What to carry

I would add, thick candles and coffee cans. If you are stuck in a snow bank for a few days they can be used to keep warm. They can also be used to set the mood with the lot lizards. Also a box cutter if you are running paper logbooks. I don't condone running illegal. Sometimes you need a half hour or so to make a deadline or after being held to long at a shipper/receiver. No one sleep for 10 hours anyway.

 

Absolute worse winter situation you can burn your tires to stay warm!

Another very handy item to keep on board during the winter is a bag or two of ice melt. This will keep you from chaining up if you get stuck somewhere.

 

something i learned from one of my instructors is this nifty little thing called a cheater chain.
basically it is a single length piece of chain that goes around a tire for when you are stuck in one of those loading docks that are always located in the back of the store, in the shadiest spot, where there is ice even when everything else is dry, pop that on a drive tire and you get that little boost of traction to get some momentum and move yourself out of the loading ramp you are stuck in.

they have another name but it escapes me at the moment, i'm sure some of the older truckers around here would know a bit of what i'm talking about, a single use can make it worth the price, which is cheap anyways, think it's like $15-$25

 

I came over 84 at Meacham Sunday. There were a lot of singles right there for the picking in the middle of the road. I know not exactly what you meant.

 

- to add if you down load PDanet to your cell phone and to your laptop, it will get you free internet, make sure you have your USB cable. It moves about as fast DSL.

 

I have a 24 oz ball peen hammer that I use for a tire thumper. And is any one wants to get "Frisky" it works for that too. Of course being 6' 250 and lookin like a brawler doesnt hurt either...lol I also have the DAT Truckers Services app on my phone. It will tell you where the closest truckstop, Wal-Marts and rest areas are and give you driving directions to each. It has a couple other services also. Very handy and a free DL. I am pretty new at this so the lists of things to have has been a great help. I have been getting by with a lot of guess work. At one point I thought I was going to have to take a second truck to carry all the things I want with me. My biggest problem is where to put everything. But I am getting there. Thanks again for all the ideas.

 

Will be attending CDL training next spring, but already making my shopping list. Thanks for all the info.

 

I've been reading through this thread and I'm thinking highway triples, at least; two for my "necessities", one for the load.

 

Good Idea, I'm kinda on the same page...Want something separate to go in there with!

 

Somebody just mentioned a cheater "bar" I just read- but he said he keeps it by his pillow for protection, haha. Could be the same thing though.