Always in the cab
- Ice scraper + brush — mirrors and glass, not just the windshield
- Work gloves you can chain in — spare pair when the first ones soak through
- Chain-up tools so you can get chains on correctly and as efficiently as possible (Tag Snowman chain ramps and Chain Dawg)
- Headlamp or flashlight, plus charging cable or spare batteries — chaining at 4am in sideways snow
- Reflectors or flares — so you're seen when you're stopped
- Jumper cables or a jump pack
- Phone power bank + cable — maps, DOT alerts, and calling for help
- Phone numbers written on paper in case your phone dies and you need to borrow one (none of us remember anyone's number anymore)
- Hand warmers
- Extra socks, hat, and a warm layer that stays dry in a bag
- Non-perishable snacks + water — don't leave water to freeze solid in the sleeper; grab it before a mountain day
- First aid + your own meds
- Winter washer fluid topped off, with a spare jug if you burn through it on salt spray
- Spare jug of coolant
- Collapsible shovel — docks and shoulders bury tires too
- Paper map of your route area — when the phone dies or coverage drops
Before you leave the yard
- Fuel above half a tank when you're heading into the mountains
- Make sure your chains are in good working condition
- Check the weather forecast and DOT road conditions (closures, chains, incidents) before you roll
- Tell someone the route and rough ETA
If you're stuck
- Stay with the truck when you can
- Don't idle for hours with the exhaust buried — clear the pipe and run heat in short bursts
- Make yourself visible before you step out
FreightIQ is built to turn real delivery experience into clear stop notes for the next driver—including you when you return.