cards and there are certain stickers you need on both sides of that cab. If you go into Oregon you need a red tag up front.

The devil is in the details.

Make sure you have spare fuse for every fuse in the truck.
Make sure you have replacement valves for your brake tanks.
Make sure you have 4 maxi bolts. (Bolts that back off your brake chamber or spring) and a wrench big enough to turn them.
Make sure you have 5 gallons of oil for your rig in one of the boxes.
Get thee a tool kit with both inch and metric, label same with your name. You never know what you need to do right away.
Get yourself a complete set of trailer door bolts. You might bust half or all of them fighting a padded dock and save yourself a repair call.
Grease for that 5th wheel. I usually had the pads that you slap on there which will break under your trailer hooking up. Takes 3 per load. Over generous I know, but way better than experiencing a truck that wont turn when that thing is rusted on you in rain...
Candle with strong base for the day you break down in winter with absolutely no heat.
A extra fire extinguisher.
A life hammer, crow bar etc. You keep those inside your center bunk storage. Big enough to go through the windshield after a rollover should you ever suffer one.
1000 dollars in cash always at a minimum do not use the same unless you are in a financial corner.
A book from your company that contains all of your shippers and recievers.
Get and keep two trays of bolts of every kind used by your truck and trailer. You never know which one you will need.
Store at least two spare air line hoses for your truck and trailer. Snapping them in the dead of winter will cost you time you don't have waiting on someone to come replace them.

Im just getting started. The goal is to be self sufficient in every way possible because out there on the road YOU are the man.

 

our local TA just prints them out for us. They don't do Tcheks but will print COMchecks. I stopped at one in NC somewhere and had a comcheck printed too. It's more of a hassle but if you need it, you need it.