newbie heading out
- Thread starter bambam
- Start date
Wouldn't it be a lot easier to pick stuff up after you get the truck ? Are you getting a C unit ?If it isn't a new truck you might "inherit" some stuff from the previous drivers . I keep a good sleeping bag . It can save a bunch of fuel . Most drivers recommend a carbon monoxide detector . You said you were bringing a laptop . Have some good maps and a navigation system as soon as you can afford it . With your felonies you mentioned you probably won't be running Canada so you don't have to worry about carrying a passport or Fastcard . Do you have your home number set as ICE ( In Case of Emergency ) on your cell phone ? That helps emergency responders know who to notify in case of an acident . Get a good powerful flashlight for checking address numbers in the dark . Got a CB ? Many expeditors don't keep them on because of the profanity but mine has prevented me from sitting hours in traffic stopped by wrecks . I know 100 miles ahead of time where it is and how to get around it . Keep plenty of pens , maybe a change holder for toll money and a clipboard for paperwork . The list could go on and on ....
thanks i dont know much about the trucks except they are 05-07 international, freightliners and some thing called a helo?? know any thing about that one i forgot the mag lite ill get one this week end right now i only have a blanket pillow and sheet i should be ok if not there is always a wal-mart around the corner i need to get some kind of map for my laptop then a ciggarette plug in for my computer but they cost an average 100.00$ then some kinda of coffee pot or percelator im addicted to my coffee in the morning and anytime it is cool out side wich will almost all the time cause im starting in ohio
RLENT
Veteran Expediter
The helo is probably a Hino.
You might want to invest in GPS at some point for your laptop. We use standalone units by Garmin so I can't really vouch for how the laptop ones work but there are some threads on EI .... probably in the The Tech Talk Forum. At any rate get one that talks to ya.
And yeah .... bring plenty of warm clothes .... maybe two blankets. I'm sitting at home inside and I'm freezin' ...... it's about 28 outside right now ... with the wind chill it feels like 16. Supposed to stay pretty cold for at least the next 10 days or so.
You might want to invest in GPS at some point for your laptop. We use standalone units by Garmin so I can't really vouch for how the laptop ones work but there are some threads on EI .... probably in the The Tech Talk Forum. At any rate get one that talks to ya.
And yeah .... bring plenty of warm clothes .... maybe two blankets. I'm sitting at home inside and I'm freezin' ...... it's about 28 outside right now ... with the wind chill it feels like 16. Supposed to stay pretty cold for at least the next 10 days or so.
how is the garmin doing?? i don't know if the truck is equiped with anything but i was thinking of getting the maps on my computer untill i get my wireless hook up.
im also planning on getting a sleeping bag so ill stay warm up ther in the north expecially since i was born and raised in florida
god bless keep rolling
im also planning on getting a sleeping bag so ill stay warm up ther in the north expecially since i was born and raised in florida
god bless keep rolling
You can get an invertor to plug into your cigarette lighter for a lot less than $100 . Just any plug in invertor will do . You don't need the one made as a laptop accessory . You can use the same invertor for your coffee pot . Truckstops have all kinds of 12v stuff - stoves , vacuums , dvd's , etc .. If you have mapping software and drive a C unit be careful . You could run into trouble being routed into truck restrictions if the software isn't designed for truck use . (Remember - in the NE you can park in a driveway but you can't drive on a parkway 
. You can drive on parkways in KY . )
. You can drive on parkways in KY . )
Fr8 Shaker
Veteran Expediter
I believe right now that either Circuit City or Comp USA has
MicroSoft streets and trips with the gps locator for 89.99
Pilot has a 400 watt power inverter for 44 bucks and I would also find a Gander Mountain and get a Zero degree sleeping bag for 30.00
You didn't mention what size vehicle you would be driving, but whatever it is the answer is YES you can bring too much.
Best of Luck,
Fr8 Shaker
MicroSoft streets and trips with the gps locator for 89.99
Pilot has a 400 watt power inverter for 44 bucks and I would also find a Gander Mountain and get a Zero degree sleeping bag for 30.00
You didn't mention what size vehicle you would be driving, but whatever it is the answer is YES you can bring too much.
Best of Luck,
Fr8 Shaker
RLENT
Veteran Expediter
We've found the Garmins to work pretty well, although most of our use thus far has been parcel delivery while running for my son to help him with his Fedex Home Delivery routes. Typically we would have anywhere from 60 to over 100 drops per day.
Since this has been in small trucks (vans) we really haven't had to use "truck routing" although I know it is available in the setup options on the unit. I have a StreetPilot 7200 and my wife has a StreetPilot 2730.
The units work real well using spoken directions to guide you - a very handy feature to have when running an unfamiliar area and having to make lots of turns. You don't have to take your eyes off the road to look down at a map - just listen. And being able to see upcoming cross streets on the unit's display well before you can make out the street signs with your eyes is handy for general navigation. For making drops after dark they are a godsend - especially in the city where most of the house number are not on a mailbox out at the street .... but on the house itself, which after dark often aren't so easy to see.
Garmin seems to update the unit software fairly regularly .... often these have new fuctionality in them.
The units are not without some problems, although I'd say minor for the most part. Probably the biggest is new streets - a good number of our stops were in new allotments - which weren't in the maps that came on the GPS. I'm actually about ready to spring for the upgrade to City Navigator North America NT version 8 (ours came with version 7)
I expect that old maps would be less of problem with expedite - probably not alot of deliveries into new allotments.
Since this has been in small trucks (vans) we really haven't had to use "truck routing" although I know it is available in the setup options on the unit. I have a StreetPilot 7200 and my wife has a StreetPilot 2730.
The units work real well using spoken directions to guide you - a very handy feature to have when running an unfamiliar area and having to make lots of turns. You don't have to take your eyes off the road to look down at a map - just listen. And being able to see upcoming cross streets on the unit's display well before you can make out the street signs with your eyes is handy for general navigation. For making drops after dark they are a godsend - especially in the city where most of the house number are not on a mailbox out at the street .... but on the house itself, which after dark often aren't so easy to see.
Garmin seems to update the unit software fairly regularly .... often these have new fuctionality in them.
The units are not without some problems, although I'd say minor for the most part. Probably the biggest is new streets - a good number of our stops were in new allotments - which weren't in the maps that came on the GPS. I'm actually about ready to spring for the upgrade to City Navigator North America NT version 8 (ours came with version 7)
I expect that old maps would be less of problem with expedite - probably not alot of deliveries into new allotments.
ill either be in a freighliner or intermational class b truck i m bring ing 1 28in bag 1 duffel bag with my bed stuff and my laptop and a sleeping bag is thid to much
im nervous and have never been in the northren cold lived in fl all my life
by the way where could i eventually find the cheepest garmin for my truck???
god bless & keep rolling;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)
im nervous and have never been in the northren cold lived in fl all my life
by the way where could i eventually find the cheepest garmin for my truck???
god bless & keep rolling;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)
RLENT
Veteran Expediter
Yeah, the other thing to watch for is bridges and overpasses - they tend to freeze before anything else, depending on how cold it's been recently. Point being, if it's been fairly warm and then temp drops below freezing you can be cruisin' down a wet unfrozen road and go over a bridge and it will be icy.
Try to avoid accelerating, decelerating and changing lanes when going over them.
Generally, the roads are kept pretty well cleaned up (plowed and salted) - only time it gets bad is when there's a big storm and then it takes about 24 hours for them to clean up the main roads.
Go slow for awhile until you get a feel for it. Usually every year it's a little nuts for a couple of weeks for even the locals ... until they remember how to drive in it.
Try to avoid accelerating, decelerating and changing lanes when going over them.
Generally, the roads are kept pretty well cleaned up (plowed and salted) - only time it gets bad is when there's a big storm and then it takes about 24 hours for them to clean up the main roads.
Go slow for awhile until you get a feel for it. Usually every year it's a little nuts for a couple of weeks for even the locals ... until they remember how to drive in it.
jeffman164
Seasoned Expediter
I say take way way way more than enough warm clothes just in case. I have 3 heavy duty sleeping bags just in case. Was talking to a driver who got stuck around the New York Thruway for 3 days a couple of years ago cause 30 " of snow fell and was stuck . He said trucks were running out of fuel which obviously meens NO heat. Not triing to scare you but SAFETY above all else !!
jeffman164
Seasoned Expediter
Also, bring shovels and buckets of sand, tools, extra water etc, etc, etc !! Again , bring way more than enough . That's my story and I'm sticking to it .
RLENT
Veteran Expediter
>i think you all have convinced me to get a good sleeping bag this week end
Good .... ya'll definitely need something. As I sit here and type this it's 6° outside - that's the coldest it's been around here in the last two years, according to weatherman on the news last night.
.... it feels chilly to me inside and we have the 'stat set on 71°
Good .... ya'll definitely need something. As I sit here and type this it's 6° outside - that's the coldest it's been around here in the last two years, according to weatherman on the news last night.
.... it feels chilly to me inside and we have the 'stat set on 71°
greg334
Veteran Expediter
BamBam,
Seeing you have never been outside of Florida, I would suggest a few other things that may be more important.
First thing is have the owner get the truck into a good shop and have the batteries checked out. I can tell you from practical experience that it is a pain to have flat batteries (having two weak batteries soon to be replaced) and carrier a portable generator which I have used a few times more than I want to remember. Nothing is worst than trying to start something cold with weak or dead batteries.
The second thing is buy a couple packages of batteries for you flashlights, buy two flashlights. If you drop, lose or leave your flashlight somewhere, you have an extra. I think (don’t laugh) I have 5 in the truck, two in the tool box, one hanging on a hook, one somewhere in the truck and one I use all the time (the last one is one of those shake to charge light and I left it on a few times when I fell asleep). I also have one of those wal-mart million candle power lights that I have stuff somewhere.
The third thing is get warm clothes now, don’t wait. If you’re thin blooded, you will freeze up here in the north. I am wrapped up right now typing and for the first time since I own the truck I idled over night (sort of) for three hours at a time, with three hours off. I got up at 3 in the morning to find that the sleeper/cab was 95 degrees and woke up at 6 to find that the temp dropped to 55 with the temp outside at 12 degrees. I do not have a thermostat at this time, I also have a heater valve that I messed up and it is stuck open. I got an army (actual military) quilt last year; it is amazingly warm and a wool blanket for my feet to help keep them warmer and a Swedish civil defense coat (heavy wool/canvas coat) that I also throw over the quilt when the temps drop to zero. I don’t mind this but I would rather have another source of heat other than my engine.
The fourth thing actually goes back to the first thing, getting an inverter. The thing is that inverters use power and you sometimes need to keep checking the batteries to make sure you don’t flatten them. I would just get one of those cheap $29 400w inverter, you can’t run all kinds of things off of them because they are not really meant to be a replacement to the wall plug but they will keep your computer charged up. If you plan on getting one of those coffee makers, I would carefully selecting one and remember that the cheap inverter will not power most of them. The one I got draws 1000 watts just like a microwave. I know that they make 12 volt coffee makers and you will have to run the truck for them (or at least I do) .
Seeing you have never been outside of Florida, I would suggest a few other things that may be more important.
First thing is have the owner get the truck into a good shop and have the batteries checked out. I can tell you from practical experience that it is a pain to have flat batteries (having two weak batteries soon to be replaced) and carrier a portable generator which I have used a few times more than I want to remember. Nothing is worst than trying to start something cold with weak or dead batteries.
The second thing is buy a couple packages of batteries for you flashlights, buy two flashlights. If you drop, lose or leave your flashlight somewhere, you have an extra. I think (don’t laugh) I have 5 in the truck, two in the tool box, one hanging on a hook, one somewhere in the truck and one I use all the time (the last one is one of those shake to charge light and I left it on a few times when I fell asleep). I also have one of those wal-mart million candle power lights that I have stuff somewhere.
The third thing is get warm clothes now, don’t wait. If you’re thin blooded, you will freeze up here in the north. I am wrapped up right now typing and for the first time since I own the truck I idled over night (sort of) for three hours at a time, with three hours off. I got up at 3 in the morning to find that the sleeper/cab was 95 degrees and woke up at 6 to find that the temp dropped to 55 with the temp outside at 12 degrees. I do not have a thermostat at this time, I also have a heater valve that I messed up and it is stuck open. I got an army (actual military) quilt last year; it is amazingly warm and a wool blanket for my feet to help keep them warmer and a Swedish civil defense coat (heavy wool/canvas coat) that I also throw over the quilt when the temps drop to zero. I don’t mind this but I would rather have another source of heat other than my engine.
The fourth thing actually goes back to the first thing, getting an inverter. The thing is that inverters use power and you sometimes need to keep checking the batteries to make sure you don’t flatten them. I would just get one of those cheap $29 400w inverter, you can’t run all kinds of things off of them because they are not really meant to be a replacement to the wall plug but they will keep your computer charged up. If you plan on getting one of those coffee makers, I would carefully selecting one and remember that the cheap inverter will not power most of them. The one I got draws 1000 watts just like a microwave. I know that they make 12 volt coffee makers and you will have to run the truck for them (or at least I do) .
Broompilot
Veteran Expediter
Garmin is great, except for the TRUCK ROUTING. I believe everytime I shut the truck off, cutting the electric to the unit, it goes back to car mode.
Do not trust these things, they will take you under a 9-6 bridge when your 12 or higher. Common sense overules the ease of the computer!
Know your route ahead of time, these things do have a mind of there own, like when you can avoid DC, Baltimore, and the NJ Turnpike you can go right up I81 for 17 miles longer up into CT, or Boston.
For getting right to the building, these things are $$$$$$ Savers!!! Just do not put all your TRUST intot them.
Do not trust these things, they will take you under a 9-6 bridge when your 12 or higher. Common sense overules the ease of the computer!
Know your route ahead of time, these things do have a mind of there own, like when you can avoid DC, Baltimore, and the NJ Turnpike you can go right up I81 for 17 miles longer up into CT, or Boston.
For getting right to the building, these things are $$$$$$ Savers!!! Just do not put all your TRUST intot them.
rollnthunder
Expert Expediter
Also get a good pair of winter boots.Never know when you may need to do some walking.Not to mention i dont like my feet getting cold or wet.
well i just bought a sleeping bag 40' and i have a fleece blanket that ill be taking with me cloths i have long underweare a real carhaart jacket and 2 large sweet shirts that i guess will do me untill i get to a wal-mart up in ohio and get in to my truck where is the aesiest place to get the converter??