When it comes to organizing your truck, there is more to it than just getting things cleaned up and put away. It’s giving your things a home, and a secure thoughtful place to reside.
Don’t allow your life be distressed by the dysfunction of trying to remember where you put such and such, or the disaster of things tumbling around everywhere while you drive down the road.
Taking some time to really think about how, and where you store things can make your job so much easier. It’ll also prevent future headaches.
Sorting Your Things
First I create a few categories of my things. I take a look at everything I’m going to need on my truck, and try to make sense out of their functionality and relevance.
These are the categories I came up with that fit my needs, you may have others.
1. Bedding: sheets, blankets, pillows etc.
2. Clothes: jackets, socks, uniforms etc.
3. Food: utensils, dry goods, napkins etc.
4. Toiletries: shampoo, soap, toothbrush, medicine/first aid etc.
5. Maintenance: Tools, Fluids, Chains etc.
6. Paperwork: Atlas, logbook, permits etc.
7. Necessities: wallet, sunglasses, phone etc.
After I have divided all my things, I look at the size of my piles. Then I plan the containment solutions accordingly.
For example, my items in my necessities category are usually rather small, and I have a convenient compartment right above the driver’s seat. I usually store those things right up there, and do not worry to much about them rolling around.
On the other hand for my food category I had to come up with a different solution, because there were many more items of large and small sizes.
It’s hard to rummage through everything when it’s in a chaotic pile. My whole effort is based on storing as many items of the same category together as possible to make finding them, quick and easy.
Don’t bring more things on your truck than you truly need, and I know this will take some time to figure out. I assure you less is more, especially when it comes to cleaning.
Organizing Your Things
There are 3 general products I use to contain my things.
1. Tupperware
When it comes to buying Tupperware cheaper is generally never better. As you search for Tupperware you are going to want the containers that have locking lids, not just ones the loosely snap on.
When you are rolling down the road, and that thing falls on the floor for one reason or another, you will thank me later that you didn’t buy the container with the loose fitting, snap-on lid.
You will not be a happy camper with all your belongings bouncing around at your feet while you are traveling down the interstate, trust me!
2. Crates/Baskets
I use crates and baskets for things that are too tall, long or bulky for Tupperware. I use larger milk crates under my bed to divide the compartment.
If you just pile things under the bed it gets really is hard to find things when you need it. Plus it’s so easy just to pile it into an organized crate instead.
Best part is you can even lift it out in one piece, and put it right back when your done.
This is where baskets really rock. I’m not talking about the large ones that you store laundry in, but smaller ones that can fit into your cupboards. I generally use baskets to hold my dry food goods.
I just lift the basket down, take out what I need, and proceed to put it right back away. So simple and smooth.
Using baskets also prevents frustration that can be brought on by looking for a salt shaker, when it’s buried in a pile of a bunch of other spices.
3. Bags
I use bags for the things I need to take in, and out of the truck often. For example I have a bag for my dirty laundry, a shower bag, and a morning bag.
Bags are an easy way to store a lot of items you need to carry with you out of the truck, big or small.
Storing Your Things
After determining your containment solutions, you need to find a home for your belongings.
Generally I don’t buy any of my “containers” until I determine their homes, because sometimes you need special size containers for certain areas in the truck depending on the storage equipment the truck provides.
It is important to organize your things in a way that makes your job easier, not harder.
Make It Work For You
It seems really straight forward, but you’d be surprised. Just think about it, if you were to put your eating utensils under your bed, you’d have a hell of a time preparing food having to lift your bed multiple times a day.
Just take a little extra time picking your “homes” for your belongings, so you don’t end up in this kind of situation.
Make sure you develop a flow with your storage solutions so everything serves it’s function near, or easily accessible, to where it is used. Don’t bury your things considerably out of the way, if you can avoid it.
You may also find down the road that there may be a need to rearrange things.
It’s important to be flexible, and besides it’ll be much easier now that most of your things are organized into containers.
I’m not going to try and assume everyone uses their truck the same way, or needs any of the same things. I’ll just give an example of generally where I chose to store my things in my truck, and you can chose to use it as inspiration or not.
Sound good? Let’s get to it then.
Storage In My Truck
The Front
I’ll begin with what I store in the front of my truck.
I referenced before that I loosely store my necessary and commonly used items in the compartment above the driver’s seat. Along with those things I also keep my paperwork, eating utensils, and cleaning supplies in the compartments that are part of the front of the cab.
The Rear
In the sleeper area, I store everything else.
I store my laundry bag, dog food container, and camera gear on my top bunk. Be aware that some trucks do not have a top bunk, and you will have to adapt your storage solutions for what space you have available.
I have a small closet like many trucks where I hang my uniform shirts and fold extra pants and tops below them. I have container solutions for my underwear and socks. These containers are stored right above the closet.
With this organization method everything I need to get ready in the morning is in the same area.
Right below my closet I store all my toiletries.
On the opposite side of my closet I have my refrigerator and microwave. I have a flat surface above my refrigerator where I store my bread, avocados and toaster. I use these things in the morning for my breakfast.
Above my microwave I have a compartment where I store my dry food in baskets, along with my plates and bowls.
I of course keep my bedding nicely made on my bed, and underneath my bed I have a few crates for extra shoes and towels respectively. This is also where I store all my maintenance materials.
On opposite sides, both accessible by an exterior door (side boxes), I have my chains and tools, separated from my fluids.
I believe that’s a pretty general overview of where I keep everything. I hope you’ve gained some inspiration to make your own cab a little more functional, and organized.
If you’d like a more in-depth look into my truck, and how I organize and store my things please check out the video below.
Until next time,
Shelby
