What to buy ahead of time , like GPS , Telephone Headset and anything else you can think of ?

Military surplus is best for duffle bags. About $5 each. If what you want to bring doesnt fit in the duffle bag? You are trying to bring too much. If you bring too much the trainer may refuse you because you wanted to bring too much. Sad thing when some one flunks because they brought 3 pieces of luggage. Wasted talent.

 

Half of the stuff you think you need.

Access to twice the amount of cash.

Your truck is like a tiny apartment, so decide what you’ll actually use not what you want. My truck started with a lot of crap I thought I needed and then never used.

What you put on the truck is also determined if you have an inverter and APU.

 

I would like to add to this. Two pillow cases. One to rest your head on, the other for your dirtty laundry.

 

Extra water and toilet paper.
Get stuck in a highway closure for 7 hours and you will appreciate it.

 

I had so much stuff OTR. I had to rent a pickup truck to haul it all away. Seriously... I had a $2k mattress in that truck. Extremely comfortable. Loved OTR. There was a reason I always had problems with my steers being overweight... Doh! In addition to what others have said...

You may consider a good mattress. Toppers are good for comfort. But you need support. I found I needed support for my hips when sleeping. Just didn't work otherwise. Had to get a good mattress.

Get yourself set up with good coffee making. Hot water pot. French Press. Electric coffee grinder.

I have a small CB. Entire radio is the microphone. It works good. It's a Midland. Always worked good when I needed it. That's all the CB needed anymore.

Definitely get your own Dash Cam. The companies don't like to give out their video from their dash cams. Get your own. Something happens. You have your own video.

Get a Garmin GPS. The Rand McNally's... their software people have ruined them. Forget Rand McNally for now. Maybe in the future?

Have a tape measure and ability to take pictures. This is for accusing you of an accident. I was accused of backing into a trailer. No way. Used the tape measure to show difference in height in the picture. Damage just didn't match up. Yup... trailer door had damage from the past. But not from me. My trailer door didn't do to his trailer what he claimed. Door comes down too low..... That same place. They told me this insurance scam is so big. They had drivers who would get out and take pictures of the trailers on both sides before backing in. It was bad there.

Those lunch box cooker/re heater's are great. You'll love it.

For me... One of those typical airline carry on roller suitcases worked good. It would fit in the truck compartment well. I just kept using it.

 

Dash cam would be the 1st thing I'd buy. Heck, I should get one for my bicycle. BTW, can we talk you out of it?

 

I would recommend for any new prospect, if you get/have a GPS, leave it in the bunk for a few months. Break out the truckers atlas and your cell phone. Call for directions (especially local directions) and literally plan your route. Write it down where it's handy.

Now, drive. Reason I recommend this is simple. One day your GPS is going to take a dump on you and you need to know how to get from A to B using old school methods.

And if your busy looking for road signs to get where you need to be, you won't miss that sign telling you about the 12'-6" bridge ahead.

 

The CB is used at most shippers. There will be a sign saying the channel # and call for what door. By the time you get there, back up to the door with trailer doors open and take the BOL to the office.

Otherwise you can ask other drivers in the area for specifics about your destination. Or how to get through some small burghs in your route.

If your feeling drowsy on I80 (your not the first, nor the last) you can strike up a conversation to help pass the time.

Also some CB's will be bluetooth compliant and your phone will allow you to use it instead of the phone to talk (hands free)