I've seen a list of these items a few years ago when I was THINKING of driving. I finally entered a school and I'll graduate and test on May 1. Pretty confident that I'll pass. I plan to go OTR. Question is ...what should I pack? I know about the clothes .... but some veteran drivers posted a long list of items. I now know the difference between van and flatbed requirements ... and I suppose "must have" items would vary slightly ... but may I ask for some suggestions?

 

K9,
I can tell you this,....don't pack anything that won't fit into one backpack (the week long hiking kind), Trainers are weird :evil: about their trucks, and you will have the space on your bunk, and only your bunk to put your things.
Good luck to you.

 

Travel as light as you can, as mentioned.

 

This is what I brought:
1.3 pants 3 shirts 5 underwear 5 socks 1 coat1 pair shoes
2.1 hat,2 pair gloves (cheap cotton, keep one set clean,..fuel up with the other).
3.Cellphone.
4.Couple of books.
5.Notepad/pens.
6.Your own truckers atlas.
7.Calculator.
8.Bathroom kit/towel/everything you use at home but smaller (for gods sake flip flops for the showers!!!, don't ever let your feet touch the floor,...ever!!)
9.2 pair sunglasses.
10. Ibuprophen
11.ear plugs
12.monkey butt stuff
13.Sleeping bag/pillow
This should get you started, its not too bad, and you will then be able to use up the extra space you have for whatever you need. But try real hard to keep it in one bag,.....not much room on a top bunk,..in any truck.

 

1 weeks clothing (5 pants, 7-9 shirts, 12-14 socks, underwear)
sleeping bag and pillow(s)
soap, shampoo, deoderant, etc
black ink pens (at least 6)
2 6 inch rulers
dual powered calculator (or straight battery)
white out
note pad
1 small-med duffel bag to use for showers
1 cloth laundry bag
1 rain jacket
1 light jacket
1 heavy jacket
shower shoes (flip flops)
folder to keep all your personal papers together
drivers liscence and SSI card
all employment information so you can fill out an application.
Motor carrier atlas (or money to buy one at first truck stop you come to)
soap container
shaving items
1 large zip lock freezer bag to place your soap, shampoo, etc in)
1 pair shoes
1 pair work boots
1 pair safety glasses
pain reliever
antacid
spare glasses if you have them and especially if you normally wear contacts.
at least a 30 day supply of all prescription meds
list of all meds you are taking and the prescribing doctor's info
comb or brush
small hair drier (optional)
1 bath towel. (Truck stops provide but many terminals do not)

All of this (except sleeping bag) should fit into a duffel about the size of a sea bag or army issue one.

 

in addition to what was mentioned:

Don't forget your cell phone charger
I also packed a first aide kit
pillow
wipes (like baby wipes in case you need a quick clean up)

We also packed a second duffle bag during training for some food items and water/gaterade. Think things you can grab and eat quick that aren't perisable.

money
work gloves

I can give you a full list of everything that we pack in my husband's truck on the road if that's what you were looking for. It's different from the minium he took when he was training

 

shower shoes I also take newspapers and spread them out on the floor (not in the shower!!) you know when you are changing clothes and whatever....spread newspaper on the floor in addition to shower shoes 8)

 

good

 

sorry........good info here............

 

What did I carry when I was OTR?

• chock
• 10 gallons of 50/50 antifreeze/water mix
• set of wrenches and sockets
• set of screwdrivers
• electrical tape
• duct tape
• vise grips
• extra hose clamps
• knife
• WD-40
• glad hand seals
• spare airline
• -50 sleeping bag
• week's supply of emergency food rations
• gallon of oil
• gallon of power steering fluid
• gallon of hydraulic oil (I was driving a cabover for most of that time)
• spare headlight
• spare pigtail
• ice melter
• small shovel
• spare throttle return spring

I used all of that at one time or another. Sounds more like a kit for an O/O, but I didn't aim to get hung up in a shop for five hours over every trivial little thing, and I didn't aim to starve to death or freeze to death in the w*nt*er either.

Glad I'm not OTR anymore.