March 13, 2025 • 13 mins
Surviving life in a 70-square-foot space with your truck trainer requires careful planning and consideration—especially when it comes to what you should leave at home. Drawing from years of experience as both trainee and trainer, Tamie dives deep into the dos and don'ts of packing for your trainer truck adventure.
Those massive hard-shell suitcases might seem essential for weeks on the road, but where exactly will you store them? Your trainer's truck isn't equipped with walk-in closets or overhead compartments. Instead, soft duffel bags that can be compressed and tucked away make much more sense in the limited space available.
Kitchen appliances are another major no-no that new drivers frequently get wrong. That George Foreman grill might seem like a good idea until it trips the inverter and knocks out power to essential systems. And let's talk about smells—whether it's tuna sandwiches, unwashed gym clothes, or heavy cologne, strong odors become monumentally invasive when you're sharing such tight quarters.
Entertainment options should be minimal and personal. Leave the gaming consoles, Bluetooth speakers, and—yes, it's happened—portable movie projectors at home. Your focus should be on learning, not turning your trainer's professional space into your personal recreation room. And those sentimental items like guitars, lucky rock collections, or oversized stuffed animals? They'll just take up precious space that you simply don't have.
Ready to hit the road with your trainer? Listen now to avoid the rookie mistakes that could make those crucial training weeks uncomfortable for everyone involved. Your trainer will thank you, and your experience will be so much better when you're not crammed in with unnecessary stuff!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Good morning truckers .
How are you today?
Welcome back to Trucking withTammy.
I'm your host, tammy, and thisis the podcast where we talk
about all things trucking, andtoday we're going to give you
some tips and tricks from theroad.
So, whether you're a seasoneddriver just getting your wheels
rolling, like what we're goingto address today, we've got
(00:24):
something for you.
So today we're going to diveinto a segment.
So last week, I did a segment onwhat to bring on your trainer's
truck, and, after scrollingthrough some social media this
week and seeing some crazythings, I decided to do a
(00:44):
segment on what not to pack whenyou're hitting the road with a
trainer.
Okay, so, trust me, I have beenthere both as a new CDL holder
getting trained and, later inlife, being a trainer, and I
have seen some crazy stuffthat'll make you laugh and
possibly cringe a little.
So grab that coffee, settleinto that seat and let's roll on
(01:07):
through it All right.
So picture this you just passedyour CDL test right, congrats,
by the way and now you're aboutto spend weeks, maybe even a
month or two, in a trainer'struck.
It's exciting, it's nervewracking and, let's be real,
it's a whole lot of cramped inthat truck, that trainer's truck
(01:27):
.
It's their home, it's theiroffice, it's their castle.
You got to respect that you.
You're their guest.
So the last thing you want todo is roll up on that trainer
with a bunch of stuff that'sgoing to make your trainer just
regret saying yes to trainingyou.
So today I'm going to breakdown the top things you should
(01:51):
leave at home, because less ismore when you're sharing 70
square feet with someone who'steaching you how to drive right.
So let's start with the obviousBiggest thing giant suitcases.
You know those hard-shelled bigsuitcases.
I know I know You're like Tammy, I'm going to be out for weeks.
(02:14):
I need my stuff.
But here's the deal, guys.
The trainer's truck.
They don't have a walk-incloset in there.
You're not moving in, you'rebunking temporarily.
So that big old suitcase thatyou're using for vacations, it's
not going to fit under the bunk.
There is no overhead storagethat big.
(02:35):
I once saw a newbie.
She rolled up with a hard shellroller bag that was literally I
could have fit in it myselfright, took up half the cab and
the trainer that the truck thathe was going on.
The trainer made him leave itat the terminal.
There was absolutely no roomfor it, and that's a true story.
If the things aren't going tofit, you don't get to take them,
(02:58):
you have to leave them.
So be prepared for that, okay,prepared for that, okay.
Tip, and if you look at my mylast video, I go over this quite
a bit Stick to a soft duffelbag.
It's something that, if youunpack or there's room to hang
up stuff, that duffel bag canfold up.
(03:21):
It can roll up, you can squishit into the corner, you can
throw your pillow on it at nightand sleep on it.
So we only want to pack lightessentials only.
You're not going to a fashionshow.
Leave the stilettos at home.
You're learning to haul freight, okay.
So baggage we're going to andwhat to pack.
If you're confused about that,go back and look at my other
(03:42):
segment as well, right?
So?
Next thing Kitchen overload.
If you're confused about that,go back and look at my other
segment as well, right?
So?
Next thing kitchen overload.
Right, I get it.
Eating out gets old and thosetruck stop fast food warmer
plates, hot dog rollers, rollerdogs adds up fast in dollars,
(04:04):
calories, not to mention what itdoes to your stomach.
But do not I repeat, do notbring a full on cooking setup in
your trainer's truck.
I'm talking slow cookers,electric skillet, air fryer.
(04:25):
Leave them at home.
Okay, this isn't your truck,this is a trainer's truck.
Save that for when you get yourown truck.
Okay, so I once had a traineethat brought a mini George
Foreman girl.
Plug it in, trip the inverterand then we're done, we're off
(04:46):
Fridge didn't work.
Burn up the inverter Not a goodstart on day one.
Okay, don't do it.
Most trainers already havetheir own setup and you should
be in communication with yourtrainer prior anyway.
So you guys can have a littleside chat about food.
(05:06):
Okay, they're not going to letyou turn their cab into a mini
gourmet kitchen.
Right, space is tight.
So if they have room anddiscuss this with them, uh,
stick to a small cooler forsnacks, maybe a thermos for
coffee.
Ask your trainer what they arecool with before you start
(05:28):
packing up appliances, um, andbags of things.
Okay, because you're going tobe limited on space.
So while we're talking abouteating and cooking gear, let's
talk about food, okay.
So this is number three of whatnot to bring on your truck
trainer's truck.
(05:49):
Okay, do not bring anythingwith a strong smell.
This one is huge.
Folks, you are in a tight,confined space with someone for
weeks.
Right?
We're not heating up fish inhere, we're not.
We're not heating up shrimp.
No, no, no, no, no.
(06:10):
Nothing.
No strong seasonings.
And then let's let's expand onthat.
Right, if we don't want smellystuff, we don't want to smell
like a locker room either.
We don't want to smell like aperfume counter.
We don't want to smell yourstinky gym shoes.
We don't want to smell like alocker room either.
We don't want to smell like aperfume counter.
(06:31):
We don't want to smell yourstinky gym shoes.
We don't want to smell tunafish sandwiches.
We don't want to smell yourcheap cologne.
You know, we don't want tosmell you.
Instead of taking a shower youlike, cover yourself in an ax
spray.
Right, it is not a substitutefor a shower, so we don't want
that.
Keep it neutral.
Pack unscented toiletries.
(06:53):
Or, if you got your stuff,don't spray it outside the truck
.
That's my advice to you.
When you gotta put your perfumeon your body spray, do it
outside the truck.
Get that first extra whiff offof you before you climb in the
truck.
If you got sweaty clothes, bringa sealed plastic bag to put
your dirty laundry in.
(07:14):
Right, um, bring some of thoseodor eaters for your shoes.
Respect the airspace.
It is a shared resource and Ihope that your trainer is doing
the same thing.
And if they're not, and you area super clean, nice smelling
person and you get into somerank, nasty trick, let student
services know.
(07:34):
Okay, let them know, because wedon't want you having to endure
that for weeks at a time.
All right, nobody wants toendure that for weeks at a time.
I wouldn't endure it.
And make sure you shower.
There is no reason why youshould not be showering on the
road.
Okay, I don't care what anybodysays, there is plenty of time
to shower, all right.
(07:55):
So we talked about luggage.
We talked about kitchenappliances.
We talked about strong smellingstuff.
So let's talk aboutentertainment and tech.
All right.
So you might hear a lot ofpeople or be on grooves where
people are setting up gamingconsoles right, you might have
(08:17):
Bluetooth speakers.
You might be some old schoolperson with stack of DVDs I mean
, that's not really a thinganymore, right, because there's
so many streamings but you stillgot them.
Nope, nope, nope, nope.
First off, where are youplugging all that in?
You're in a trip.
Second, your trainer is notyour roommate dude, they're your
(08:43):
boss for this stretch.
Okay, we don't want no portableprojector to watch movies on
the cab wall.
Yes, yes, it has happened.
Cute idea.
But no, when you are on thattrainer's truck, keep it to your
bare minimums.
Headphones headphones whenyou're listening to things.
(09:04):
Right, your phone withheadphones.
I mean, you got to listen totrucking with Tammy, which is
great.
But other than that, leave theelectronics at home until you
get your own truck.
You might need your iPad, youknow if you, if you're doing so,
(09:24):
um, some people are doingschool on the road and if you're
doing that, fine, bring youriPad, bring a laptop, but keep
it down to a minimum, okay, um,do not turn the truck into a
Best Buy showroom, absolutelynot.
So here's the last big noserandom personal junk.
(09:44):
And you may think I'm kidding,you may think who brings this
kind of stuff, but they do, theydo.
You do not need your highschool trophy, right?
You don't need your collectionof lucky rocks and you do not
(10:04):
need that giant stuffed animalthat your boyfriend gave you
before he left you to remind youof him.
I'm not kidding, I have seen itall.
I had a trainee that brought aguitar instead to help them to
relax.
You can't play a guitar whenthe other person's driving down
the road.
You cannot play a guitar in anenclosed space.
(10:25):
Okay, save it for your trucknow, and there's no room for it
anyway.
Right, so you get a bunk andmaybe, maybe, if you're lucky,
the trainer may give you alittle bit of cabinet space.
But even when you have your owntruck, you're going to learn
that you have to organize it ina way to get everything in there
(10:48):
, and there's a lot of thingsyou're not even going to want to
take with your own truck.
Clutter drives, trainers, nuts.
It should drive you, nuts.
They have a system.
It should drive you nuts.
They have a system.
They have their own vibe andyour job is to learn.
It's not to redecorate theirspace.
So only pack what you need tosurvive Bring your clothes,
(11:10):
bring your toiletries, bringsome non-smelly snacks, bring
your charger.
Leave the sentimental stuff athome, leave the living on the
road, stuff that you're going toneed when you have your own
truck at home.
Um, so all the carriersgenerally, no matter what
trucking company you get, onceyou're assigned your own truck,
(11:32):
they will route you through thehouse so you can get the rest of
the stuff you need.
Okay.
So my first week as a trainer,um, I saw some pretty big rookie
mistakes.
So, uh, I had this girl whowalked to my truck and she
opened the passenger door and, Ikid you not, this girl looked
(11:56):
like she was moving into a home.
She had so many things, it wastoo much, it would not fit.
It took up almost all of herbunk and I gave her closet space
and I gave her a cabinet andthen she's like I can't sleep
with all this stuff here.
Well, I'm not sleeping in withmy bunk.
(12:18):
This is the stuff you brought.
You better make room for it,because that's your space.
That's all the space you haveto store things.
You get a little bit of coolerrefrigerator space.
You get a shared closet space.
You may get a small cabinet andwhen we're talking small
cabinet, we're talking smallcabinet.
Okay, anything else that youbring you have to sleep with on
(12:39):
your bunk.
So remember that.
Remember that if bring it, ifyou are okay with sleeping with
it, all right.
So that's it for today's episodeof Trekking with Tammy.
I hope this helps with the newCDL holders out there.
That's getting ready to hit theroad with your trainers.
If you got a packing horsestory, drop me a line.
(13:00):
I'd love to hear it.
You can find me on Twitter orshoot me an email on my Trucking
with Tammy webpage.
So next week we are going totalk about shoes.
I literally just watched aTikTok video with a lady
flatbedding in stilettos.
(13:21):
So until then, keep the shinyside up, rubber side down.
I can't talk today.
This is Tammy signing off Statetravels and you guys have a
great day.
Good morning truckers .
How are you today?
Welcome back to Trucking withTammy.
I'm your host, tammy, and thisis the podcast where we talk
about all things trucking, andtoday we're going to give you
some tips and tricks from theroad.
So, whether you're a seasoneddriver just getting your wheels
rolling, like what we're goingto address today, we've got
(00:24):
something for you.
So today we're going to diveinto a segment.
So last week, I did a segment onwhat to bring on your trainer's
truck, and, after scrollingthrough some social media this
week and seeing some crazythings, I decided to do a
(00:44):
segment on what not to pack whenyou're hitting the road with a
trainer.
Okay, so, trust me, I have beenthere both as a new CDL holder
getting trained and, later inlife, being a trainer, and I
have seen some crazy stuffthat'll make you laugh and
possibly cringe a little.
So grab that coffee, settleinto that seat and let's roll on
(01:07):
through it All right.
So picture this you just passedyour CDL test right, congrats,
by the way and now you're aboutto spend weeks, maybe even a
month or two, in a trainer'struck.
It's exciting, it's nervewracking and, let's be real,
it's a whole lot of cramped inthat truck, that trainer's truck
(01:27):
.
It's their home, it's theiroffice, it's their castle.
You got to respect that you.
You're their guest.
So the last thing you want todo is roll up on that trainer
with a bunch of stuff that'sgoing to make your trainer just
regret saying yes to trainingyou.
So today I'm going to breakdown the top things you should
(01:51):
leave at home, because less ismore when you're sharing 70
square feet with someone who'steaching you how to drive right.
So let's start with the obviousBiggest thing giant suitcases.
You know those hard-shelled bigsuitcases.
I know I know You're like Tammy, I'm going to be out for weeks.
(02:14):
I need my stuff.
But here's the deal, guys.
The trainer's truck.
They don't have a walk-incloset in there.
You're not moving in, you'rebunking temporarily.
So that big old suitcase thatyou're using for vacations, it's
not going to fit under the bunk.
There is no overhead storagethat big.
(02:35):
I once saw a newbie.
She rolled up with a hard shellroller bag that was literally I
could have fit in it myselfright, took up half the cab and
the trainer that the truck thathe was going on.
The trainer made him leave itat the terminal.
There was absolutely no roomfor it, and that's a true story.
If the things aren't going tofit, you don't get to take them,
(02:58):
you have to leave them.
So be prepared for that, okay,prepared for that, okay.
Tip, and if you look at my mylast video, I go over this quite
a bit Stick to a soft duffelbag.
It's something that, if youunpack or there's room to hang
up stuff, that duffel bag canfold up.
(03:21):
It can roll up, you can squishit into the corner, you can
throw your pillow on it at nightand sleep on it.
So we only want to pack lightessentials only.
You're not going to a fashionshow.
Leave the stilettos at home.
You're learning to haul freight, okay.
So baggage we're going to andwhat to pack.
If you're confused about that,go back and look at my other
(03:42):
segment as well, right?
So?
Next thing Kitchen overload.
If you're confused about that,go back and look at my other
segment as well, right?
So?
Next thing kitchen overload.
Right, I get it.
Eating out gets old and thosetruck stop fast food warmer
plates, hot dog rollers, rollerdogs adds up fast in dollars,
(04:04):
calories, not to mention what itdoes to your stomach.
But do not I repeat, do notbring a full on cooking setup in
your trainer's truck.
I'm talking slow cookers,electric skillet, air fryer.
(04:25):
Leave them at home.
Okay, this isn't your truck,this is a trainer's truck.
Save that for when you get yourown truck.
Okay, so I once had a traineethat brought a mini George
Foreman girl.
Plug it in, trip the inverterand then we're done, we're off
(04:46):
Fridge didn't work.
Burn up the inverter Not a goodstart on day one.
Okay, don't do it.
Most trainers already havetheir own setup and you should
be in communication with yourtrainer prior anyway.
So you guys can have a littleside chat about food.
(05:06):
Okay, they're not going to letyou turn their cab into a mini
gourmet kitchen.
Right, space is tight.
So if they have room anddiscuss this with them, uh,
stick to a small cooler forsnacks, maybe a thermos for
coffee.
Ask your trainer what they arecool with before you start
(05:28):
packing up appliances, um, andbags of things.
Okay, because you're going tobe limited on space.
So while we're talking abouteating and cooking gear, let's
talk about food, okay.
So this is number three of whatnot to bring on your truck
trainer's truck.
(05:49):
Okay, do not bring anythingwith a strong smell.
This one is huge.
Folks, you are in a tight,confined space with someone for
weeks.
Right?
We're not heating up fish inhere, we're not.
We're not heating up shrimp.
No, no, no, no, no.
(06:10):
Nothing.
No strong seasonings.
And then let's let's expand onthat.
Right, if we don't want smellystuff, we don't want to smell
like a locker room either.
We don't want to smell like aperfume counter.
We don't want to smell yourstinky gym shoes.
We don't want to smell like alocker room either.
We don't want to smell like aperfume counter.
(06:31):
We don't want to smell yourstinky gym shoes.
We don't want to smell tunafish sandwiches.
We don't want to smell yourcheap cologne.
You know, we don't want tosmell you.
Instead of taking a shower youlike, cover yourself in an ax
spray.
Right, it is not a substitutefor a shower, so we don't want
that.
Keep it neutral.
Pack unscented toiletries.
(06:53):
Or, if you got your stuff,don't spray it outside the truck
.
That's my advice to you.
When you gotta put your perfumeon your body spray, do it
outside the truck.
Get that first extra whiff offof you before you climb in the
truck.
If you got sweaty clothes, bringa sealed plastic bag to put
your dirty laundry in.
(07:14):
Right, um, bring some of thoseodor eaters for your shoes.
Respect the airspace.
It is a shared resource and Ihope that your trainer is doing
the same thing.
And if they're not, and you area super clean, nice smelling
person and you get into somerank, nasty trick, let student
services know.
(07:34):
Okay, let them know, because wedon't want you having to endure
that for weeks at a time.
All right, nobody wants toendure that for weeks at a time.
I wouldn't endure it.
And make sure you shower.
There is no reason why youshould not be showering on the
road.
Okay, I don't care what anybodysays, there is plenty of time
to shower, all right.
(07:55):
So we talked about luggage.
We talked about kitchenappliances.
We talked about strong smellingstuff.
So let's talk aboutentertainment and tech.
All right.
So you might hear a lot ofpeople or be on grooves where
people are setting up gamingconsoles right, you might have
(08:17):
Bluetooth speakers.
You might be some old schoolperson with stack of DVDs I mean
, that's not really a thinganymore, right, because there's
so many streamings but you stillgot them.
Nope, nope, nope, nope.
First off, where are youplugging all that in?
You're in a trip.
Second, your trainer is notyour roommate dude, they're your
(08:43):
boss for this stretch.
Okay, we don't want no portableprojector to watch movies on
the cab wall.
Yes, yes, it has happened.
Cute idea.
But no, when you are on thattrainer's truck, keep it to your
bare minimums.
Headphones headphones whenyou're listening to things.
(09:04):
Right, your phone withheadphones.
I mean, you got to listen totrucking with Tammy, which is
great.
But other than that, leave theelectronics at home until you
get your own truck.
You might need your iPad, youknow if you, if you're doing so,
(09:24):
um, some people are doingschool on the road and if you're
doing that, fine, bring youriPad, bring a laptop, but keep
it down to a minimum, okay, um,do not turn the truck into a
Best Buy showroom, absolutelynot.
So here's the last big noserandom personal junk.
(09:44):
And you may think I'm kidding,you may think who brings this
kind of stuff, but they do, theydo.
You do not need your highschool trophy, right?
You don't need your collectionof lucky rocks and you do not
(10:04):
need that giant stuffed animalthat your boyfriend gave you
before he left you to remind youof him.
I'm not kidding, I have seen itall.
I had a trainee that brought aguitar instead to help them to
relax.
You can't play a guitar whenthe other person's driving down
the road.
You cannot play a guitar in anenclosed space.
(10:25):
Okay, save it for your trucknow, and there's no room for it
anyway.
Right, so you get a bunk andmaybe, maybe, if you're lucky,
the trainer may give you alittle bit of cabinet space.
But even when you have your owntruck, you're going to learn
that you have to organize it ina way to get everything in there
(10:48):
, and there's a lot of thingsyou're not even going to want to
take with your own truck.
Clutter drives, trainers, nuts.
It should drive you, nuts.
They have a system.
It should drive you nuts.
They have a system.
They have their own vibe andyour job is to learn.
It's not to redecorate theirspace.
So only pack what you need tosurvive Bring your clothes,
(11:10):
bring your toiletries, bringsome non-smelly snacks, bring
your charger.
Leave the sentimental stuff athome, leave the living on the
road, stuff that you're going toneed when you have your own
truck at home.
Um, so all the carriersgenerally, no matter what
trucking company you get, onceyou're assigned your own truck,
(11:32):
they will route you through thehouse so you can get the rest of
the stuff you need.
Okay.
So my first week as a trainer,um, I saw some pretty big rookie
mistakes.
So, uh, I had this girl whowalked to my truck and she
opened the passenger door and, Ikid you not, this girl looked
(11:56):
like she was moving into a home.
She had so many things, it wastoo much, it would not fit.
It took up almost all of herbunk and I gave her closet space
and I gave her a cabinet andthen she's like I can't sleep
with all this stuff here.
Well, I'm not sleeping in withmy bunk.
(12:18):
This is the stuff you brought.
You better make room for it,because that's your space.
That's all the space you haveto store things.
You get a little bit of coolerrefrigerator space.
You get a shared closet space.
You may get a small cabinet andwhen we're talking small
cabinet, we're talking smallcabinet.
Okay, anything else that youbring you have to sleep with on
(12:39):
your bunk.
So remember that.
Remember that if bring it, ifyou are okay with sleeping with
it, all right.
So that's it for today's episodeof Trekking with Tammy.
I hope this helps with the newCDL holders out there.
That's getting ready to hit theroad with your trainers.
If you got a packing horsestory, drop me a line.
(13:00):
I'd love to hear it.
You can find me on Twitter orshoot me an email on my Trucking
with Tammy webpage.
So next week we are going totalk about shoes.
I literally just watched aTikTok video with a lady
flatbedding in stilettos.
(13:21):
So until then, keep the shinyside up, rubber side down.
I can't talk today.
This is Tammy signing off Statetravels and you guys have a
great day.
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