Packing List for Students

I suppose that depends on what you are hauling. I pull reefer so I have never needed a hard hat and if a vest is needed most shippers or recivers provide one. I kept the disposable one Kroger gave me just in case and never needed it yet.

 

I respectfully disagree. When I trained I had the top bunk and one small "stuff it hole" for storage. My medium duffle of food simply stayed in the top bunk, and being able to eat out of my own food stores allowed me to have money left over after each week's paycheck, even on trainee wages. If you are planning on having "plenty of money" to eat at truck stops, then you had better have PLENTY of money, because you won't have money left over at the end of the week.

I'd certainly not plan on being able to mooch off your trainer. If the trainer offers to buy a meal or two, that's one thing, but coming on the trainer's truck without food and insufficient funds to feed yourself is a recipe (pardon the pun) for conflict. Better to come onto the truck as a self sufficient individual. The food won't take up a lot of space, and you can replenish your supplies at any Walmart. While I was training we hit Walmart at least once a week. As a solo driver I get to a Walmart or other grocery market about twice a week.

Do... not... eat... at... truck... stops. In fact, try to avoid "eating out" or having fast food whatsoever. Maybe give yourself a "reward" of a fast food meal or sit down dinner once a week.

 

Yes plan on a way to feed yourself I agree to that point. I having enough money is not an option then yes grocery shop. But the trainer controls the situation for the most part. Is one going to pack up to five or more weeks of food? That's a lot of ramin noodles. If done right you can still eat on a budget in the truck stops. especially at loves or pilot. avoid ta or petros they jack up the already inflated truck stop prices.

 

I eat out of the truck personally. It is way too expensive out of a truck stop an unhealthy . But with that said you are limited to what your trainer does. my first trainer microwaved every meal and shared but my second trainer didn't even have a bottle of water on truck.

Now personally if I were a trainer I know I am making a killing off my trainee so I would share. After all I am not going to cook a steak dinner and eat it in front of him while he has... what ever he cab afford. My co-Driver can attest to that as he nearly sent me to the poor house eating all my food before I kicked him off the truck!

 

My trainer was broke, I ate out while he drank coffee.

 

I brought two weeks of food to orientation, enough to get through orientation and well on the road to make sure I'd be able to survive until I could restock at a Walmart. $200 in my pocket at start of orientation was easily sufficient to see me through three weeks to my first significant paycheck.

Ramen? Not for me. Not a real healthy choice, nor really that filling or satisfying.

 

.... I hear ya...

... my trainer made bank, yet he was always getting cash advances to get to the next paycheck. He NEVER had food in the truck and we probably wasted at least 2-3 hours a day so he could get food. He easily spent a minimum of $50 per day to eat... minimum... and sometimes a LOT more than that. Not sure what all "issues" he had financially, but I just couldn't see how he was always broke. Girlfriends? I don't know...

... I DO know that I saved a LOT more money than he did by the time I got off his truck.

 

Mine made great money, but he would go home often have negative pay checks, and spend the next week with a tiny one covering the invisible check.

 

bring headband with bright light... to have two hands free at night for whatever comes up and checking the king pin. Walmart has weather resistant ones with various brightness settings including a bright flash to let others see you by.

 

I recomend leaving atlas at home. Your trainer should have one. but if you buy one get the laminated trucker's atlas. Pilot and Loves has them for about $30 sometimes less if on sell. (Got mine for $19.99). TA/Petro has a large print version but it's $50 or so.Also a pair of dry erase markers are the most handy thing for taking quick notes. scrawl it on the window and wipe off when you are done