What are the must haves on a truck?

You need 4 things your cdl your map your log book and your phone all the rest is crap you can gather along the way .

You need to learn to drive a truck first then worry about your toys later .
You don't have to have tv and video games or even a GPS .
it won't kill you to get away from all those distractions as you learn your new life but you can kill yourself messing with your gps !

Trucking has been done for ever with just a map and a drivers license more people ought to give it a try .

 

Seat, steering wheel, shifter and three peddals...

Seriously though, the Atlas everyone is talking about, truckstop guide... I have two, the big one is about $15 and the get a small pocket one for about $5. I keep that one within reach on the dash for quick reference. Phone and bluetooth headset... have to be hands free. Sleeping bag, keep a case of bottled water at all times. A good cooler, I use a 12v Coleman. Pens, notebook, clipboard, dry erase pens... these have two uses... you can make all the notes you want on your laminated atlas and then wipe it away, and probably more important you can write things like directions and phone numbers on the side window and then wipe them away when done.

A gladhand airhose is a wise investment to, various hand tools, funnel... cb radio...

That should get you started.

 

Make sure its a "truckers atlas" it will include scales MOST(not all) low/weight restricted bridges.Also most low end droid "smart" phones(even the pay as you go plans) has google maps or the ability to download it,BUT, you have to use the google maps WITH the atlas and some common sense(GM does NOT have a truckers program) even the topshelf truckers GPS's will lie right to your face, always always always double check all directions no matter where you get them.A Coleman 12 volt cooler from walmart is a must in my truck($75.00 but at $3.99 a bag for ice it only takes 19 days to break even).I prefer insulated overalls/coveralls to a sleeping bag because they keep you warmer than the average sleeping bag and a whole lot easier to walk in if you have to.You might want to carry a small overnite bag to carry into the shower instead of luging the big one in every time,I also keep a couple of towels and wash cloths in my truck because some of the terminals/tank washes I go to offer free showers but no towel service( or soap/shampoo).Thats about it just the usual cleaning supplies ect. As far as entertainment goes I have sattelite radio a lot of guys have TV's but I'm just not into TV that much even at home.

 

How about a Radar detector! Uh Em... oh wait those are illegal.

 

Why waste your money on a laminated atlas? New ones come out every year and they do show changes. Just buy the paper Motor Carrier's Atlas.

 

I am not a driver but looking to get started. Two things I noticed I might like to have:
- 400w inverter to aid in running the electronics
- Electric hot water kettle

 

Here's a list of what I carry in my truck at all times, now I'm a regional driver who come home every night (sometimes I am gone for a day or two), but I believe in being prepared:
waterproof work boots (deliver to a lot of construction sites as well as in the winter, otherwise I wear a comfortable pair of Merrell jungle mocs: waterproof, semi slip resistant)
Garmin Dezl GPS (truck specific but it does have inaccuracies that Garmin is working on)
Rand McNally Laminated Motor Carriers Atlas, 2009 Ed. (I usually get a new one every 4 years, things don't change that much)
I also have flip/fold maps or book style city maps for places I travel to all the time
cell phone and blue tooth headset
one cig. lighter charger for each or a unviersal one that will charge each
standard wall cahrger for each as well
sleeping bag
three jackets (lightweight for whenever, medium weight, heavy weight...the last two are carhart based...waterproof or semi-waterproof is a good idea)
overnight bag (two shirts, three pair of socks, two pair of underwear, pair of jeans, towel, toiletry bag)
gladhand based air hose 50' with quick change fitting on either end, generally the gladhand is always plugged at one end, but I keep a tire chuck and a small cut-off grinder handy. The tire chuck for inflating tires, the cutoff incase of a blowout and I need to clear the carcass of the tire to be able get a few more miles down the road
bolt cutters (these are a must for the frieght I haul)
binder bar (don't care if the company supplies you with one, get your own, and permanently tag it to show it belongs to you, these things have a habit of sprouting legs
two pry bars one 18" length one 24"
small tool box
couple of phillips and flat head screwdrivers
electric repair kit with crimper and various fittings
electrical tester
small socket set 1/2 dr and 3/8 dr. only up 3/4" socket size
2 vise grips
adjustable wrench
duct tape
electrical tape
small roll of bailing wire
ckeaning supplies (papertowel, shop rags, glass cleaner)
GLOVES--cannot stress this enough, at least two good pairs of gloves. I have a pair of good cowskin/elkskin that I wear all the time (fueling, unloading frieght, tarping, strapping, cutting seals and opening doors). I will wear out a pair in about two months so I always keep two pait on hand. Also, a good pair of heavy winter gloves, do not have to be water proof, but helpful, a pair of "fishing" or waterproof gloves (this will come in handy in the winter, especially if you have to chain up)
FLASHLIGHT - at least two, I have a large 3 D-cell LED maglight, a small LED maglight, and a cavers or miners LED flashlight that goes around my head. Great for breakdowns where a flashlight is impractical, chaining at night.
bad person be good pipe AKA tire thumper....mine is a 20" length of square steel tube about 1/2" dia
Also have my Sat. radio, but this is a personal perference, I have some co-workers who prefer to carry CD's or hunt for a station, and others who carry an MP3 player or ipod and plug it in to the radio

 

You're going to wind up carrying lots of stuff for sure.
But for me, I put what I consider 'the crap I cant live without' into a bag that I can grab on my way out of the truck in an emergency. It's my OTR Bug Out Bag.

 

Because if you spill something on it you can just clean it off. You can also write on a laminated one and wipe it off after. Much better to go with the laminated one.

 

I can buy 3 or 4 paper for the price of one laminated. Never been in the habit of writing in my atlas, just make notes on post-its and stick them to the page. The paper one is also much lighter and easier to handle, in my opinion.