Necessities for a Newbie
 

As a woman/newbie driving solo, what are some items that are very important to have at all times?

For you or for the truck ? ...

Common, Roses! You are smarter than that! :lol:

I would definitely carry extra food, water, sleeping bag, and keep plenty of fuel in the tank if you are headed up north. Because, its already snowing up in Canada and you may get stuck somewhere :sad:

Some basic hand tools, screwdrivers, flashlight, pliers, duct tape, tire thumper may also come in handy.

I've been building a checklist from these forums. Here are some specific items. Use your own judgment on whether an item is needed or not. This is still work in progress.

Tool Box
5/16 wrench
7/16 wrench
Anti-gel
Batteries, extra to fit flashlights
Bolt cutter
Broom
Bungee straps
Crow bar
Fifth Wheel Puller
Flashlights, (2)
Flashlight, Head lamp style
Glad hand seals
Hammer, claw
Lubricant, slider
Mallet
Pliers
Ratchet set
Screw driver, multi-bit flathead and Phillips
Shovel, fold-up
Spare light bulbs and fuses
Tape, Black electrical
Tape, Duct (couple of rolls)
Tape Measure (25'), check height of low posted overpasses
Tire thumper
Tire Gauge
WD-40
Wire cutter
Wrenches, adjustable (2) - Vise grips, Crescent
Zip-ties

Cleaning Stuff and Toiletries
Luggable Loo bucket
Micro Fiber cloths for cleaning windows
Paper towels
Rags
Razor
Shampoo
Soap, hand (truck stop soap is terrible)
Soap, laundry
Toothbrush
Trash bags/grocery bags
Waste basket (2 - one up front & one near bunk)
Wash clothes
Water (a few gallon containers)
Whisk broom or small vacuum
Windex

Clothing
Blankets, extra
Coat, winter and jacket
Clothes bag for dirty clothes
Enough shirts and jeans for at least 1 week.
Eyeglasses, extra set
Eyeglass repair kit
Gloves, two pairs of good leather
Hangars
Rain suit, light weight full size
Shoes ? 2 pair (for outside and for driving)
Shoes for shower
Some long johns and a good jump suit.
Sunglasses (polarized lens)

Entertainment
Camera and charger
CB Radio
Chairs, fold up camp style
iPod or MP3 player, and charger
Laptop computer, and charger
Music - CD or Cassette
Reading material
TV - DVD or VCR

Paperwork
Calculator
Cards 3x5 for writing down directions
Ink pens, lots of them
Motor Carriers Atlas & Maps, laminated
Log Book, extra
Notebook, small
Notepad
Ruler
Baby wipes for those quick baths and potty
Purel hand sanitizer
Truck Stop Guide

Miscellaneous
Alarm Clock
ATM Card
Cash, Quarters for vending machines
Cash, stashed in your money belt
Cell phone
Compass
Cooler, Plug into the cig lighter type ? 12 volt
List of important phone numbers
Microwave
Mini-cassette voice recorder

Okay I'll bite... how the hell do you fit into a 72" sleeper with all that in there?

You pack like you was in the military very conservativily everything has it's place and it is even worse when you are out with a Trainer and don't over pack cause remember u are in his/her space while riding along learing.

Great question! I'm a rookie also, starting class in a couple weeks. The inside of some of the condo sleepers look very impressive, but they are not much bigger than a small walk-in closet.

However, I did read a trucker blog and the driver had to swap trucks. It took her an hour to get everything transferred.

To put things in perspective, my son works on a fast-attack submarine. His personal storage space is a 6" inch deep space right underneath his bunk.

Stuff/Storage
 

I use a "gun bag" for my tool kit. I use "milk crates" to put other stuff in, softsided luggage and a garment bag for clothes.
"6" inch deep space right underneath his bunk." His storage IS his bunk, 6" deep, 'bout 30" wide and 6' long. Been there, done that..... after the canvas bunk-bottom racks. BOL

Sealord, you are right, the storage space it is built right into his bunk on the submarine. Because he is on the fast-attack subs, he is only out to sea for a few weeks at a time. He is not on the boomer that go out for 6 months. On some trips, he has to hot bunk... he wakes up, gets up and another sailor climbs in.

It helps to put truck driving into perspective.

stuff to take
 

It might be easier(and you could bring even more) if you get your doubles-triples endorsement and hook up another trailer!!lol :D

At KTL one of my trainers was real cool. He had a nice big tv, playstation :D , fridge and some other stuff includin porn movies hahahaha

Super Sticky Post it Notes for when you go solo...lol I write down my exits, highway numbers North South east west etc on a super sticky post it note (the normal post it's don't stick well enough to the dash) rather than using index cards, I do however save the directions on those cards for future use. I find sometimes when you are on busy routes it's easy to forget a number or in the example of Utah, they have changed the exit numbers. So on my notes I write down what the exit should be ie: Exit 284 Fredsville/Barneyland US 23N That way if they have changed the exit number I still know that I'm looking for the Fredsville/Barneyland exit and the route number.

Oh the laminated Motor Carriers Atlas is major important, and if you go to a truck stop now you can buy a 2006 version for less than half price (they aren't cheap to begin with, I paid 29 bucks for mine at less than half price). I also bought at the dollar store (a truckers best friend) a write on wipe off pen that I use on my laminated atlas, I can write down whatever I want and highlight my route without damaging my atlas.

Trying to outfit your truck completely on your first few runs is going to be beyond expensive. I buy a few things every paycheck instead. I bought my basics that I needed for comfort and safety. IE: Safety Vest, Steel toed boots, Eye protection. Nothing worse than getting to a yard and finding out you can't even enter it without those items (the guy I went out with a few times didn't have these things and actually needed my stuff..lol).

I always bring healthy snacks with me, a few canned goods and I would be at a loss without my 12 volt cooler. Almonds are something I highly recommend to have with you. I have found that I often either can't get into or just can't reach a Truck stop before I have to shut down either from fatigue or simply running out of hours. Rest stops are your friend..lol, but you can't always find one of those either. So be prepared to have a honey bucket, water and good quality food to keep ya going.

If you don't have a cell phone now, try to get a pre-paid one (all the truck stops have them) I usually stop at rest stops to call my receiver/shipper before I reach my destination for directions and pick up times etc. I've found though that some of the states rest areas don't have Pay phones, so I've had to use my poor abused cell phone to reach them ahead of time. Me being a canuck, it gets really expensive using my Canadian phone to call them, so I'm thinking of getting a pay as you go phone from the US instead. P.S., don't believe your dispatch, always call your destination first, as sometimes dispatch gets it all wrong as to where you are going, or what the process is when you get there. There have been instances where you are told your pick up or delivery is in one town and it turns out you are going to the wrong place..that's always fun.

Have fun and good luck