Question:
What are essential items for OTR drivers not provided by the company such as food, clothing, money, electronics, tools, women, etc.

Answer:
One weeks worth of clothes appropriate to the type of trucking you are doing. Extra socks
Comfortable boots or shoes
Work boots
Work gloves (reccomend insulated. Can double as cold weather foot wear then)
Safety Glasses
Light jacket, heavy coat, rain jacket
Basic tools (hammer, screw drivers, pry bar, adjustable wrench, duct tape)
A Basic CB radio (some carriers provide them most do not. Good to have as some warehouses use them to give dock assignments)
A cooler or fridge. Reccomend a 12v over an ice chest. Less messy.
Office supplies (pens, ruler, calculater, white out, scotch tape)
Motor Carrier Atlas
Bedding. Pillow, sheets, blankets (or a sleeping bag)
Small duffel to use to take clothes and toiletries into truck stop for showers.
1 or 2 towels to use at company terminals that may not provide towels. Also for use when you may need to sponge bathe in the truck.
At least 3 or 4 days of non perishable food and water for emergencies....though to save money you can buy more food and eat in the truck more often and stay out of the truck stop resteraunts.
Money....Should always have cash on you. The amount depends on where you are running. If your trip takes you across toll roads you will need more, if it does not less. I personally reccomend for pocket change though $20-$40/ per week. Use a debit card to pay for meals and other food/drink whenever possible. Save your cash for those times when you can't use the card. Avoid ATM's. Get cash advances when you fuel to pay for tolls, scale tickets, etc. Most companies will reimburse for expenses related to operation of the truck.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
Wow thanx u turn that is very helpful if anyone else has anything to add on to that please feel free to do so

Answer:
You didn't say whether or not you are going out for training. If you are just beginning OTR training, you will need much less than if you are getting assigned to a truck to drive solo OTR. And if you have completed training, you probably have a pretty good idea of what you need.
For training, keep it simple. Carry enough clothes for a week, plus a few spare underwear and socks. Get a bedroll/sleeping bag and pillow for your bedding in the truck. Get a large folder or something to keep your important papers such as your printouts from truck driving school and anything else important that was given to you during school or company orientation. Take a black pen or two and a pocket calculator and ruler, but if you forget these, your trainer probably has all of them. If you are training in the winter, take winter clothes, boots, gloves, hat, etc. Also don't leave home without a cell phone with a 48-state plan or at least a calling card to keep in touch with your family. Now as a trainee, it is very important you keep everything in a large duffel bag or soft-sided luggage, because there is no room for a big suitcase in a truck. Also take a small gym bag for your clothes and bathroom stuff to go into the shower without having to take your big bag with you. Also, take a towel in case you are not provided with a clean one somewhere. Take about $50-$100 per week for meals and stuff. That's about it for training.
Some things to get only when you are on your own:
1. 12-volt refrigerator (as mentioned above)
2. Year 2003 motor carrier's road atlas. Would recommend one with the laminated pages and spiral-bound, if you can afford it, it will hold up better in the truck.
3. 48-state truckstop guide (can be purchased in any truck stop store)
4. CB radio, coaxial cable, mic., and antenna. Get a good one, but you do not need anything too fancy. Just get one antenna. This radio may have a lot of BS on it, but it is good information for upcoming traffic warnings, ice and weather hazards, and some docks use the CB to tell drivers when their load is ready.
5. Tool box - you will have to perform quick-fix repairs to replace light bulbs and stuff. Take a few screwdrivers (regular and Phillips) and a socket wrench set. Take some WD-40 or Slick 50. I would also recommend a crowbar, large hammer, duct tape, ice scraper, and cigarette lighter in case you have to thaw out a lock cylinder. If you can afford it, get a tire pressure gauge for a truck (goes to at least 100-120 PSI) Tools best kept in a toolbox.
6. Cleansers such as windex, degreaser, laundry detergent, anti-bacterial, and plenty of paper towels. Plastic bags for garbage, and large sealable plastic disposable bottle for when nature calls and you don't want to or can't leave the truck.
7. Office supplies - pens, paper, a box for receipts, cell phone, credit card for personal emergencies, folder for important documents relating to the truck, roll of coins for washing machine, velcro strips for sticking transponders to windshield, scotch tape, ruler, calculator.
This is just the minimum for going solo OTR, and there are some things I have left out and others will probably add later. Hope this helps.

Answer:
Paper towels
Window cleaner.
Both of these are critical items to keep in the truck and most companies do not provide.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
If you wear eyeglasses, carry an extra pair
A good, quality flashlight with extra batteries
A box of Bandaids and bottle of Merthiolate or some other antiseptic for when you gash a finger or other minor injury
Keep an unopened gallon container of drinking water for emergencies
If you smoke or chew, keep an extra pack/can somewhere in the truck at all times - if you run out, it'll inevitably be in the middle of nowhere, and you don't need to be booking it to the next store to deal with a nicotine fit
Also go to the drugstore and get a box of alcohol wipes - in addition to being great for quick cleanups, a rubdown with one will bring new life to questionable wiper blades.
That's all I can think of at the moment - I'm sure there's more I missed......

Answer:
I didn't see them mentioned but hard hat and safety shoes.
Some companies provide hard hat but safety shoes may be on you. ASK.

Answer:
Pampers baby wipes
Rubbing Alcohol.
Thermos
Small plastic trash can.
Pee bottle. 1/2 gal Rubber Maid Leak Proof works good. About $3.00 at Wal Mart
Bleach.
4 inch Tire brush for sweeping out the truck. Works better than a VAC.
Small plastic spray bottles.

Answer:
Make yourself up a small first aid kit. I got several items I thought I might use in an emergency, and some over the counter drugs I might need for headache, or sinuses. Just whatever you think you will need.
Also buy a good manual can opener. Usually around 5 bucks at wally world. I also have some plastic silverware, and some foam bowls and paper plates.
I bought alot of cleaners and stuff at my local dollar store....saved me alot of money I think.
I'm getting everything put together for when i get my tractor assigned to me, but I think I should be well prepared.
one more thing I though of. If you should get a tractor thats really nasty when you get it assigned to you, and it stinks bad inside like smoke, or animal, or dirty clothes then by a aerosol can of Ozium. Wal mart sells it in the automotive section for around 5 bucks a can. This stuff works wonders in the cab at eliminating foul odors.

Answer:
The rubbing alcohol is a wide use product. Glade to see you mention it. Buy it from Wal Mart not the truck stop. Only 50 cents for a big bottle at the store verses 1.79 at the truck stop. Great to use as a all around cleaner. Add to washer fluid in winter to keep lines unfroze. Add to fuel while in the Dakotas and uupper Canada. Workes great as a window/mirror cleaner, streak free. Kills oder and germs in the cooler when you use it to wipe it out. Plus it is cheap. The first time you need it to un colagulate gelled fuel you will carry it then. It is also cheap enough you can keep it around and give it to others if they need it. The ol timers use a lot of it.
Do not forget 13 gallon trash bags. You will need to put you trash some were. I also carry a 4 gallon bucket I got from dollar G. It is great when I need to pack things up, and when it is mty is a trash can. If you ever need a bucket you have one. You never know when you will need a bucket.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
Don't forget the blow up doll.

Answer:
That truck stop guide is a must have.

Answer:
LOL@blow up doll......too funny!.....

Answer:
That's where I buy my alcohol, at Wal-Mart, by the Quart. I keep 3 quart's with me all the time.
You can put it in a small plastic sprayer and spray in on the baby wipes, works great for cleaning your stinky feet, the green stuff between your toes and the rest of your body. You can even use the alcohol as an air freshener if you want.
Fabbreeze by Proctor & gamble works great on removing odors from fabric and can be used as a general air refreshener too! I keep a refill bottle of it.
"Heater Meals" ,, you can buy these at a truck stop for $4.99 to $5.99. Think their expensive????
Buy some microwave diners like "Kraft's" "It's Pasta Anytime" needs no refrigeration. Many customers have a micowave that they'll let you use.
Cans of fruit and veggies, these you can eat cold. Trust me, cold veggies out of the can won't kill you. Those baby Carrots are good out of the can, don't forget to buy a can opener.
A Swiss army knife with a million blades and tools.
Carry 1 butter knife, 1 spoon, 1 fork, and a Tupperware plastic bowl with a lid. (you may want cereal sometime, hard to eat it without a bowl)
Cans of Soaps that don't need water added. You can buy a little 12 volt cigarette lighter plug heater coil at truck stops to stick into the can and heat it up. They cost about $7.00. It will heat water too, but not in a plastic container, it has to be metal.
You can make instant coffee with your new 12 volt heater coil!!! Save an empty soap can for heating the water.
Just wait until your out in the middle of nowhere or a slave to the vending machines. You'll learn!!!
And don't forget about that bucket and plastic liners Daytrader mentioned, you'll learn about that too!!
I even have a washing machine for my whites.
But that's another post!!!
(I'm a true dweller)
[This message was edited by dak1 on August 30, 2003 at 1:00.]
[This message was edited by dak1 on August 30, 2003 at 1:10.]

Answer:
The most valuable thing I've ever found for road trips, is... (drum roll)
Several bottles of your favorite habanero-based hot sauce! MMMMMmmmmmm... Good, and good for ya!!!
Don't leave home without it!
DD