Millis OTR journal

As I sit and wait for a door. Just thought I would tell this little story from the other day. I was delivering to a place in Rochester. After I backed in got to talking to the driver next to me. He said he has been OTR for 13 years. He asked how much I’m going to make this year. I told him I’m on pace to make over 50k my first year. Lol he scoffed at me said he has never made over 45k in his 13 years. I told him to call Millis.

 

Agh, sorry to bug you guys about this stuff again, but I went out shopping for truck school supplies and came away a little overwhelmed.

Work boots, what do you suggest?
Flashlight?
Work gloves?
Duffle bag, shower bag, sizes?

Just want to get the right stuff.

 

Ooof, MIT, I see so many comments like that. Glad to hear Millis is delivering.

 

Boots- comfortable and waterproof. Maybe get a little insulation in them for winter or get 2 pair. Winter and for not winter. I haven't worn my boots since winter weather ended.

Flashlight - Bright, somewhat compact (slip into your pocket for example) and rechargeable. I also have a headband flashlight for strapping loads in the dark. One of those ball caps with LEDS built in would also work. In the summer when the days are much longer the head worn light isn't very important but in the winter when it is dark early it is.

Work gloves - I have a bag of cheap ones from a hardware store that have several pairs. When one glove or both bite the dust I just grab another one or pair from the bag.

Duffle / Shower bag- One big enough to hold a couple towels, a change of clothes and your toiletries. I would get one that has some outside pockets and have one of those pockets be for wet stuff.

Others may have different suggestions but these are mine.

 

What about atlas?
For boots I'm looking at the timberland pro pit boss.

 

I would get the newest commerical vehicle Atlas available. Last I knew that was 2019 and are in almost all truck stops. Laminated so it won't fall apart on you and will last a few years. My last one was 2015 and still looked brand new. Just thought I should get a newer updated one so grabbed a 2019.

I'm a little older so I have the bigger, larger print one. The bigger one would help anyone see some of the maps better but up to you. You won't use it a lot but when you need it you NEED it. My trainer made me trip plan everything out of the Atlas old school when I went through. No GPS. Pain in the ### and much respect to the real old time drivers who did not have GPS as a tool. Both the Atlas and GPS are tools and neither can be relied on 100% time, especially the GPS.

 

Okay, just picked up the 2020 Deluxe Motor Carriers Atlas (spiral bound and laminated), some Timberland Pro Attach Insulated Waterproof boots (curious to see how nice these will be for winter). Now I still need to figure out a duffle bag, flashlight, work gloves. Anything else essential for MTI?

 

Did you get mailed / emailed a checklist? Follow that if you did, if not ask your recruiter for it. I can't remember everything you might need there.

 

Clipboard, notebook

 

Lol funny you should say that. Today had to pick up at Mohawk in Calhoun. My GPS wanted me to cut through a trailer park. At least it looked like a trailer park, I saw the dirt path it wanted me to go down and I quickly started planning on option B.