Must-Haves for OTR

Cigarettes, bennies and a big coffee cup

 

Patients and a good attitude.

All the other things will be secondary.

 

It depends on you. Also, are you asking about what to take during training or what to take in your solo truck? Those are very different.
Make sure you buy at a truck stop the Rand McNally Motor Carrier Road Atlas or MCRA. Beware, there is also a Rand McNally Road Atlas, for car drivers. DO NOT buy that. You want the MCRA. It has legal stuff in the front necessary for CDL driving in the various states including truck restricted routes, low clearances, trailer length limits, weight limits, etc. It costs about $20-25 at the start of the new year and about $10-15 toward the end of the year. It is OK to use a 1 year out of date MCRA in most cases. DO NOT RELY ON GPS. Just because your or your trainer's GPS says use Hwy 3 it doesn't necessarily mean Hwy 3 allows 70 ft long, 80,000 pound commercial trucks. Also, "I was just following my GPS" will not get you out of a ticket for being on a truck restricted route. With a CDL the law expects you to do more than just follow some plastic box. You are now expected to know whatever the state publishes about their roads.

For training take about 1 week's worth of clothes, boots, leather gloves, flashlight, a couple pens, rain coat, toiletries, sleeping bag & pillow, money & credit card, phone and charger. Otherwise, buy anything else AFTER you see you need it, at a Walmart. Put everything in a soft duffle bag or a couple of backpacks. You may have to sleep with your gear. I STRONGLY recommend you buy earplugs at Walmart or Amazon. They are about $5-6 for a pack. You will NOT make a good impression if you show up to the truck with a ton of stuff. A truck with 2 people is full before anyone adds anything. It's about the size a a crappy hotel's bathroom with the door closed. Just enough space for a tub, toilet, one small counter.

 

What carrier has hired you (if you do have an offer, yet)?

Where is their nearest terminal location?

If you are still looking -- what type(s) of freight interest you the most?

-- L

 

I'm guessing you went with May Trucking since there's a terminal in Pensacola.

 

"May-be" not.... ....

-- L

 

While you're on your trainer's truck, try to keep it light. He/she/it might not have a lot of space for your stuff. Your company should give you a list of basics. I highly recommend taking some non-perishable food items in your bag. You won't be in charge of stops, so having even some crackers or poptarts is good. Same for a bottle or two of water. Eat and drink out of the truckstops when you can, save the food and water in your bag for when you can't. Replenish at stops as you go.

You should have a basic idea of what you want for your own truck by the time you finsh training. Starting out, try to limit personal items you would mind losing. Don't bring any more of what's valuable to you than you can pack up quickly and comfortably carry at the same time. Rembember that you're a company driver, so your truck is really their truck. They can take it back at a moments notice and they probably won't route you home to drop off your stuff before they do. Same goes if you quit on the road.

 

I thought you were going to a completely different scenario with duct tape and zip ties .