Why?
#51
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Dover De
Posts: 143
Originally Posted by gmh
Originally Posted by ogre999
Ohh and guys ...I got a Laptop from hell too ...is there anyone on the boards here that is a smooth tech guy ...can give me some straight dope on using my cooler toys for stayin in touch with home and all ???
Shawn(Ogre) I'm addicted enough to the internet that I might have to spring for net access from truckstops. I have Verizon's wireless card, and I can get some kind of connection nearly anywhere, but the quality can be decidely lacking. Check out evdomaps.com (or some such) for more info. Charging is hinky. My trainer said the inverter on the truck is 300 watts. Not quite enough to run the TV and a laptop at the same time. So I get an hour or two of laptop usage per night, and try to juice it up during the day. Works ok. Were I solo, I'd pick the laptop over the TV. I notice there are some LCD tvs in the truckstops that purport to run on 12v or 120v. Worth checking out in a couple of months when I'm on my own. Shawn
#52
Board Regular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southern Maryland
Posts: 391
I brought a little more than what the training dept. at the company suggested, and was a bit worried it would PO my trainer. When I put my stuff on the truck, he said "that's it?" But I imagine that varies by individual.
I can play plenty of DVDs on my laptop, and when I get back home, I'll try to remember to grab the remote control for it as well. Have a friend on another board (non-truck related) whose family did trucking for quite a while, and she was talking about how much easier it likely is these days with the tech we have access to. (ugh, too lazy to fix that sentence to make my 11th grade English teacher happy) In all honesty, except when we got stuck on this 34 hr restart (which has stretched into a few days for reasons I don't care to go into), I was too danged tired at the end of the day to do a whole lot. I suspect that will change with time as well.
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#53
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Dover De
Posts: 143
LOL ...uhhh yea Im kinda a VIrgo BOyscout OCD kinda guy and have way too much gear ...so I may be dangerous ...I hope to find out soon ...very cool though man thanks for the input ...
Right now I have ...a MED sized Ranger ruck ( my old gear its kinda a Mojo thing ...yea I aint right I admit it ) and my Pelican Case briefcase for the 17 inch ...you know the ones your supposed to be able to drop off a building and survive ... that and an Oilskin duster ... frsankly on whats in there I can survive a month if I had to so... If you or anyone would care to critique that sized load ..I wold be greatful to you SHawn
#54
Sorry I don't know exactly where you are in the "process" of things but, as soon as you are getting thru and are about to get a trainer, ask for his/her number or ask that yours be fowarded to them. I have seen in the past that most trainers LOVED the chance to chat with a new trainee and to help them with what to bring and any space problems. ( Not all trucks have the same amount of space and not all trainers LIVE in their trucks). Their was many items my trainer told me not to bring as he had plenty of: Tide for washing clothes ( if that was OK with me ) ect... ( No need to doubble up on some items ). Also a big thing is eating habbits. Some eat every meal "out" of the truck. Others ( mine too ) like one "hot" meal and the rest on the truck. Mine had a cooler and was willing to share the space for food stuffs.
Bottom line.... try to contact your trainer BEFORE you shake hands. Ridge
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#55
Originally Posted by ogre999
Originally Posted by wildkat
The only thing I can see it the per diem thing, we don't have that here, or at least I've never seen it.
Would be good to add a list of nec essary tools & misc junk we always need...like bungie cords to hold up air lines, a hammer, etc, & GLOVES...don't forget the damned gloves...min 3 pairs..one to wear one to dry & one spare in case you lose one! I got me a pair of engineer boots , a new Oilskin duster ...my basement looks like an Army Navy surplus depot ...so I got a ton of toys ...just dont know what to expect exactly ...I could use that list ... My jockey box holds the following: A. In a milk crate: Spare light cord, one for the tractor & one for a trailer, I pull trains Air line extensions, just in case your lines are too short Spare air lines (3)...they can & do break B. All the rest: -Hammer -Pin Puller -10 lb sledge hammer...great for beating on frozen brakes -Snipe -A 3ft piece of pipe with a 2 ft piece of chain on it...I use this little invention for moving converters closer to the pintal hook...works great for when you've missed the hook by an inch or 2 -tools, I keep a socket set, screw drivers, etc -a small tool box full of air line rubbers, air fittings, spare fuses, small bungie cords, bits of wire, a roll of baling wire, wire cutters, spare bulbs of many sorts, spare trailer lights (the sealed kind), glad hands, misc. nuts, bolt & screws, etc -Spare head lights, I drive a 379 Pete so I have 2 of each, both high & low beam -2 jugs of oil, 2 jugs of washer fluid, a gallon of airbrake antifreeze, plus a small dish soap bottle to squirt the stuff into the lines, 2 gallons of anitfreeze -Spare fuel & oil filter -5 pairs of gloves, 2 winter lined, one rubberized, & 2 regular leather -coveralls & my arctic winter boots & an extra winter coat -an old rubberized floor mat, I use this if I have to lay under a trailer for long periods of time in the snow, keeps you a bit dryer & cleaner -a small propane torch That's all I can think of at the moment, I'm sure there's more, but just can't think of anything else! :lol: :lol:
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#56
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Dover De
Posts: 143
Excelent Gentleman , both of you ...great Idea contacting the trainer ...and I will cut and paste this list to keep with other things I have been picking up while on the boards ,,,the rubber matt translates even without much snow the ground still freeses or even on tarmac it keeps the grease to a minimum ...in my 4 wheeler I keep an old wool blanket as it repells water and grease naturally ...I guess It will become more clear the further in and more familliar with the equipment I get ...thanks again as always guys
Shawn
#58
Originally Posted by ogre999
Excelent Gentleman, both of you ...great Idea contacting the trainer ...and I will cut and paste this list to keep with other things I have been picking up while on the boards ,,,the rubber matt translates even without much snow the ground still freeses or even on tarmac it keeps the grease to a minimum ...in my 4 wheeler I keep an old wool blanket as it repells water and grease naturally ...I guess It will become more clear the further in and more familliar with the equipment I get ...thanks again as always guys
Shawn Regardless of how many layers of clothes Wildkat had on, I think SHE would still........uh........"stand-out". :shock:
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Find something you like to do, be the best at it you can be, the money will come.
#59
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Dover De
Posts: 143
Originally Posted by Ridge Runner
Originally Posted by ogre999
Excelent Gentleman, both of you ...great Idea contacting the trainer ...and I will cut and paste this list to keep with other things I have been picking up while on the boards ,,,the rubber matt translates even without much snow the ground still freeses or even on tarmac it keeps the grease to a minimum ...in my 4 wheeler I keep an old wool blanket as it repells water and grease naturally ...I guess It will become more clear the further in and more familliar with the equipment I get ...thanks again as always guys
Shawn Regardless of how many layers of clothes Wildkat had on, I think SHE would still........uh........"stand-out". :shock:
#60
Originally Posted by ogre999
Excelent Gentleman , both of you ...great Idea contacting the trainer ...and I will cut and paste this list to keep with other things I have been picking up while on the boards ,,,the rubber matt translates even without much snow the ground still freeses or even on tarmac it keeps the grease to a minimum ...in my 4 wheeler I keep an old wool blanket as it repells water and grease naturally ...I guess It will become more clear the further in and more familliar with the equipment I get ...thanks again as always guys
Shawn
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