Pool Service Truck Setup: The Complete Guide to Stocking Your Route Vehicle

Your truck is your mobile office, warehouse, and workshop. Stock it wrong, and you'll waste hours driving back to the shop for forgotten supplies. Stock it with too much, and you're burning fuel hauling weight you rarely use. Every experienced pool tech has learned this balance the hard way—usually by forgetting a critical tool at the worst possible moment.

This guide compiles wisdom from veteran pool service professionals on exactly what to carry on your truck, what to leave at the shop, and the ongoing debates that divide the industry (looking at you, liquid vs. granular chlorine).

The Day-One Essentials

Before you hit your first stop, make sure you have these basics covered. This is the minimum viable truck setup—you'll add to it over time as you learn what your specific route demands.

The 360-degree brush is worth the upgrade. As one tech put it: "I switched last year and never looked back." It handles corners and steps much more efficiently than traditional brushes.

The exact quantities depend on your route size and pool types. A good rule of thumb: carry enough to service your full day plus 20% buffer. You'll dial this in after your first few weeks.

The Taylor K-2006 is the industry standard for a reason—it gives you FAS-DPD chlorine testing and accurate readings for pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and CYA. Use our chemical dosage calculator to determine exactly how much of each chemical to add based on your readings.

Tools Every Tech Needs

The most common response when new techs ask what they're missing? Channel locks. Followed closely by basic hand tools. You don't need a full toolbox, but you need enough to handle routine adjustments and minor repairs.

Some techs who do repairs and equipment work also carry a reciprocating saw and more specialized tools. But for standard maintenance routes, the list above covers 95% of what you'll encounter.

Filter Cleaning Supplies

Filter cleaning is where many new techs come up short. You need different supplies depending on whether you're servicing cartridge, sand, or D.E. filters.

The Chlorine Debate: Liquid vs. Granular

Ask ten pool techs what chlorine to use, and you'll get ten different answers. Here's how the debate breaks down:

The experienced consensus leans toward liquid chlorine for regular service: "Liquid chlorine is king" is a common refrain. The main reason? It doesn't add cyanuric acid or calcium, keeping your water chemistry cleaner long-term.

Use our CYA calculator to track stabilizer levels and avoid the buildup that comes from over-relying on stabilized chlorine products.

What NOT to Carry Daily

Just as important as knowing what to carry is knowing what to leave at the shop. These items are too heavy, too rarely used, or better brought on an as-needed basis.

Salt

This is unanimous among experienced techs: don't carry salt on your truck daily. Here's why:

• Salt is heavy—40 lb bags add up fast
• Most pools only need salt added once or twice per year
• You can balance a pool with liquid chlorine until you return with salt
• Many techs have customers order their own salt (it's cheaper on Amazon anyway)

Instead, check salt levels during service. If a pool needs salt, note it and bring the specific amount needed on your next visit. One tech's approach: "I charge $12 a bag. They can get it on Amazon for half that delivered to their front door. So why not? I'll bring in a couple, but no more than 5."

Specialty Chemicals

Keep these at the shop and bring as needed:

• Phosphate remover — Only needed after storms or heavy debris
• Algaecide — For treatment, not routine maintenance
• Flocculant — Occasional use for cloudy pools
• Stain remover/Metal out — As-needed basis

The exception: if you have specific problem pools on your route that regularly need these products, carry small quantities.

Add-On Products Worth Carrying

Some chemicals aren't essential but can generate additional revenue and improve pool quality:

• Enzyme products — Break down oils and organic matter
• Water clarifier (Super Blue, Sea Klear) — Quick fix for hazy water
• Stain and scale control (Orenda SC-1000) — Preventive maintenance

These are easy upsells that provide genuine value to customers while improving your margins. Track what you use with a good cost-per-pool calculator to ensure you're pricing appropriately.

Regional and Seasonal Adjustments

Your truck setup isn't static. Expect to adjust based on:

Climate

• Hot climates: More chlorine consumption, higher CYA needs (tabs add stabilizer faster)
• Rainy areas: May need CYA more often due to dilution
• Hard water regions: More acid, potentially less cal-hypo

Season

• Spring opening: Algaecide, shock, stain treatment
• Summer peak: Maximum chlorine, CYA for new fills
• Fall closing: Winterizing chemicals, cover supplies
• Winter (warm climates): Reduced chemical loads, salt systems may not produce below 65°F

The First-Year Reality

Here's the truth every new pool tech discovers: your truck contents will change almost weekly for the first year. And that's okay.

As one veteran put it: "Don't worry, you'll figure out quickly what is worth carrying daily and what should be taken on certain occasions."

Another recommended: "Honestly if you aren't super busy at first, just schedule a super light first day and figure out what you're missing as you go."

The key is starting with the essentials, tracking what you run out of or wish you had, and adjusting your loadout weekly until you find your sweet spot.

Final Checklist: Print This

Here's your quick-reference checklist to keep in the truck:

Building your first route? Check out our complete guide on how to start a pool service business for everything from licensing to pricing.