Carry Along Good Habits
You need to be self sufficient and make good impressions when you stand amongst your classmates and/or other new hires.
Remember, you can make friends, but you are also going to see some of the people you start out with fired in front of you. You are competing against everyone, including everyones first impressions of you.
Prepare yourself for a good day every day with a tidy backpack and a good attitude.
Mental notes are NOT REAL NOTES!
Nobody can remember everything, and even more importantly- no one can read your mind! This includes re-reading your OWN mind… Get a good pen, and a notebook that will fit in your shirt pocket. Not your pants pocket, your shirt pocket. Why? To take notes. And to be seen taking notes. That way you are the one who instructors see taking notes. That is almost as important as looking back over what interesting lessons you learn throughout the day.
Take up the right amount of space
Have an unassuming backpack. Nothing too serious or huge, nothing overly “military” unless you were actually in the military. Jansport is fine. Here’s what you need to have with you.
In addition to your little pocket notebook, have a legal pad and a few extra pens. That will be for sitting on the desk with you when you’re listening to the instructors in the classroom. Point is you need to have open ears and when you have a question, don’t just blurt it out, write it down and wait for the right time to ask, them write the answer under your question you just wrote. Some of you will say “Hey, that’s super obvious”, but my guess is since I’m the only one I’ve seen do it of of about 40 previous new hires/truck specific classmates and things have gone well for me I want to suggest it and hope that your focus on focusing will help you along your path.
Hydrate and Stay Comfortable in your own skin!
Water Bottle. Insulated, Nalgene, Whatever you like but something that will not leak and you can refill from a water fountain or that is big enough to last you the day without weighing you down much. Keep some Cough Drops with you too. Nobody likes a thirsty nerd.
Whatever chargers you need
(and an extra for “that guy”)
Have your phone and phone charger with you at all times, but don’t be seen on your phone by any instructor unless it is during a break. Period. Only exception would be if you sit in the front row and have a good note taking app such as Evernote, Mindly, or just plain notes. That way you aren’t the idiot on your phone.
Don’t get caught in the dark
Have a flashlight, a pen light will do. A solar charger like Goal Zero is a great backup, for your phone and a USB charged flashlight. I like to have a headlamp and a pen light, but again, use whatever weight you’re comfortable with carrying and whatever price tag you’re not going to cry about if it walks off with someone. Milwaukee makes excellent USB rechargeable headlamps that are durable, affordable, and easily replaced if broken or lost. Truth be told I don’t have the little charger yet, but doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea. Just extra.
Some quick and dirty hand tools-
You don’t have to be a mechanic but don’t be helpless!
Get yourself a morakniv knife for the backpack and a good pocket knife, I suggest a Kershaw or Gerber but I’m not a knife guy. Good to have a little serration on there, because if you ever need to cut off a strap that melted to a winch you’re going to want a fairly serious knife. A leatherman is also a great idea, but I keep a small electricians bag with a needle nose, a regular pliers, a wire snip/stripper, electrical tape, one of those Milwaukee screwdrivers with multiple bits, and a small wood chisel that’s sharp enough to be useful, and a hammer. You should also definitely keep safety glasses and sunglasses with you. Melt one strap or get caught in an ice storm and you’ll be glad you have something to get your way out of trouble.
It rains on the good and bad alike
Have a small umbrella, a lightweight rain jacket, and a full change of clothes, lightweight and quick drying. Travel underwear, socks, pants, t-shirt. Keep them with you in case it rains, because you will be out in the rain if it rains. Also, let’s be honest, if you have to ride along with other new students as they learn to shift and all run stoplights or hit curbs, you might just pee a little.
Some quick reference guides-
Fortune favors the prepared!
Have a pocket survival guide, or little emergency survival book. Just a quick Guide Book in case you get into a crummy situation.
Have yourself a small medkit, there are plenty of instructional videos on how to put one together. Just get some bandaids and neosporin, you’re going to bang up some knuckles or somebody is going to cut themselves on a sharp piece of a trailer or something. Just have a way to deal with it and you’ll be a cut above the rest.
Don’t get stuck being sticky
Shower Shoes aren’t a bad idea, you don’t need them for class but you need them for the truck stops. You can also usually buy them at the truck stops, but I’d get you a pair of Walmart flops for like $2 and keep them handy for your first week in the truck after orientation. Likely you won’t have a car at orientation and they’ll have you take the rental car back so that’s why I mention it here. And don’t forget to bring a towel unless you like the VERY well worn towels they provide at the truck stop. If you aren’t the sort to take care of your own hygiene as well as you know you could, you will end up a greasy pimply scuzz-ball shortly after getting out here.
For real… I hate being sticky
Have a pack of wet wipes/kleenex and keep them in your backpack also. Wrap your mind around the idea that you will be using port-a-johns and outhouses during your trucking career unless you have a very “solid” understanding of your own guts. Bleach wipes for the seat or disinfectant spray and your own toilet paper will make a bummer of a situation more bearable.
Do we get it?
I think you understand, I want you to know that none of this is to be condescending. There is simply so much to think about when switching companies, especially when starting that new job with your first trucking company!
If you want a checklist to make things simple, go ahead and sign up for the quick and dirty (clean?) checklist by jumping on our email list and we will send you a full list of the basics and some easy to forget items that will make your first week out much smoother for you. You can focus on your new job and have what you need without missing the things you forgot! Or check out the article with the same lists here!