Must-Haves for OTR

All you need is a bucket and some toilet paper

 

I got a flashlight for Christmas a couple years ago. The thing is same size as a cigarette but a little wider. Charges with usb and is plenty bright enough for walking around your truck. I keep a headlight one in my toolbox just in case but it’s still in the packaging…

it’s very much like this one on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-...629011&s=hardware&sprefix=recharg&sr=1-1&th=1

 

that is a must some new drivers get into situations and don't know how to get out of them and get upset and hang up the keys

 

Best advice I ever heard was pack light and bring your credit card. If you forgot something you can buy it on the road. The reason this is good advice is because it's tempting to take everything
Once you're solo you will want:
2 gym bags. One for spring n summer one for winter. Carry both even in July. Keep items organized inside bags using miniature colored stuff bags. One for socks one for bras etc.
Slippers. Truck floor gets dirty.
Lots of underpants (just sayin')
1 dittie bag for toiletries and easy carry to showers. Dont forget sunblock!
Sunglasses for day. Sleep mask for night.
Bedding (obviously)

Eating:
A way to make your own coffee
A cooler or refrigerator
Way to heat food. $60 Microwave or a toaster oven if you have a converter. If not get a 12 volt lunchbox oven and a 12 volt pot for hot water.
Bowls. I use the disposable plastic storage containers. When they get too gross I can toss em. Plastic spoons n forks. A knife. a can opener. scissors.
I like to organize these with small sterilite boxes.
Cleaning;
Window cleaner and a bottle of spc and span (my go to cleanser) laundry soap and dryer sheets and a laundry bag. Wisk broom. Paper towels. A waste basket line with plastic bag.

Tools:
Notebooks. pens. Rand McNally Truckers road map. Flashlight
in your sidebox carry duct tape wd40 Hammer crowbar pliers screw drivers side cutter. Vise grips (for tandem bar that wont quite hook.)
also a push broom or, my preference, a small $70 battery powered leaf blower. fits in sidebox and Sweeps that trailer in a jiffy.

Finally...and don't be embarrassed, you'll soon learn the wisdom. A $2 home depot bucket and a $7 bucket toilet ring. Line with 13 gallon hefty bag. And of course TP.

Its a lot, but you will be self contained and comfortable. You need to be cuz you never know where you'll end up taking that 10.. or 34.

 

A dry erase board and an Expo marker for easy communication with 4 wheelers

 

I still mostly communicate with hand signals

 

An exit plan for when you exit trucking

 

Why would anyone want to exit trucking?

 

Here's a current (as of the time of this post) job ad for Schneider....hiring out of the P'cola area... for new drivers with NO experience:

Regional Van Truckload truck driver | Top drivers earn up to $77,000 | Schneider

With that job -- you would run true OTR, but you would very likely always stay east of I-35 (basically, the eastern half of the US).

If....on the other hand...you got a job with May Trucking there in P'cola...you would most certainly get some West coast runs...like Oregon &/or Washington state.

Both carriers have their pros & cons. Having a terminal right there in your back yard would be real nice; but Schneider offers more terminals/dropyards/freight types...& probably better pay, for a first-year driver.

They don't call it "no-pay May"....for nothing.

As I write this...it appears that both carriers are hiring brand new CDL holders in your area.

Both carriers have seasoned training programs/provisions for new drivers....& either one would likely turn you into a lean, mean trucking machine....if you stayed at either one...for at least a year.

-- L

 

Here's a great recent Forum thread...on what life is like/what to expect....over at May Trucking:

Two years on at May

-- L