Commercial Driver’s License For Dummies Cheat Sheet

After you have passed your CDL exams and have secured a professional driving job, you might ask, “what should I take with me in my vehicle”? This answer, of course, will vary depending on what job you are doing. A school bus driver should have little to bring with them because doing anything else besides taking care of the children on the bus might be illegal. However, an over-the-road driver will want to be prepared for a multitude of scenarios. Below are various lists that can help determine what to bring with you for your driving job.  

Basic tools to keep in your tool bag as a commercial driver

In spite of how heavy duty commercial motor vehicles are built, components break. Having a few basic tools with you can sometimes get you back on the road more quickly and may mean considerable cost savings. Here are a few basic tools to keep in a tool bag:  

• Multitool. A multitool is a must have and one you can carry in your pocket, particularly one with needle nose pliers, which is handy for replacing fuses. Your multitool should have both a Phillips and a flat blade screwdriver. A wire cutter is useful for cutting a wire seal. During times that you are waiting, you can pick rocks out of tires with the needle nose pliers. Once in a while, you will find something that is not a rock, thus possibly saving a blowout later when the object gets driven deeper into the tire.

• Flashlight. You need a flashlight that is not part of your phone. The most convenient light to have is one that you wear around your head, or one that clips onto the brim of your hat. Inspecting your vehicle becomes more effective and efficient with such a flashlight.

• Gloves. I recommend having at least three pairs of gloves — one pair for inspecting your vehicle’s chassis and other dirtier components, one for fueling up the tanks, and one to keep your hands warm.

• Duct tape or a heavy duty tape. Use this item to make some temporary repairs.

• Zip or cable ties. For both temporary and permanent repairs, a zip tie or cable tie is useful for holding an air line still or to keep it from rubbing on another component.

• Adjustable wrench. If you are looking to keep your tool bag small (or have just one bag) an adjustable wrench or two will take the place of a set of other wrenches (open end, closed end, metric, or SAE).

• Socket set. A socket set will help you get to nuts and bolts that you might not be able to reach with an adjustable wrench. Besides, a socket is much better to use on a nut or bolt than attempting to use two combination wrenches.

• Pry bar. A pry bar can come in handy for leveraging anything into its proper position. A pry bar (like a 36-inch bar) is also needed to pull nails out of the wood floor of a truck or trailer after blocking or bracing has been used.

• Hammer. What can I say about a hammer? Some people say you can fix anything with a hammer. Seriously, a hammer (for this purpose, a 2 pound or heavier sledge hammer) is ultimately the best tool to use if you are driving in cold winter weather and your brake pads freeze to the brake drum, and they have to be broken loose.

• Tire pressure gauge. A tire pressure gauge is a must to obtain the cold tire pressure of your tires. Be sure yours has a dual head as you will find valve stems facing both directions.

• Inspection camera. This one is definitely an optional item, but it can be very useful. So, if you want to get geeky, get yourself an inspection camera with a scope/snake camera because it can reach around corners to see what you might not be able to. And it can usually take pictures that you can send to an expert.

Basic items you will need as a driver

There are items that your employer will supply, and there are some items that you will need to supply if you want them. I will list both categories here. (You can always try requesting that your employer supply some of these items).

• Ice scraper/snow pusher. If you drive into areas where there is snow and freezing weather, an ice scraper/snow pusher is a must. The snow pusher portion should have at least one wide soft pliable edge to safely and cleanly push snow off your vehicle and windshield in addition to the hard edge that removes frost and ice.

• Glass cleaner and squeegee. These items will give you clear glass to see through and clean mirrors to clearly reflect the view.

• Paper towels. When you need to use the glass cleaner or dry your hands after using the hand cleaner, a roll of paper towels will come in handy.

• Hand cleaner. Keep a hand cleaner in your vehicle that will cut grease, especially if you have the habit of working on something or performing an inspection without putting on your gloves.

• Broom and dustpan. You will need to clean the bed of your box truck or trailer or the floor of your bus, so a broom is in order. A dustpan will help you transfer what you sweep into the proper receptacle. Sometimes a blower is acceptable, sometimes it is not (imagine blown dust settling on all the seats of a bus).

• Spray lubricants. For squeaky joints and stubborn doors, spray lubricants are helpful. However, if you haul oxygen, don’t use any oils around it!

• CB. A CB may be needed for some driving jobs. Check with other drivers and your employer to see how necessary it would be before you purchase one.

Personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment (or PPE) is required for many jobs and facilities. While your employer should provide for your needs in this area, you are the one who must ensure that you have it with you. Special gloves, safety glasses, and hearing protection are often required. Steel or composite toed shoes or other specialty work shoes can be required. Hard hats are required at some companies. Many places that you can go to will supply these during your visit, but do you like to share hats and glasses? High-visibility (Hi-Vis) vests will help you to be seen. In addition to places that require you to wear one, the vest is especially important in high traffic and low light areas.

Food

Even if your job is not designed to keep you away from home very long, it is good to have an emergency meal handy. However, if you have an over-the-road job, you need to have a week’s worth of emergency food.

For your emergency supply, keep items with a long shelf life in your truck or at least rotate your food so that you have FIFO (first in, first out) and not FISH (first in, still here).

Plan for the worst-case scenarios. Have food that, in a pinch, you can eat without heating. Cereal, peanut butter, and granola bars are good items to keep. Canned soups aren’t for everyone but if your engine still runs (next to the worst-case scenario) you can heat the can over the hot defroster.  

A large container of water is a must. Whether you operate in extreme weather conditions or not, keep extra water on hand.

Glasses

This extra item deserves its own section. If you have a driving restriction that requires you to drive with eyeglasses or contacts, you must have extra with you. Don’t leave home without them!

Miscellaneous Supplies

If you are driving in winter conditions, especially away from “civilization,” a candle in a tin can will provide warmth during a breakdown. Be sure to have something that can light the candle. You can also prepare for such a breakdown by having extra clothing and extra blankets. Again, you are preparing for a worst-case scenario.

Keep a notebook and ink pens handy. A dry erase marker can be good for writing a message on your windshield.

If you have the need to sleep during the daytime, have a sleep mask to block the light for your eyes. Ear plugs can help you sleep, especially if a refrigerator truck or trailer is running nearby.

Self Defense

One of the best things to have with you to protect yourself is wasp spray. This spray shoots several feet in a large volume. If you ever have to use this item, spray the wasp spray in the attacker’s eyes. The next step is to run (unless you are sure that you can get in a well-placed kick, incapacitating your attacker). This is an appropriate time to call for help (that is, driving away from the would-be attacker) by saying the three little numbers (9-1-1) into your phone. Be sure to replace the can as it does shoot out a lot of spray in a short amount of time.

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