Getting Started as a Project Member
This guide is for Project Members: the engineers, superintendents, and other team members who use Trunk Tools day to day to find answers in their project documents. It walks you from your first sign-in to asking questions from the field.
What You Can Do as a Project Member
✅ View the projects you're assigned to
✅ Ask questions and search your project's documents
✅ Use the agents you've been given access to
✅ Edit your own profile
— Change project settings, add or remove users, or create projects. Ask your Project Manager or Business Admin for help with these.
For the full breakdown, see Understanding Roles & Permissions.
Your First Steps
Step 1: Sign In
Sign in with the work email you were invited with.
Step 2: Open Your Project
Click the project name at the top of the sidebar and select your project. To switch later, see Switching Between Projects in Trunk Tools.
Note: Missing a project? Ask your Project Manager or Business Admin to add you.
Step 3: Ask Your First Question
Type a question in plain language, like "Which submittals are still open for the mechanical scope?" Then open the linked sources in the answer to check the details.
Be specific — name the level, area, system, or spec section.
Ask one thing at a time — and start a new conversation when you change topics.
Learn more: Asking Your First Question in Trunk Tools
Step 4: Narrow Your Results with Filters
Click the filter button next to the chat box to filter by source (your project's connected integrations) or by document type, such as Specifications, RFIs, Submittals, Drawings, or Daily Logs. See Using Filters in Trunk Tools.
Step 5: Attach a File When You Need To
You can attach a file, like a photo or a PDF, to a chat and ask about it. Attachments stay in that conversation only and aren't added to your project documents. See Attaching Files to a Chat in TrunkText.
Step 6: Take Trunk Tools to the Field
You get one Trunk Tools texting number, and it stays the same across all your projects. To find it in the web app, open your profile menu and look for Your TrunkText Number. Save it as a contact, like "Trunk Tools," and text it your questions.
Which project your texts go to: Text questions go to the last project you picked in the web app. When you switch projects in the web app, you'll get a text letting you know the project has changed.
Welcome text: You'll get a welcome text when you're first added to Trunk Tools or accept an invite. You won't get another text when you're added to more projects later. If you don't have a phone number on file, you won't get a text. Find your number in the profile menu instead.
You can also add Trunk Tools to your phone's home screen. See Using Trunk Tools on Mobile.
Step 7: Explore Your Agents
Depending on your project, you may also have agents for submittals, RFIs, drawing reviews, and more.
Looking for Ideas?
See You've Purchased Trunk Tools — Now What? for example questions by role and project phase.
Questions? Reach out to support@trunk.tools.