Packing List for Students

Looks like I'll be heading out to USA Truck most likely.

 

I recently went to CDL school in Arkansas as well, and I live here.
Right now it is extremely HOT and HUMID. You better count on needing some water, have a refillable jug/bottle. The school didn't provide water on the backing pad until the last week. I carried a small soft side cooler and put those freeze packets in the freezer over night every day. Some of those electrolyte drinks are very needed for the amount of time we spent outside.

The school did have a car that was available to use to go to the nearest store. And there were several people who were local who had their cars there as well. Someone was always going to the store after classes.
Also, make sure you have a hat. Even a bandana was very needed.

That's about all I can think about right now.

 

Thank's for the info so just to clarify the school has a car the students can actually use to go grocery shopping or one of the staff members drive us?

Is the store a wal-mart or actual grocery store or is it a convenience store?

I'll definitely add a decent size water bottle and some of those freezer ice packs to my list.

 

Make sure to take your resume and MVR with you too! This is going to save you a lot of time and frustration!

 

thanks so much I'll definitely add that to my list. I wish I could edit the original post to have a full and complete list that could be docked at the top and be a 1 page answer.

 

You should be able to edit your original post.

The only thing I would say is double up on your socks and underwear at least. If you don't get a chance to do laundry, or are too lazy, or don't want to spend the $4 in quarters, or whatever, you can usually recycle a shirt or a pair of jeans but if you have on clean underwear and socks it makes all the difference.

 

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...ivers/16652-packing-list-for-students-17.html page 17 post 168 about the best packing list you need and it can be the same for both school and training!

your list you have above is a rookies list so I don't think it'll get docked. My advice is to take some form of transportation to school, AND to your new company! If you do take a bus or flight to or from school or the company you go with, I hope you have $50 for each bag over the 1 checked and you don't go over the weight restrictions. You can do a lot with a carry on! Remember that you'll be in someone elses truck so you don't need to carry that much into an already cramped truck. It's HIS home and you're a guest!
If that trainer says no laptop tell him thanks and get another! It's MY laptop and I'll use it when off duty! Tough and live with it! OH DO HAVE INSURANCE ON THE LAPTOP!!

But you don't need fancy clothes as you'll not be going to the ball or five star restaurants.

For your personal hygiene items get a "ditty bag" and fill it with what you need.

Ponchos are nice but around trucks and in the wind you'll spend more time holding the stupid thing down than doing work and if it catches on something like a door hinge that 5' fall can mess you up on the way down! Get a cheap yellow rain suit as it will take up about as much room as that poncho and keep you a lot drier!

Hold off on the sleeping bag and pillow until you get to your company and when you get your trainer tell him you need to stop at Wally World, Kmart, Target, Meyers or whoever to get a sleeping bag and I know the guy might say you ain't got the time then tell him 15 minutes is all it'll take and argue the point with him but if you so need to take the one you've already bought then be prepared to pay an additional $50 to get it to your company! If I had to do a sleeping bag then I'd buy a CHEAP one as washing a sleeping bag isn't easy, some of that chinese junk the stuffing wads up and becomes useless! You don't need to buy a -50* bag as that truck should be running all the time so a 40* bag is about as low a temp that you'll need.Get a sheet to put in it to keep the bag from getting to smelly. But bags do get a little ripe so washing is a must! If you have to quit or get canned then because it's a cheapo bag trash it. It's a disposable idem the same as the pillow. Just keep the receipts, they're tax deductible.

And as it says on the link above if it doesn't fit in the bag you don't need it!

You only have 2 pair of long pants in this list. OSHA says long pants even though it's not enforced except on some docks most construction zones I ever delivered to and you'll darn sure want them on a frozen dock! I don't know what your school policy is.

3 ring binders take up a LOT of room! Buy it when you get to school or just a simple spiral note book!
A LARGE sized ski bag can hold everything you need for "temporary housing" which you will be doing until you get cut loose on your own truck! Thats all I carry on my truck except for a coffee pot, micro wave and a few other things but as I said and say they're disposable or I can sell them at a truck stop. Either way I can always get new ones at the next job! But thats why I NEVER work for anyone thats not a short drive away from home!

Good luck and go back through that whole "packing list" thread as there are a few more things mentioned or just cut and paste this and print it out and add or subtract what you need. Don't carry trash you don't need to as you can go and pick them up later like laundry soap?

But the thing about taking your own vehicle is extremely good advice. You havent lived untill you're sitting some where trying to get a ride home and deciding on what you don't need to carry on the plane or bus or draped over your shoulder and throwing it away as you're repacking in front of God and everyone!
As I've said in several threads and posts if it doesn't fit in the one bag you don't need it! Except for the carry on bag!You do have two shoulders!

Good Luck
Rollover

 

Sorry, if I didn't make myself clear. I went to another school here in Arkansas. So I don't know for sure if CDI offers a car for students to use. I know there is a super Wal Mart in that general area. I would bet there is a local grocery much closer.
Good luck.

 

A hint: CALL THEM! Then ask them how students without transportation get around to go eat and other things! That's always the easiest thing to do!
BUT as I keep saying: Take your own transportation to school and your new job! Especially that new job!
I have to ask how are you going to cook the food that you buy from the store? Does the motel have a stove?

Now the reasons why you should never rely on someone else to get you to and from places:

1) Do YOU have the money to buy a bus, plane or car rental to go home? I ask this because as I've seen many times over the years and read not only in TTR but other threads how a driver either quits or is fired and at a yard hundreds or thousands of miles away from home and BFI didn't pay for the ticket home OR the extra costs of extra baggage for all the crapola you acquired while on the truck!
2) Do you have a credit card that can pay for the ticket as you can not rent a car with cash. Airlines and Homeland Security look way to hard at you when you try to buy a one way ticket with cash no matter how American your ID makes you look.
3) Greyhound is way worse than teaming with a hygiene challenged team driver! You'll be stuck with a lot of them! I've smelled that smell and will never do it again! If you follow the http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...-drivers/16652-packing-list-for-students.html page 17 post 168 that is all you really need ever! It all fits into ONE bag and if you're like me and prefer to ride your bike to your yard it WILL fit on the bike! I KNOW as I've done it! AND in the winter also!

But I'm just me, I love to ride!
There is the car or P/U! Everyone has one or should if you aren't married and then two if married, one for her and one for you! If going to orientation and this company is paying the bus ticket ask them for the cash in exchange for the ticket. They'll do this! Then drive your self there and this way you have a way home AND transportation around when the truck is in the shop or you're sitting there waiting on something to happen! ESPECIALLY if you still decide to go to that BFI CRE and their little trick of making you sit "waiting" forever for that company truck to open when there are 100 lease trucks sitting there waiting for a rookie to break down with despair and sign the go nowhere fleece!

 

Statikuz, would turnin' tightie whities and socks inside out qualify as recyclin?