Driver Essentials Packing List

Large sums of mixed denominations of well circulated cash.

 

With a bank stamped withdrawal receipt. That and a checkbook that source it takes care of the law when they interdict against suspecting of drug trafficking or sales.

I don't use 50's or 100's too much trouble passing them at toll gates.

We carried adequate food and water. Sometimes quite a lot of it for weeks. Don't do retail but more than once a week at most.

 

- Extra straps. You will find them in most mega dry boxes, the longer you stay with them. Cause you will do a lot of drop and hook.
- Fuel anti-gel. which again, your company should provide...
- Entertainment. You will sit at time for longer than you want to, so be prepared to keep yourself company. I have a laptop that allows me to play my games, watch movies from my hard drives, etc...
- COMFORTABLE sleeping pillow and bedding. Later on once you have your "own" truck (one that you can call your own without anyone else in it) and can afford it, a good mattress as well...
- Common Sense is a HUGE plus!!
- And more things that as you drive/live in the truck, for a week or more at a time, that makes your life a little more comfortable .

You will pick up tips and tricks things the longer you drive / read stuff on here. But the basics and a willingness to be open-minded are the first things you should have.

 

Water: a case or two of bottled water, they're like $5 each, will save you tons

PB&J: reduces the need to park at a truck stop, also will save you money and give you something to eat in emergencies, bread goes bad in about two weeks.

Clothes: About a week's worth of clothes, plus pajamas (keep your bed clean, and if you smoke while driving close the curtains, don't smoke or eat in the back), and sweater, beanie, hat, and rain jacket/hooded windbreaker. Double socks and underwear. If in the colder months, also cold weather gear.

Footwear: work boots, running shoes(don't be a fat ####, you have the time to stay in shape on the road), shower flip flops (some places are gross)

Bedding: I can get by with a sleeping bag and pillow, if you feel like a princess sometimes get the whole shebang and two pillows.

Alarm Clock: get one that can run off batteries if unplugged. Don't rely on your phone.

Toiletries: soap, shampoo, deodorant, fingernail clippers, toilet paper, shaving supplies (electric works good for the days you don't park at a shower) and babywipes (same reason). Also get a towel.

Bucket: just get one, it's the most useful thing you'll ever have in the truck, emergency toilet, snow shovel, trash can, stool, stepladder, container, bath, etc.

Truck stop cards: get them, free coffee sometimes, free showers, save the points for paid parking, a headset, an inverter, can radio or truck gps, because I guarantee that whatever one is in the truck sucks.

Entertainment: Book, calisthenics, laptop, or handheld video game (for after you've exercised)

Apps: Truckerpath.

EDIT: Save all your quarters, plastic bags, and wide mouth plastic bottles. Keep $100-$200 on you, nothing larger than a $20, restock every week and don't use your credit card/debit cards, otherwise you might spend much more than you realize. Everything else should be provided by the company (go to the shop and get replacement parts for the truck, it will save hours out of your life and none of the things are hard to fix.

 

I forgot to mention one very important point. Try not to purchase many things for OTR because most truckers will abandon OTR. It’s a tricky business not knowing how long one will last. The last thing you want is to have purchased hundreds of dollars of stuff for OTR purposes, to then leave OTR in 3 months. It happens—a lot.

 

Five changes of clothes
Two pairs of boots
GPS and dash cam
Two pairs of gloves
Couple cases of water
Bag of carrots
Small tool bag
Laptop and portable scanner
Cell phone
Two pairs of sunglasses
Couple rolls of skull
Clipboard
Winter clothes
Wallet
Two towels and a washcloth
Some decent toilet paper
Window cleaner and paper towels
Oil
Airline antifreeze

 

Other people’s credit cards, is also good.

 

Definitely 5 gallon bucket and heavy duty 13 gallon trash bags . 3 at least. And don't forget anything !!

 

Many companies give their driver a winter coat for Christmas.
This is CR England's Christmas winter coat for all their drivers.