Best Purchase For OTR Life!

Ok, so what’s the best purchase you have made that makes life in the truck better? Not the big ticket stuff, the little obscure item that you can’t imagine hitting the road without.

Looking forward to the new ideas!

Okay, here are three items, going from the cheapest to the most expensive.

1. Microwave Cost was under $50 several years ago. Makes for a wider variety of food possibilities.

2. Sirius XM Radio A must-have for me. I won't drive without it, and it's on nearly 24/7. Music, weather, news and information. Has an average yearly cost of under $80.

3. Rand Mcnally GPS Another useful tool, arguably the second most used gadget in the truck. It is second seat to a cell phone only. Costs for a truck-specific GPS unit can range from $200 to more than $500.

A power inverter and a real refrigerator and microwave are the best investments you can make. There’s nothing like being able to drive your full 11 everyday without worrying about food or cold drinks.

Expanding, foam earplugs. Absolutely necessary for teaming or running reefer.

Box of trash bags with ties for slogging through the mud when dropping a trailer.

Paint scraper for removing bug splat on the windshield (I have a retractable razor style)

Fuel gloves and a ziplock bag for storage

Coffee stirrers, the wooden kind for shimming worn trailer electrical connectors to ensure positive contact with pins

Bungee cords, cable ties and duct tape

• WD-40 for tandem sliders
• Short Tin Snips (not wire cutters - something with scissor action to cut metal door seals)
• Push broom - your own broom for sweeping out trailers instead of the beat up ones on the dock that you may have to wait for. Yes, you must sweep out trailers if you haul anything that might come in contact with food, or paper from mills.

1. Air line hose to blow out the dirt that accumulates, and

Laura

1. Air line hose to blow out the dirt that accumulates, and

Laura

Wait so you are saying Laura was one of your best purchases? I guess a Laura could be quite handy to have on the road!! 🤣😂🤣

Okay, here are three items, going from the cheapest to the most expensive.

1. Microwave Cost was under $50 several years ago. Makes for a wider variety of food possibilities.

2. Sirius XM Radio A must-have for me. I won't drive without it, and it's on nearly 24/7. Music, weather, news and information. Has an average yearly cost of under $80.

3. Rand Mcnally GPS Another useful tool, arguably the second most used gadget in the truck. It is second seat to a cell phone only. Costs for a truck-specific GPS unit can range from $200 to more than $500.

Check, Check and Check!

Ran my 10 days without GPS and the stress level was through the roof, not to mention the extra miles and time spent touring the quaint Pennsylvania country side!

Expanding, foam earplugs. Absolutely necessary for teaming or running reefer.

Box of trash bags with ties for slogging through the mud when dropping a trailer.

Paint scraper for removing bug splat on the windshield (I have a retractable razor style)

Fuel gloves and a ziplock bag for storage

Coffee stirrers, the wooden kind for shimming worn trailer electrical connectors to ensure positive contact with pins

Bungee cords, cable ties and duct tape

Thanks for the ideas!

Ear plugs are the only way I survived the trainers truck!

Microwave and fridge with freezer have saved me money and aggravation on the road.

A hot pot and pour over coffee maker that fits over my mug save the time of cleaning a full coffee pot. The hotpot works great for minute rice, ramen noodles and any number of other quick items

A Ryobi 14v leaf blower works great to get the gunk out of the grooves in a refer trailer.

A cheap 12v Dustbuster type vac gets almost daily use.

I use 2 spray bottles to do dishes. One with water and a little detergent and another with plain water and voila, clean dishes and utensils

Finally, this pen holder helps keep me organized. Little friction clips inside keep everything in place in the bumpy roads.