Packing For Teams For 2 Weeks At A Time???

I am not sure how to pack when teaming. I plan on being out 2 weeks, home 3. I don't know what he is going to be bringing. Do I need to bring a CB, fried or cooler, and what kind should I get? I'd hate spending a fortune on eating out. Should I pack cloths for 7 or 14 days? I assume I bring a draw string bag for laundry, and some tide? What kind of food should I pack? I hear a lot of chatter about a crock pot, but is this doable while teaming? Kind of hard cooking while driving. I am assuming all sorts of meds like ibuprofen, allergy meds, all driver safe of course, multi vitamins, ect. Should I pack stuff to work out, like a set of dumb bells and a speed rope or something? Do you even get to excercise when teaming? How about bedding? I believe we both have to sleep on the bottom bunk, do we just switch the mattresses from top to bottom with out made bed? I am assuming trail mix, water, Gatorade, muscle milk ect. Easier to pack solo, but I feel safer teaming right now. See how I feel in 6 months. Anything I am missing? Thanks guys!!!

I would start with a bare minimum for the first trip. Once you've been out for that first trip you'll know what you need and you can stock up either on the road or when you get home that first time. I personally would just worry about an atlas, a CB radio, a GPS (your phone will work in the short run if you don't have a dedicated unit), a bunch of clothing, your bathroom stuff, your electronics (don't forget your phone charger!), and a few dry snacks like granola bars or trail mix. Try to keep it to two duffel bags or so if you can for that first trip. You can always buy little stuff like laundry detergent or any little things you didn't think of when you get to the truck stop to do laundry.

We have an excellent list of Items To Bring To CDL School, Training, and OTR so have a look at that for ideas.

I am not sure how to pack when teaming. I plan on being out 2 weeks, home 3. I don't know what he is going to be bringing. Do I need to bring a CB, fried or cooler, and what kind should I get? I'd hate spending a fortune on eating out. Should I pack cloths for 7 or 14 days? I assume I bring a draw string bag for laundry, and some tide? What kind of food should I pack? I hear a lot of chatter about a crock pot, but is this doable while teaming? Kind of hard cooking while driving. I am assuming all sorts of meds like ibuprofen, allergy meds, all driver safe of course, multi vitamins, ect. Should I pack stuff to work out, like a set of dumb bells and a speed rope or something? Do you even get to excercise when teaming? How about bedding? I believe we both have to sleep on the bottom bunk, do we just switch the mattresses from top to bottom with out made bed? I am assuming trail mix, water, Gatorade, muscle milk ect. Easier to pack solo, but I feel safer teaming right now. See how I feel in 6 months. Anything I am missing? Thanks guys!!!

Are you driving to orientation? If you're taking a greyhound or anything like that a cooler is going to be impossibly bulky to pack. I have an Igloo 12-volt that has served me well for the last eight months. Before that I had a Coleman that fried after a month. YMMV. You don't need to pack food but for maybe a few snacks you enjoy; you will be able to stock up the truck at Walmart. Clothes to last a week should be fine. Bring some detergent (I like the "pods"), dryer sheets and quarters for the odd machine that won't take card.

Crockpot cooking is completely doable when teaming. I dislike the small 12v models they sell in the truck stops, they're not large enough for the size of the meals I like to cook and they tend to burn out easily. I use a Hamilton beach 6 quart with a locking lid, pushed against the bunk on the floor and held in place by bungee cords. I highly recommend a locking lid crockpot if you're going to use one, it will prevent spills if the road gets rough and stop the lid from rattling (driving whoever's trying to sleep insane). Buy some crockpot liners, they are relatively inexpensive and will make cleanup so much easier.

Exercising while teaming, again possible but you might not have as much time to dedicate to it as a solo driver would. Weights would be great as those are something that you can use while the truck's rolling. I know many drivers exercise on their 30 minute. As for bedding, easiest thing is to use a sleeping bag or fitted sheet as a base on the bottom bunk and just switch out blankets and pillows at the end of each shift. Switching mattresses is going to be a pain in the butt.

Like Brett said, try to pack light at first and then add as you go along. You don't want to fight with your teammate on the first day out because you've shown up with a pile of stuff and he feels like you're hogging the room in the truck.

I am not sure how to pack when teaming. I plan on being out 2 weeks, home 3. I don't know what he is going to be bringing. Do I need to bring a CB, fried or cooler, and what kind should I get? I'd hate spending a fortune on eating out. Should I pack cloths for 7 or 14 days? I assume I bring a draw string bag for laundry, and some tide? What kind of food should I pack? I hear a lot of chatter about a crock pot, but is this doable while teaming? Kind of hard cooking while driving. I am assuming all sorts of meds like ibuprofen, allergy meds, all driver safe of course, multi vitamins, ect. Should I pack stuff to work out, like a set of dumb bells and a speed rope or something? Do you even get to excercise when teaming? How about bedding? I believe we both have to sleep on the bottom bunk, do we just switch the mattresses from top to bottom with out made bed? I am assuming trail mix, water, Gatorade, muscle milk ect. Easier to pack solo, but I feel safer teaming right now. See how I feel in 6 months. Anything I am missing? Thanks guys!!!

Are you driving to orientation? If you're taking a greyhound or anything like that a cooler is going to be impossibly bulky to pack. I have an Igloo 12-volt that has served me well for the last eight months. Before that I had a Coleman that fried after a month. YMMV. You don't need to pack food but for maybe a few snacks you enjoy; you will be able to stock up the truck at Walmart. Clothes to last a week should be fine. Bring some detergent (I like the "pods"), dryer sheets and quarters for the odd machine that won't take card.

Crockpot cooking is completely doable when teaming. I dislike the small 12v models they sell in the truck stops, they're not large enough for the size of the meals I like to cook and they tend to burn out easily. I use a Hamilton beach 6 quart with a locking lid, pushed against the bunk on the floor and held in place by bungee cords. I highly recommend a locking lid crockpot if you're going to use one, it will prevent spills if the road gets rough and stop the lid from rattling (driving whoever's trying to sleep insane). Buy some crockpot liners, they are relatively inexpensive and will make cleanup so much easier.

Exercising while teaming, again possible but you might not have as much time to dedicate to it as a solo driver would. Weights would be great as those are something that you can use while the truck's rolling. I know many drivers exercise on their 30 minute. As for bedding, easiest thing is to use a sleeping bag or fitted sheet as a base on the bottom bunk and just switch out blankets and pillows at the end of each shift. Switching mattresses is going to be a pain in the butt.

Like Brett said, try to pack light at first and then add as you go along. You don't want to fight with your teammate on the first day out because you've shown up with a pile of stuff and he feels like you're hogging the room in the truck.

Thanks guys for the awesome input. Orientation is already done, I just have one day of testing at the end of the week. Having done one drive me, only 150 miles, invade I am leaving from there.

I'll check out that list Brett, thanks! I am basically just looking at the bare essentials the first trip, kind of roughing it. I can usually pack two weeks in my duffle back and I'll bring a second one for shoes , Chargers, electronics, ect, and maybe a book bag? I am thinking maybe I should by the guy I am teaming with a nice restaurant meal so we can get to know watch other, and talk about how we should roll on the road? Just to be nice. I have a Randy McNally TND 720. Not sure how I like it yet, a little non intuitive menus.

I figured too we can see what our mutual expectations are and stuff like that.

Thanks again! Always a tremendous help!

I'm almost a pro when it comes to pack *everything* I need, and I probably need more because well...I'm a lady. I love to get gadgets and compact storage items at outdoor stores such as Cabela's and Eastern Mountain Sports. They have all sorts of things to pack your every day needs such as personal hygiene products (lotions, shampoo, soap, etc), food, money, electronics and so forth. I also like to get "minis" at the pharmacy (shaving cream, mouth wash, toothpaste, etc) They also sell compact and super absorbent towels, thin but sturdy storage bags, etc.

I'm a clean freak when it comes to personal hygiene. Working or not, I want to feel and smell clean. :)