Essential tools for truck drivers

I've seen the tandem stoppers, but I've never used them, since my trailers haven't had sliding tandems.
For anyone pulling a flatbed, a good claw hammer is a must. I like the Stanley FatMax single piece hammers. A good prybar, as well. And, of course, a good ladder. I still have mine, though I don't recall the brand name offhand... costs about $250, and you can use it as a straight ladder or as an a-frame ladder, it folds up neatly and can fit into a sidebox.. good stuff. A port-a-power and a comealong are handy to have, as well.
As for what else you need, it really depends on the extent of what you're going to do. If you're not going to do maintenance on the truck, or you have this ideology of, "they're not paying for it, so I'm not doing it, even if it costs me time and miles", then it's probably not particularly essential for you to carry tools, aside maybe from a hammer in case your brake drums get frozen. The rest, I think have been covered. At the very least, I'd say a 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive socket set, combination wrenches in ASE up to at least 1 inch, metrics up to at least 19mm, either a 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 inch wrench or socket if you do your own oil changes (as well as a center punch and filter wrench if this is the case). I also kept 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive impact wrenches and impact sockets with me (don't use chrome or hardened sockets on these). I simply attached a 1/4 male air line coupler to the wet tank, made a 70' length of hose with two female ends, and I could use that to run pneumatic tools, inflate my tires with an air chuck, blow snow off the trailer (you can buy an air chuck for this, but I simply made one with a section of 1/4 threaded pipe, a compatible valve, and a 1/4 air line coupler), etc.
Screwdrivers, of course. Slotted and Phillips both. Bit drivers can come in handy with hex, Torx, and other bits.
Crescent wrenches in a few different sizes. For the larger sizes, you should expect to purchase something with some quality behind it.. Dewalt has some larger sized crescents at good prices. Channel locks are a must, as well, as are vice grips, and I'd recommend a set of sidecutters, as well. If you don't know what the sidecutters would be used for, don't bother with those.
A good die grinder with cutting, sanding, and buffing pads could be a good investment, as well.

When it comes to ratchets, I'd seriously advise you to splurge a little on the ratchet itself (although you don't need to spend as much in sockets). I'd avoid Pittsburgh (Harbor Freight) and Craftsman ratchets. IMO, Snap-On makes the best ones, but they're pricey.. SK Tool, Williams, Gedore, Mac Tools, and Proto make good ratchets, as well.

 

Ax body spray?



Mikeeee

 

You're at the wrong site if you're looking for instructions on how to use your caulk!

 

A C.B Radio is the MOST essential tool for any Trucker.

 

I will trump that with a fuel card!

Mikeeee

 

I'll see your fuel card, and raise you a set of truck keys.

 

I'll see your set of truck keys and raise you with a ton of "Common Sense!"

 

Nah, that's not a requirement to get behind the wheel. If it were, the word "megacarrier" would leave everyone scratching their heads, wondering what you were talking about.

 

The absolute basics?

-6 way screwdriver (2 crosstip, 2 flat, and 2 nut drivers)
-6" adjustable wrench
-8" ViceGrips
-needle nose with diagonal cutters

 

When I worked as a slip seat driver for a 600 mile route, I would only carry: A ViseGrip and a 3/4" box end wrench that fits the air brake cage bolt, and a cage bolt. The visegrip is to clamp off a leak in the air line due to a leaking air chamber, the box end wrench is to tighten down the cage bolt so you can drive to a shop and get your brake fixed. Sometimes carried a pliers when I needed to pry the Peterbuilt door lever latch up so the door would latch shut.....Otherwise I never was in a situation where I needed any other tools to keep running.