When do you get to load your truck?

I should add that I used the duffel bag as my pillow.

 

As a new driver, you will just have to plan to be very flexible on the upstart. There are about a thousand ways that it can all play out when you finish training and that is supposing that you actually make it through without being terminated. Having money to get home on is really good advice a you never know what might happen to you out on the road. I had a company close while I was on the road and wound up returning the truck to the terminal at my own expense and then catching a grey dog for home on top of it. In trucking you just have to stay flexible and be able to adapt to whatever comes your way. It's one day at a time in reality. Nobody actually knows what might happen tomorrow or even five minutes from now.

 

I appreciate all the great answers/info so far. So I should have stated I'm looking at Schneider... so if someone could speak specifically to how this works at Schneider it would be greatly appreciated. I also edited the first post and included a question on flights/air fare/bus fare.

 

Looking back at my 4 weeks with a trainer (I had 2; my first trainer had vacation scheduled, so I ended up with a second trainer), I carried a duffel bag with a medium-thick sleeping bag rolled up, about 5 changes of clothing, a pair of work boots, a jacket (summertime, so no coat needed), and a coffee mug with a cap. If you are going OTR this time of year, bring enough WINTER clothing to keep yourself warm at -20°, should you end up in the mountains or the upper midwest. A good rule of thumb is to always dress in such a way that if your truck broke down, you could go out and walk several miles for help....

 

From Schneider’s website:



You should contact your recruiter and ask these questions.

 

Your dispatcher, when you get one, should route you home after you get your truck (complete training). It might be a couple of days before you get home tho as they will have you making pickups and drops. So you only really need what you really need for the few days it takes to get home. You can probably stop at a walmart as well. A good phone mount. Bluetooth headset. Truckers gps (they’re usually on sale at one chain truckstop or another)

Don’t forget to sign up for the Loves, Pilot and TA/Petro rewards cards while your with your trainer so you can maybe get a shower or two in the bank before you go solo. Make sure you know how to operate the parked heat and AC. Download “truckers path” and get used to looking for parking and trip planning.

I started at a different mega, but when I got my first truck it was late in the day and was told to contact dispatch in the AM. I was able to bobtail to walmart as it was about a mile away. I had a plastic tote on the passenger floorboard for months as a “junk drawer” until I got settled in lol.

Assorted bungies, Roll of packing tape, Seat back organizer etc….