Top 10 Things You Absolutely Have To Have In Your Truck

And OS says it all... This is humbling and hilarious all at once! Guess I need to repack my bag, my can of whoop-ass isn't gonna fit!

Okay, here's the things that I think are important for a rookie to have with them when they are just starting out:

1) Make sure you have a great attitude packed away somewhere - you're gonna need it for sure.

2) Plenty of humility - yeah, you're gonna need plenty of that also.

3) A big can of whoop-ass - there are gonna be problems you are going to have to face - and you need to be able to "whoop" em.

4) A "can do" spirit. It's really tough being a new rookie driver out here, you'll need this two or three times a day.

5) A big dose of Independence - You're all by yourself out here - the last thing your dispatcher needs is you ringing his phone off the wall.

6) Lots of confidence - everyday you will be challenged by things you've never faced before - some confidence will go a long ways to help you.

7) A willingness to learn - I'm still learning stuff about how to succeed in this career everyday - if you stop learning you need to hang up your keys.

8) A willingness to help others - I do this everyday - there are a lot of clueless newbies out here - try to lend a hand when you see someone in need.

9) A Motor Carriers Atlas - I hope I don't need top explain that one.

10) A Merle Haggard C.D. - no self-respecting truck driver hits the road without taking the Mighty Merle along for the ride!

I can agree with all but the Merle Haggard. If he comes on the radio, fine but I'm not buying a cd lol.

My company has apu and converters in every truck so I didn't need that.

1. I bought a cute lil electric cooler.. shaped like my favorite carbonated beverage (a coke can) at walmart for $30. Holds up to 8 cans or 4 with a little shelf for lunch meat, fruit, etc... its working great and with a 2 yr warranty for $3.. couldn't beat the price.

2. A quality headset for your cell phone! Expect to spend about $100 for that.

3. Satellite radio.. I got a great deal on one for just under $65 incl. tax at Pilot.

4. Comfy bedding.

5. Trash can.. or in my case a bucket with a handle.. makes it easier to carry to dump my trash and can double as a cleaning bucket when I need to wash my floors.

6. Inexpensive throw rug. Great for those barefoot in the sleeper moments.

7. Sunglasses

8. Snacks and bottled water. You will appreciate that when you get delayed loading or unloading.

9. Baby wipes

10. Good heavy flashlight. . Great for pretripping before sunup.. don't be the ******bag that blocks the fuel island doing a pretrip,

11. Leather palmed gloves and rubberized fuel resistant gloves.

12. Cb radio .. I'm bought one from a friend but haven't installed it yet.. next weekend.

13. Plastic container for "truck change" lol.. save all your change and put it in a plastic storage container.. you'll always have plenty of change for laundry and shipper/reciever vending machines when they have them.

14. Laundry bag and "pod" type laundry detergent, I usually carry about 6 tide pods in a plastic storage container. Since I typically go home each weekend (except this one) I always have some on hand to use and/or share if someone else needs 1.

15. Atlas and truck GPS.. I have a gps on my QC that works great so I didn't purchase my own. My company gave me a nice atlas.

16. Shower bag. Mines huge lol.. most people have smaller ones. ya know I carry everything included the kitchen sink in there.. fresh clothes, makeup, hair dryer, travel hot rollers, mani/pedi supplies, my fav shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel lol..

17. My galaxy tablet and several chargers both 12 volt and 120v.

Shipper:

The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Okay, here's the things that I think are important for a rookie to have with them when they are just starting out:

1) Make sure you have a great attitude packed away somewhere - you're gonna need it for sure.

2) Plenty of humility - yeah, you're gonna need plenty of that also.

3) A big can of whoop-ass - there are gonna be problems you are going to have to face - and you need to be able to "whoop" em.

4) A "can do" spirit. It's really tough being a new rookie driver out here, you'll need this two or three times a day.

5) A big dose of Independence - You're all by yourself out here - the last thing your dispatcher needs is you ringing his phone off the wall.

6) Lots of confidence - everyday you will be challenged by things you've never faced before - some confidence will go a long ways to help you.

7) A willingness to learn - I'm still learning stuff about how to succeed in this career everyday - if you stop learning you need to hang up your keys.

8) A willingness to help others - I do this everyday - there are a lot of clueless newbies out here - try to lend a hand when you see someone in need.

9) A Motor Carriers Atlas - I hope I don't need top explain that one.

10) A Merle Haggard C.D. - no self-respecting truck driver hits the road without taking the Mighty Merle along for the ride!

I was thinking more along the lines of this list....

Steering Wheel

Brakes

Windshield

Wipers

Lights

Keys

Fuel

Round Tires

Motor

And a load to move....

1. Atlas.. gps lies!!!!

2. The 5 gallon ice cream container with lid and some kitty litter makes for a cheap porta potty.... and much cleaner than the ones at customers.

3. Kitty litter works for traction too thw pine litter is awesome for this

4. Wiper fluid. Can pour it on tires to melt the ice in treads

5. Some kind of lube.... baby oil even butter to put on rail to slide tandems. Had one trailer the was soooo rusty (or maybe frozen). I put the 5th wheel grease on it and boom..after trying 30 min.

6. Bedding. I have a "plush memory foam" that feels like I'm sinking into a rock. I bought a soft topper from Walmart but ordered a truly plush mattress.

7. Mp3 to plug in radio. My pandora/phone loses repceptio. In mountains. .. Tmobile sucks for trucking

8. Paperclips can never have enough

9. Lots of food drinks water. After getting shut down in WY in a parking love too far from a truck stop to walk... I learned to keep food on truck.

10. Immediately get your rewards cards from the truck stops. The showers and free food add up quickly.

And.... my blue tiger elite headset. Talking on phone is a must for drivers.

Add as many drivers into your phone as possible with (drives night) or (drives days) saved. I have at least 20 Experienced drivers I can call day and night for advice and help. "My trailer brakes wont release" "I jumped the 5th wheel" and other stupid rookie questions are all answered and by great ppl.

Good luck

Okay, here's the things that I think are important for a rookie to have with them when they are just starting out:

1) Make sure you have a great attitude packed away somewhere - you're gonna need it for sure.

2) Plenty of humility - yeah, you're gonna need plenty of that also.

3) A big can of whoop-ass - there are gonna be problems you are going to have to face - and you need to be able to "whoop" em.

4) A "can do" spirit. It's really tough being a new rookie driver out here, you'll need this two or three times a day.

5) A big dose of Independence - You're all by yourself out here - the last thing your dispatcher needs is you ringing his phone off the wall.

6) Lots of confidence - everyday you will be challenged by things you've never faced before - some confidence will go a long ways to help you.

7) A willingness to learn - I'm still learning stuff about how to succeed in this career everyday - if you stop learning you need to hang up your keys.

8) A willingness to help others - I do this everyday - there are a lot of clueless newbies out here - try to lend a hand when you see someone in need.

9) A Motor Carriers Atlas - I hope I don't need top explain that one.

10) A Merle Haggard C.D. - no self-respecting truck driver hits the road without taking the Mighty Merle along for the ride!

OK, [toungue-in-cheek] were those listed in order? I may have moved Merle up the list and added some Metallica.... ...Turn The Page.

And.... my blue tiger elite headset. Talking on phone is a must for drivers.

Add as many drivers into your phone as possible with (drives night) or (drives days) saved. I have at least 20 Experienced drivers I can call day and night for advice and help. "My trailer brakes wont release" "I jumped the 5th wheel" and other stupid rookie questions are all answered and by great ppl.

Good luck

Two excellent ideas, thank you.

Great list Old School

Okay, here's the things that I think are important for a rookie to have with them when they are just starting out:

1) Make sure you have a great attitude packed away somewhere - you're gonna need it for sure.

2) Plenty of humility - yeah, you're gonna need plenty of that also.

3) A big can of whoop-ass - there are gonna be problems you are going to have to face - and you need to be able to "whoop" em.

4) A "can do" spirit. It's really tough being a new rookie driver out here, you'll need this two or three times a day.

5) A big dose of Independence - You're all by yourself out here - the last thing your dispatcher needs is you ringing his phone off the wall.

6) Lots of confidence - everyday you will be challenged by things you've never faced before - some confidence will go a long ways to help you.

7) A willingness to learn - I'm still learning stuff about how to succeed in this career everyday - if you stop learning you need to hang up your keys.

8) A willingness to help others - I do this everyday - there are a lot of clueless newbies out here - try to lend a hand when you see someone in need.

9) A Motor Carriers Atlas - I hope I don't need top explain that one.

10) A Merle Haggard C.D. - no self-respecting truck driver hits the road without taking the Mighty Merle along for the ride!

Empty gallon jug and small bottle of the blue RV septic treatment. Your own personal porta potty

Saw a YouTube video and a great suggestion was plenty of charging cords for your phone etc. Apparently they break and get lost easy on trucks.