Suggestion for how to carry in books?

I've been told that Maryland is pretty strict with their policy and you can't use luggage to bring in your books. I've seen a few suggestions on here and think the milk crates on a hand dolly are winning right now. Any other creative ideas?

Milk crate was all I needed. Has the handles in case you encounter stairs. I didn't bother with a dolly/wheels.

I only needed a backpack but I did see folks with a plastic bin that had wheels.

Ohio allows luggage, thank god

Maryland is not strict at all but they make you take books out and put the luggage aside if is blocking the walkway. I used laundry basket and has no problem

Thanks for the feedback. Ramnares I feel like I'll need something of that size. Lol need all the support I can get!

Remember it's not about the quantity of references. You really should bring those books that you used during your preparation and are intimately familiar with. You don't want to bring a suitcase full of books and waste time searching through them.

Best of luck. It's only a couple more weeks so stay strong.

Two milk crates, bungee cords and hand truck. That's the ticket. Although I have seen a dBest(?) crate on wheels advertised on this site. Looks interesting.

I used a sturdy cardboard moving box with handles. That was enough to get 4 binders of class notes, MERM solutions, MERM, conversions book, Machinery's Handbook, and Mark's Handbook as well as an additional calculator and straight edges.

Those that brought there stuff in suitcases were required to put the references on the desk and store their suitcases outside of the room (under the watchful eyes of CTS "security").

Do the milk crates. I had two of them stacked on a little folding luggage dolly. Put your books in binding facing out, most used books in the top crate and those "just in case" books in the lower crate. Show up for the test and you've got an instant organized bookshelf. It was a lot easier than the people around me who had to root through a suitcase.

Thanks so much for the advice. I'm going with the milk crates so I can have access like you've mentioned. Seems the luggage is a hassle. I'm losing steam here! Not sure I'll pass on the first but I'll be damned prepared for the second round!

I have taken the test twice in MD and will be there again in a few weeks. You are allowed to use a suitcase. The only thing is whatever you use if it is not clear like a milk crate or clear storage container your materials have to be removed from the container. Then you place your suitcase etc. along the wall. I used a suitcase the first 2 times. This time I have clear storage containers which I will use a dolly to carry in. I will then be able to place the books in the container like a bookshelf. Additionally MD test sight is horrible. The lighting is bad the tables are hard to write on, and the chairs are really uncomfortable. I have a separate binder for each morning area, all the recommended books, CERM, binder with index of CERM, and another quick reference. Placing a copy of the index in another binder is really helpful. It allows you to look up several locations with having to refer back and forth to the index. Good Luck

Blue 8 said:

Thanks so much for the advice. I'm going with the milk crates so I can have access like you've mentioned. Seems the luggage is a hassle. I'm losing steam here! Not sure I'll pass on the first but I'll be damned prepared for the second round!

Click to expand...

I hear you - hope you only have to do it once though. Best of luck!

Hi,

You can get a Mobile Folding Cart with Lid for about $25 at Office depot or Office Max. Someone on this site suggested it.

It is collapsible and expands to 16"H x 18"W x 15"D and has a handle to wheel it around.

I filled the cart up with books and loaded two book bags on top of the cart and wheeled in more books than I needed.

I worked great, I am probably biased since I passed.

Good Luck on the PE exam everyone.

+1 on the folding cart from an office supply store. I'm taking that with another milk crate strapped down on top. If it weren't for having to haul in the AASHTO HCM, I think I could get away with just the cart.

power-engineer said:

image.jpg

Click to expand...

That's for Friday night.

I brought a suitcase (1 size up from a carry on). I wish I had done the milk crate/hand cart method. The suitcase was so heavy, it would have been nice to have it broken into the smaller crates. They let me keep the suitcase next to me, but I happened to be seated at the end of a row. Otherwise I would have probably had to stack things next to me.

I've said this a few times over the years, but ignore people from outside the Environmental discipline when they tell you to only bring a few references that you really need and that you used while studying. The Environmental exam has roughly 50 qualitative questions and is an extremely broad exam - I used about 20 references while studying and I honestly used nearly all of them on the exam too. I had time to look things up in a couple different books if necessary and having lots of sources for somewhat obscure regulatory questions may have made the difference between passing and failing.

Don't forget the bungee cord to hold crates to dolly.