Question:
A friend of mine recently graduated from an excellent truck driving school and is about to start as a Rookie with a new Company. He asked me for a list of items I thought would be helpful to him on the road, so I listed what I consider to be "needful things" a professional driver needs.
Tire Air Pressure Gage
50 ft. Air Hose with adapter. (Inflate tractor/trailers tires using Tractor Compressor)
Tire Chains for Tractor & Trailer. (Required in CA. OR., WA. & ID. Fall to Spring)
2 - 1 quart Urine Jugs. Empty only in sewers or in pet exercise areas. Do not dispose of full.
Duct Tape
7/16” Box Wrench (Adjusts almost all brake slack adjusters)
Adjustable Wrench (Large & small)
Pliers (large and small)
#1 & #2 Phillips Screwdrivers (NOT Reed & Prince)
Blade Screwdrivers of various tip sizes
Screwdriver with interchangeable sizes of Spline tips that will remove headlight screws
½” Socket Drive with ½” wrench. (For changing split/missing Mud Flaps.)
Broom & Dust Pan (sweep type not push) (gets between rails on Reefers)
½” Hack Saw (standard size with spare blade)
Spare Headlight, tail light, “P-nut” bulbs for tractor/trailer ID lights and mud flap.
WD-40 for lubricating that stuck pin on trailer tandems.
2 Load Locks (minimum, 3 is better) (Functional WORKING Load Locks)
Bungee Cords (various sizes)
2 Flashlights with spare batteries and spare bulbs
Hand Vacuum Cleaner 12VDC
Adding Machine or Calculator
Extra carbon paper for log book (essential for clear copies)
Small Calendar
U.S Time Zone Chart. Note: AZ. time is the same as CA. time when Daylight Savings is in effect.
Windshield cleaning equipment (Scrubber, paper towels, spray water bottle)
Cleaning Rags
Gloves
Rod Jumper ($50 plus tax at Petro I-70 Exit 28 Oak Grove, Mo., All Bosselman’s and the big “I-80” truck stop I-80 Exit 284 near Davenport, IA.) Well worth the price. Pops the pins on trailer tandems for you.
5 lb. short handle sledge hammer with 2’ length of galvanized 1½” water pipe for pounding in that one out of four pins on trailer tandems that seen to always get stuck or refuses to retract.
Pre-paid Legal Plan (to protect your CDL from bogus traffic tickets) $31 - $42/ Mo.
Spare truck key hidden in wiring harness under hood and tied down with plastic ty-wraps. (For when you lock yourself out of truck – Duhhhh….)
4 X 6 index cards with holder for 48 states. Useful for recording the directions to every pickup and delivery you ever make. You will probably be going to the same place more than once.
Pocket Truck Stop Guide, $4.95 published by Road Life Publications (1-877-836-7954) Available at most Petro Truck Stops and found in the stationary section. Very useful in planning fuel stops at authorized locations.
Note: If you want to look mean, tough and nasty, carry 2 ft. pipe with you and swing by your side going to Rest Room in remote Rest areas late at night. The image you project discourages would-be muggers. Caution! Could be construed as a “weapon” so this is optional. Of course if you are a certified “black belt” in self-defense and you injured an attacker, the same “weapon” charge could be levied against you without the pipe. The Truck Driver is ALWAYS at fault until proven innocent. Gang Bangers and muggers are always innocent until proven guilty. (Remember when sex was dirty and the air was clean?)
Answer:
The most important thing to bring along is what all doctors want A LOT OF PATIENCE
Answer:

Tombstone, you hit it right on the head. Thanks alot!!!Sweet Whiskey