Personal Needs

• Every trucker needs at least a week's worth of clothing. Some truckers recommend keeping at least two weeks' worth of clothes readily available. Clothing should include a coat, raincoat and gloves. The trucker should also have a hardhat, steel-toe boots and safety glasses, if he'll enter areas where protective apparel is required. Truckers should pack hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and laundry detergent. Some experts recommend that every trucker pack sleeping bags. Truckers may also need a soft-sided bag, such as a duffle, to store these items.
  
  

Tools and Related Items

• Truckers need an array of tools, primarily for repairing the truck if minor things break down. These tools include vice grips, a hammer, a flat and Phillips screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, and paper towels or old rags. Having a cell phone and a CB radio may also be helpful. A trucker also needs glue, a flashlight, pens, a laptop with case and a notebook.
  
  

Entertainment

• Truckers spend long hours on the road and usually sleep in their trucks. Entertainment sources are often few and far between. Some truckers suggest that every trucker have a laptop with Internet access or a television. Truckers can pack CDs or load their iPods, or similar devices, with music for the road. Audiobooks are another option.
  
  

Miscellaneous

• In addition to tools and personal items, truckers need maps, phones, GPS devices, cleaning supplies, wet wipes, paper towels, trash bags, trash baskets and food for emergencies. Many truckers pack coolers that run on cigarette lighters, or small refrigerators; others also have small microwaves in their trucks. Coolers, refrigerators and microwaves help truckers maintain healthier diets while on the road.