Tools that are good to have

Leatherman type tool... some electrical tape...zip ties.

 

Ok

Screwdrivers Phillips and Slotted for many purposes,torx driver and allen wrenches

channelocks, Vicegrips ,Crescent Wrench,and 3/8 ratchet with standard and metric sockets (small set,nothing too extravagant)

a sledge hammer 5lb and a regular hammer

Voltage tester,Wire,Cutters,strippers and vartoius connectors

A knife,scissors,crow bar,Flaslight(s) and hand cleaner

Rags,lubricating spray,adhesive and extra nuts n bolts.screws etc

 

duct tape, flashlight

 

Vice grips (in case you blow out a brake chamber) you can pinch off the line till you can get it repaired. Instead of air leaking off,leaving you stranded in BFE. Tire guage,tire knocker. 1/2 inch or 7/16 open end wrench (for adjusting slack adjusters on trailer brakes). Folding set of t10 to t18 hex wrenches( for changing lights). Large hammer for beating on frozen brakes,and hammering in stuck tandem pins. Duct tape for emergency hose repair. Gallon of bug juice so you can see out the windshield. Extra headlight bulbs,fuses,glad hand seals,tire chains.

 

A good bamboo back scratcher

 

My situation is a bit different from you OTR guys. I'm local hauling an excavator to and from job sites every day (company policy prevents leaving them on site) and asphalt the remainder of the day. I am expected to be able to solve most problems that arise along the way. I carry my leatherman, seperate folding knife, 2 extra wheel chocks, my toolbox with sockets, screwdrivers, bulbs, short lengths of wire, etc. All the trucks have an array of hammers from a framing hammer to a 20lb sledge and they all keep either speedy dry or kitty litter for muddy areas.

If the excavator doesn't get to the jobsite due to a breakdown I'll end up with 4-10 guys getting paid to stand around and not get the job done which loses the boss money and in turn we all lose bonus's and further work so I'll bring whatever i need to bring to get that truck and trailer to my jobsite.

 

Depends on trailer, if you're pulling flatbed may need more, but also good to have 9/16 3/8 or 5/16 for different type of brake adjustments on trailers/truck small electrical kit especially if you drop/hook and a few extra lights.

 

If you're not going to use them, no point in carrying any. Always kinda weirds me out this time of year when we have to go out and hammer on someone's drums so that they can get moving, since they don't carry one themselves... and you find out that we're not talking about FNG sorts in their first six months of driving. How you can haul anything out here - and do it for any duration of time - without carrying any ####### tools is beyond me, but they do it somehow.

 

But....what if your company doesn't allow passengers?