The Most Important Piece Of Equipment.

Hey guys i finally passed all my tests and am about to be issued my very first truck. Im trying to prioitize all the stuff i need so i can start buying it in small chunks because its too expensive to get it all at once. The main things im looking at are 12v coolers, a cb, and a gps. What would you guys consider the most important? Even list it if its not something ive thought of, im not shy i have a whole 2 weeks of living out of a truck under me and it was with a trainer that had all everything.

GPS and an atlas, cooler then cb radio in that order.

Absolutely a GPS. No question in my mind. I started driving in '93 before GPS or the Web was really even available. In 15 years of driving I felt like nothing made a greater impact on doing the job than GPS did. That was the best tool ever. It's not perfect, of course, but it doesn't have to be. It's a huge help.

Now I'll say this....if you have a really good phone or tablet you can use that for GPS, at least for a while, and spend the money elsewhere. But if I was heading out on the road today the first and most important thing for me would be GPS.

Tire pressure gauge is #1

I already have an atlas and the trucks come preloaded with a gps. I think its the same one i was gonna buy for my phone ill have to double check that. I also already have a good selection of tools, like the pressure gauge and stuff. I was going to buy a cooler but i figured i should make sure im on the right track before i order it.

GPS and an atlas, cooler then cb radio in that order.

I had my priorities skewed a bit. It went.

GPS, atlas(freebie from celadon) Sirius satellite radio, tv, blu ray player. Still need the cb.

I have not used them, but from what I have been researching there's some really nice trucker gps apps available for android phones, so if you don't like the one you get from company or you need to get one of your own it's something to look into. They're a lot cheaper than standalone unit and one less device to worry about. I have seen videos of people with wires all over their trucks from the stuff they got going. first off it's 2015... go wireless whenever possible, 2nd if you can do multiple things with one device.. do it.

an atlas is really important to what are you gonna do if gps fails in any of the ways possible? you could lose sat signal / phone signal, maps could be outdated, could give incorrect info or not be able to find an address, could break... batteries die... all kinds of problems an atlas though will always work out for you, although it would be best to buy an updated one at least once a year in case rules change or roads change.

Phox i totally agree. When i was with my trainer i was always tripping over all the wires he had lol. I do plan on getting the app but i can deal with the truckpc version of gps for a few weeks anyway lol. My freebie atlas from roehl will work until i can buy one of the good ones with laminated pages so i can draw out my route.

An atlas is great but when you figure out what states you mostly deliver to a map of that state is very helpful and shows more of the 2 lane roads than an atlas does. I have ones from WA to ND and south to CO.

Pat, you're such an 'old school" trucker!

I remember as a kid seeing truck drivers with what seemed to me like hundreds of paper maps in their trucks. These were the same guys who would talk on the pay phones in the diners, and they always had all the tools they needed like big sledge hammers, and bars so that they could change out their own tires when necessary.

I hope you are not having to change out your own tires!