WHAT YOU WILL NEED OUT ON THE ROAD

We all know about the usual shower stuff, shampoo, deodorant,soap (I won't use the soap in the showers) washcloth, curling iron, (some showers have them) etc. I also take flipflops into the shower. My feet will NEVER touch those floors. you can get all manner of stuff, like athletes foot, planters warts, jungle rot..yuck.So they are a must. In the truck, I like to have extra sox, extra underwear. I may wear the same jeans for a day or so, but my underthings get changed. Depending on how "girlie" you are...I don't wear a nightgown. I bought some of the guys light fleece jammies...perfect for sleeping in the truck. When you think about what you will wear sleeping, keep this in mind. Would you mind jumping out of the truck in it ??? It may happen. In the truck, I wear shorts during hot weather, but outside the truck, year round, I wear jeans..DON"T WEAR SWEATS outside the truck !! I know we all have looked at people in public in sweats, and wondered if they had a diaper drooping out the back of them...they stretch out when you sit alot. Besides, they may be compfy in the truck, but tacky outside of it. I have really long hair, so I keep it up alot. And its weird, guys will be walking by the truck, and I'm brushing my hai with it hangin' out the window...they stop and look...wth ?? You will find that if you wear underwire bras now, you won't after you start driving. They way you hold your arms allows the wire to dig a trench in your ribs...trust me... But I just snipped the fabric, and took out the wires, no need to buy new ones !! When you get going solo, some sort of porta potty is really nice. Especially if you end up parking in weird places. then you don't haveta get out of the truck !! We have one in our truck. A good mirror....the only ones in a truck are the ones outside, and that little vanity jobber on the back of the visor. You can use insense, candles, or whatever in your truck. I'm afraid of open flames, so if you want a nice smell, try the flameless ones. I attached a little bottle to the wall in our truck, and I put essence oil in it, with a few twigs....it doesn't spill and keeps the truck smelling nice. Also, you will need atelast 2 pair of gloves. I use the cheap cloth ones that are dipped in rubber to fuel with. and I carry a good pair of leather ones for emergency use. Always keep your fueling gloves in a box (closed) by your seat, or better yet, in the cubbie box on the drivers side...they smell gross. As we think of other things you may need or want, we can add them to this thread !!

What about blow dryers, do you use them inside the bathroom/shower area or back at your truck, I am not high maintance by anymeans, but my hair is short and has to be blow dried and I also wear make up. I mean I don't have to have make up on, but I feel better when I do. I am the one that will go to the grocery store or wal mart when I first get out of bed. Just wandering.

Some, but not all showers have blow dryers. But I have never used them to do anything but dry out a pair of undies I'd washed in the sink . I don't wear makeup, mainly because most eye makeup gets in my eyes and hurts like heck. But I'd think that it would be something you can do in the truck, in the shower, or in the bathroom. After you've waited awhile on a shower list, you would want everyone ahead of you to put on their makeup somewhere else !!

Superb information to have. I am so happy I found this forum. You've got to love technology!! :)

Speaking of tech stuff...you will probably wish you had some way to keep in touch, and have some entertainment. I use a kindle fire....I load it up with books, and I can do the Netflix thing, and surf the web when I have WIFI...I don't have a fancy phone to use as a WIFI link...not sure how that works, but alot of folks use them. And most of them like the verizon setup. but a kindle is the best way to get cheap entertainment...you can download all sorts of games on it too.

In these type of conditions, you may need some entertainment stuff. Phone with some good applications may help you in this. You can upload stuff which you like the most when you feel bored like games, music, reading stuff etc. Thanks for sharing this information with us. It may help lots of people. :)

This is great. I was just today thinking omg im gonna have a nightmare packimg amd my trainers gma think im crazy for brimgimg a bunch of useless junk and like hundreds of clothes. Im a little ocd too so I like to have a lot of stuff with me just in case I might need it. Once im solo though im gna bring wat ever I can. And yah a bathrrom while ur waitimg or stuck somewhere? Ehat would work best for that. My luck id pee all over the truck haha

Megan, when you get out on your own, a porta potty is a good investment. that way, even if your in a truck stop and its dark, or raining,or cold, you still have "facilities". They are small, and our just slid under the sleeper bed.

Wow. Thanks so much for all the tips. I am still in training but this information will be good to have when I start driving.

good afternoon ladies, ok sooooo I've applied with Swift, Ive taken some of the online tests here and Swift has sent me online classes. I have now read what you are saying I need to bring and I am now feeling like I want to throw up lol ok now my brother use to drive truck, he suggested getting a booney hat so I dont end up with oil etc in my hair when having to get under the truck, also, I saw somewhere not to wear sweat pants however I was thinking a mix of jeans and I have they are danskin pants, they are long, comfortable like sweats but dont get baggy, would that work? also, my son is a Marine and I have tshirts in abundance with things pertaining to that, are those acceptable? I wont bring my "girly" tops, which I have in abundance but as far as tshirts go all I really have are Marine based stuff, I am a supportive and proud mom lol I have slightly longer than shoulder length hair that I would really prefer not to cut, any ideas?