32 Truck Driving Essentials to Bring on the Road

• www.cdljobs.com
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• September 12th, 2016

Truck Driving Essentials to Bring on the Road

Truck driving jobs mean you live in your truck, and living in your truck means you need to pack it all! The essentials, entertainment options, and work-related items for a smooth ride. With this checklist, you’ll be able to pack the important stuff!

Personal Needs These include the basics you would pack if going on a long vacation

1. Trucking Clothes

• Pack comfy trucking attire
  • Button up shirts
  • T-shirts
  • Jeans
  • Shorts
  • Jogging pants

2. Off-duty Clothes

• Pack comfy and season appropriate free-time clothes

3. Underwear

• Pack enough to last throughout the trip or between laundries

4. Shoes

• Running shoes, shower shoes, and off-duty shoes

5. A Jacket

• Always bring a jacket, especially if you’re driving through changing altitudes

6. Safety Apparel Work Boots

• Depending on your destination you may need:
  • Work Boots, use steel toe boots if you’re driving a flatbed and insulated boots for winter weather
  • Hard hat
  • Safety glasses
  • Coveralls, to protect your clothing

7. Sunglasses

• Take polarized, transition prescription lenses and amber vision sunglasses

8. Raincoat
   • A raincoat will help you avoid getting wet and being uncomfortable for hours

Personal Products Stay clean for your own health and wellness (and consideration for other truckers)

9. Shower Kit

• Body wash or bar soap, shampoo and/or conditioner (depending on your hair situation)

10. Overnight Kit

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Dental floss
• Mouthwash
• Deodorant
• Cologne
• Include your daily pills and an extra pair of glasses or contacts

11. Grooming Tools

• Include all grooming and personal hygiene items

12. Wet Wipes

• For small spills or to clean up between showers

13. Cleaning supplies

• Laundry detergent
• Paper towels
• All-purpose cleaner
• Lysol wipes
• Dashboard Conditioner
• Air Freshening Spray
• Handheld vacuum cleaner

Truckers’ Needs While on the road, these are some essentials you may find yourself needing.

14. Cell Phone and Charger

• Make sure your charger work in the truck

15. Trucker’s Atlas or Maps

• In case other means of navigation fail

16. GPS System
    • Find the best routes and high-quality restaurant, hotel, and stores
    • locate good stopping points

17. Work gloves

• For random repairs
• To make loading or unloading easier

18. Emergency Kit

• With food and supplies in case of a breakdown

19. Emergency Gear

Include:

• Emergency weather gear in case you’re caught in an unforeseen storm
• Light reflective clothes
• Sturdy pair of boots
• Road Flares and cones
• Chains for tires where there’s a chance for snow or ice

20. Toolbox
    • Wrench set
    • Flashlight and spare batteries
    • Hammer
    • Screwdriver
    • Pliers
    • Zip ties
    • Pocket knife
    • Tire pressure gauge
    • Brake cleaner

21. Phone Number List

• Handwritten, in case your cell phone gets broken or lost

22. Document Envelopes
    • Use envelopes for documents like license and registration
    • Use manila envelopes invoices and shipping orders
    • Use other envelopes for work-expense receipts

Food and Snacks It’s expensive and bad to your health to have all your meals be from fast food restaurants, truck stop buffets or the gas station. Make sure you pack some snacks and meals that are easy to make this will help save money and contribute to your health.

23. No Refrigerator Snacks
    • Peanut butter
    • Bread
    • Crackers
    • Baked goods
    • Apples
    • Bananas
    • Meat jerky
    • Whole grain crackers
    • Sunflower seeds

24. Easy to Make Meals
    • Canned soups
    • Sandwiches
    • Premade Salads

Entertainment Trucking can get very lonely, make sure you some entertainment sources for when on the road.

25. Music Player, E-Reader, Laptop or Tablet

• Check out mobile hotspots that allow you to hook up to Wi-Fi safely and securely

26. TV, DVD, Game Console

• Watch movies or play games in your spare time

27. Drawing, Photography or Writing
    • Make sure you bring all you need for these hobbies

28. Magazines and Newspapers
    • Get issues from different places for localized reading

29. Crossword Puzzles, Word Search, Sudoku, Adult Coloring
    • Or any other activity books that will keep your mind sharp

Make sure to have chargers and adapters for your electronics

Trucker Comfort These items are essential if comfort on the road is what you’re looking for.

30. Portable Toilet

• You may want and need the convenience of going to the bathroom whenever you need to

31. Indoor Sleeping Bag and Pillow

• It’s important to get the right amount of sleep
• Indoor sleeping bags take up less space

32. Cooler, Ice Chest, Compact Refrigerator

• It's indispensable to have a device to keep food cold

Remember, you won’t have much room in your truck, so make sure you pack light and pack smart. Safe travels!

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