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Every experienced trades person has driven back to the shop for something small and stupid. This list is the small and stupid things.
Power and lighting
- ✔ Heavy-gauge extension cords — 12 AWG for tools, not the thin household ones
- ✔ A GFCI adapter if the site has no protected outlets
- ✔ Portable work lights, more than one
- ✔ Spare batteries, charged, in the truck
- ✔ A power strip that can take a soaking
Jobsite work lights
Cordless area lights and a headlamp. Half of remodeling happens in unlit basements and attics.
Heavy duty extension cords
Thin cords cause voltage drop, which cooks motors. 12 AWG for anything over 50 feet.
Work support
Sawhorses that fold, a portable workbench, clamps, and something flat to work on. Cutting on the ground is slow and dangerous, and it shows in the work.
Folding sawhorses and work supports
A pair of folding horses and a sheet of ply is the fastest jobsite bench there is.
Consumables that stop work when missing
Spare saw blades. Impact-rated bits. Chalk refill. Pencils, more than you think. Utility knife blades. Screws in the sizes you actually use. Tape — masking, painter’s and duct.
Blade and bit refill kits
A blown blade at 3pm ends the day if you have no spare. Keep duplicates of everything cheap.
Safety and welfare
- ✘ A first aid kit that has been checked this year, not one that came with the van
- ✘ Eye wash for dust and chemical splashes
- ✘ Fire extinguisher if any hot work happens
- ✘ Water and shade in summer — heat illness ends more shifts than injuries
- ✘ Sunscreen for outdoor crews
Site admin
A clipboard or tablet, a marker for labelling, a camera (your phone) used constantly, and a plan for rubbish. Sites that stay tidy finish faster, and clients notice.
End of day, every day
- ✔ Tools accounted for and back in their boxes
- ✔ Cords coiled properly, not tangled
- ✔ Rubbish removed, floor swept
- ✔ Batteries on charge
- ✔ Tomorrow’s materials staged where you will need them
Frequently asked questions
What is most commonly forgotten? Extension cords, spare blades, and the first aid kit.
How many batteries should be in the truck? Enough that you never wait on a charger — usually six or more on a working kit.
Is a generator worth carrying? On sites without power, yes. Otherwise cordless plus long cords is lighter and quieter.
Stock the truck →