Trucking Tools

Morning guys, gals and old timers. I'm midway through the second half of my school, and looking to buy my kit so I'm prepared. What things do you find yourself in need of on the road? Do I want the 91 piece tool kit from Pep boys? A K bar? A crow bar? I don't want to spend 300.00 for a tool at a truck stop in Ohio that costs 20.00 in Florida. Yes I'm from Florida. Anyway, please let me know. Thanks!

Hey Bart. We have a great List Of Items To Bring To CDL School, Training, and OTR so check that out.

You're going to be going on the road with a trainer first anyhow so start small. I would just bring your tech devices (phone, laptop, etc), several changes of clothing, your personal hygiene stuff, and little else. You won't have to worry about a CB radio, tools, refrigerator, or things of that nature until you go solo. In fact, I would only pack one or two duffel bags worth of stuff for training. Often times you're going to wind up sleeping with your stuff on your bed because the trainer will have all of the cabinets packed with his personal belongings.

Hey Bart, it partly depends on what kind of trailer you plan to pull. For any driver, I would recommend a fairly simple set of tools, including a flashlight, a good hammer or two, a couple of crescent wrenches, screwdrivers, a decent knife under four inches, and pliers. Those have gotten me through most situations, and the ones they wouldn't have I would have been calling road assist anyway, since I'm not a diesel or trailer mechanic.

Of course, you can get many more things to help out. I have enough junk on my truck now that I sometimes complain to myself about it, but then there's that one day when I'm so happy I have this or that tool that I forgive myself all over again. But 95% of the time, a very small, simple set will do what you need to get done.

Hey Bart. We have a great List Of Items To Bring To CDL School, Training, and OTR so check that out.

You're going to be going on the road with a trainer first anyhow so start small. I would just bring your tech devices (phone, laptop, etc), several changes of clothing, your personal hygiene stuff, and little else. You won't have to worry about a CB radio, tools, refrigerator, or things of that nature until you go solo. In fact, I would only pack one or two duffel bags worth of stuff for training. Often times you're going to wind up sleeping with your stuff on your bed because the trainer will have all of the cabinets packed with his personal belongings.

Thanks. I'm guessing I can wait till I'm an ice trucker to buy more stuff. 😊

Hey Bart, it partly depends on what kind of trailer you plan to pull. For any driver, I would recommend a fairly simple set of tools, including a flashlight, a good hammer or two, a couple of crescent wrenches, screwdrivers, a decent knife under four inches, and pliers. Those have gotten me through most situations, and the ones they wouldn't have I would have been calling road assist anyway, since I'm not a diesel or trailer mechanic.

Of course, you can get many more things to help out. I have enough junk on my truck now that I sometimes complain to myself about it, but then there's that one day when I'm so happy I have this or that tool that I forgive myself all over again. But 95% of the time, a very small, simple set will do what you need to get done.

I honestly don't know what they will put me in, first route. I'm gonna be a team driving, that is all I know now

And what Brett said about minimizing stuff during training - that x 2! My trainee has four or five bags with who knows what in them. He sleeps with them because I don't have enough room to stow all that along with my stuff. Funny thing is, he has no cold weather gear and only one pair of blue jeans - the fancy kind where you pay extra for the manufacturer to rip little holes in them and bleach certain areas to (I guess) enhance your appeal to the opposite sex. Most days he wears shorts. And he doesn't like cold. It's gonna get tough pretty soon when he's outside strapping and tarping in cold weather. Kids these days....

And what Brett said about minimizing stuff during training - that x 2! My trainee has four or five bags with who knows what in them. He sleeps with them because I don't have enough room to stow all that along with my stuff. Funny thing is, he has no cold weather gear and only one pair of blue jeans - the fancy kind where you pay extra for the manufacturer to rip little holes in them and bleach certain areas to (I guess) enhance your appeal to the opposite sex. Most days he wears shorts. And he doesn't like cold. It's gonna get tough pretty soon when he's outside strapping and tarping in cold weather. Kids these days....

Now that there is good information. I just bought a good pair of boots, I'll definitely invest in jeans, longsleeved shirts, and gloves. 4 bags and designer jeans eh? Sounds like California to me.

And what Brett said about minimizing stuff during training - that x 2! My trainee has four or five bags with who knows what in them. He sleeps with them because I don't have enough room to stow all that along with my stuff. Funny thing is, he has no cold weather gear and only one pair of blue jeans - the fancy kind where you pay extra for the manufacturer to rip little holes in them and bleach certain areas to (I guess) enhance your appeal to the opposite sex. Most days he wears shorts. And he doesn't like cold. It's gonna get tough pretty soon when he's outside strapping and tarping in cold weather. Kids these days....

I only have one pair of jeans with me (no holes though) and mostly wear shorts, but I like the cold. I got stationed up in Alaska when I was in the army and up there we write shorts when it got up to 0 degrees lol.