Spare Parts And Tools You Should Carry In Your Truck

Not sure I've seen this one covered before. Recently helped out a guy who had just upgraded with setting up/flushing out his Qualcomm and I remembered the case of OMG/Holy Schnikies I had and the stuff I wish I'd known to get before taking off on my first solo.

So, my list of things you should get off the shop before you roll. *Note, these are shop truck items and not personal gear.

Fuses

Spare turn bulbs

Wiper blades

Gladhand grommets

Wiper fluid

Oil

Load bars

Chains *Ask someone how to lay out and hang if they're still in the bag.

That's my short list. Most shops will make sure you have some but not all of these.

Side note, end of year coming up... Are all your permits and tags up to date?

I’ll add another shop-provided item: spare interior cab light bulbs.

After reading Rob's thread, I would include antifreeze on that list. No?

Hey MC1371, this is a great idea for a thread. I updated the title of it to reflect what I'd like to do. I'd like to get feedback from everyone on the spare parts and tools you carry in your truck. I'm going to take this list and write an article on it and put an entry in our trucker's wiki for it.

So tell us - what spare parts and tools do you carry with you? And if you have a story about how having something with you saved your day, let us know!

I had a spare windshield wiper blade in my side box, left from previous driver. It saved me when the driver side wiper flew off going down the highway.

Don't forget your grease bags for fifth wheel also neoprene gloves and I use an old hotel card to clean the grease hanging over the edge to put it back where it's needed

JD

This list could get pretty lengthy lol.

A couple simple things I would add is,,,,, a small roll of wire, connectors and wire crimper to make quick electrical connections and a few spare compression fittings for an easy repair on an air line. Yes you make a call to get someone out to your location but if it's something that simple, I'll gladly do it to get rolling and head somewhere once finished for the day if it's a part in need of replacement.

This list could get pretty lengthy lol.

Yeah, I hope it will. I'd like to present a really long, complete list of things that experienced drivers have with them and then the newbies can make informed choices. But heck, I like to see these lists too because sometimes people come up with some really clever ideas that even really experienced drivers haven't thought of.

Don't forget your grease bags for fifth wheel also neoprene gloves and I use an old hotel card to clean the grease hanging over the edge to put it back where it's needed

JD

Every terminal shop (Swift, at least) has a grease gun for 5th wheels. (Note: It's not grape jelly on bread. You don't need all that much on the fifth wheel plate.)

When I feel like cleaning off that extra grease, I get two pieces of cardboard (you can tear one "trashed" box up, as needed). One piece to scrape the edges of the fifth wheel, one to hold the scrapings. And a box of those neoprene/exam gloves saves a trip to the washroom afterwards.

This list could get pretty lengthy lol.

Yeah, I hope it will. I'd like to present a really long, complete list of things that experienced drivers have with them and then the newbies can make informed choices. But heck, I like to see these lists too because sometimes people come up with some really clever ideas that even really experienced drivers haven't thought of.

Please mark the important ones, like air gauge and windshield wipers, to separate them from the "nice to haves" like screwdriver and zip ties. Otherwise new drives may have more tools than clothing packed up!