One thing drivers need to be is resourceful, especially when it comes to repurposing items or adapting broken equipment. While reusing plastic bags as garbage bags in the truck is a common practice, it’s worth noting that Canada has recently imposed restrictions on their use. However, you can still purchase garbage bags from a grocery store, although they may be a bit challenging to use due to the absence of handles for hanging off the armrest.
To overcome this issue, you can utilize a plastic pail that often comes with tire chains as a holder for your garbage bag. Alternatively, a cleaned out 5-gallon paint pail can serve the same purpose effectively. If you find the sound of the turntable rattling around in your microwave annoying, a simple solution is to roll up a towel and place it inside the microwave to reduce the rattling. Similarly, in a toaster oven, you can use paper plates for the same purpose.
If you’re pulling a flat deck and have chains for load securement hanging from your headache rack, you can use the hooks from broken bungee cords to fold the chains in quarters. This prevents them from becoming a tangled mess in the tray. When folding and rolling your tarps, secure your end tarps with four bungees, use three bungees on your steel tarps, and two on your center tarp. This way, you can easily identify each type of tarp at a glance.
To keep your odds and ends (such as T-hooks, baling wire, binder clamps, etc.) organized and easy to find in the jockey box, you can utilize one-gallon ice cream pails. Ensure you carry at least three snipe bars in case one breaks, and have one of them shorter specifically for use with step decks, particularly when employing chains.
If you frequently transport temperature-controlled freight, it’s advisable to have a mechanic create a fuel cap for the trailer with an air inlet. Additionally, acquire an airline with a gladhand on one end and an air chuck on the other. In the event of running the trailer dry of fuel, priming the reefer or heater with compressed air is much easier than doing it manually.
