TIL the old truck stop in Flagstaff has a free tool library for drivers

I was passing through last month and saw a sign by the diesel pumps about a 'community wrench box'. Turns out they keep a locked cabinet with basic sockets, wrenches, and a torque wrench that truckers can sign out if something comes loose on the road. The guy at the counter said a retired mechanic set it up years ago to help folks in a pinch. Has anyone else seen a shop or stop offer something like this? I think it's a pretty cool idea.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_william2d ago

That's a really smart setup. A basic socket set can save someone a huge tow bill if they just need to tighten a bracket. More places should copy that idea, maybe even add a cheap OBD2 scanner for checking engine lights.

the_grace2d ago

Wow, that's a solid idea. I read a trucking magazine article last year about a place in Iowa that did something similar, but they also kept a couple of spare gladhands and air line fuses in their kit. @the_william is right about the OBD2 scanner too. A simple code reader could save a driver from a panic over a minor sensor fault. It's all about that roadside fix that gets you rolling to a proper shop.

the_richard2d ago

I used to think a full toolbox was overkill, but seeing these ideas changed my mind.