Most safety tips for truck drivers include important considerations such as avoiding fatigue, avoiding distractions, or avoiding sciatica. But today we’re going to go in a different direction. Instead of avoiding certain items, what should you bring with you?
Truck drivers face a wide variety of scenarios. Weather and individual topography is going to have a great impact on how a trip will go. However, there are certain considerations that will benefit truck drivers no matter where in the country they may be going.
Here are 10 items every trucker should have along on their next trip:
- Shower Kit
- Flip Flops
- Wet Wipes
- Flashlight
- Emergency Kit
- Emergency Food and Water
- Hands-Free Cell Phone Holder
- Earplugs
- Comfortable Bedding
- Appropriate Clothing
1. Shower Kit
Staying clean on the road is essential. You don’t need to go overboard and bring along deep-cleansing face masks, but you should have everything you need to stay clean. Pack a small bag with the basic necessities:
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Soap
- Shampoo
- Deodorant
Include any other daily necessities in here such as vitamins, supplements, and medications. Keeping all of this together makes it much harder to forget anything.
2. Flip Flops
This one might be a little surprising to anybody that hasn’t showered at a truck stop. It might be a place that sees soap and water all day long, but these shower stalls can still get pretty scummy throughout the course of a day.
Flip flops take up next to no room and can make the showering process much more pleasant. Do yourself a favor and bring some along on your next trip.
3. Wet Wipes
But no matter how much you make it a priority, there are going to be times when you just can’t get into the shower. In those cases, it’s best to have a back up plan. Wet wipes aren’t ideal, but they are a quick and easy way to refresh yourself while working on the road.
These can be used for a quick pass over your face, hands, arm pits, or any other part of your body that feels sweaty.
Visit M&W Transportation to learn more safety tips for truck drivers!
4. Flashlight
Flashlights are a great help for any number of circumstances when there just isn’t enough light to do what you need to do. You’ll treasure your flashlight in the case of a breakdown, but it doesn’t have to be as drastic as that.
Searching in or around your truck at night is made much easier with the help of a flashlight.
5. Emergency Kit
There will be times when your truck breaks down. Things happen. This is why we prepare for the worst. And emergency kit can be the difference between staying safe until you’re able to get help and putting yourself at unnecessary risk. Try to include the following items:
- Reflective clothing
- Road flares
- Rain gear
- A toolbox
6. Emergency Food and Water
Along those lines, it’s best to be prepared for worst-case scenarios. And you never want to be in a situation where you are desperate for food and water. Pack emergency rations of non-perishable food and some water.
Items like peanut butter, bread, apples, crackers, or anything else that will sustain you should you be stranded.
7. Hands-Free Cell Phone Holder
Many states are passing hands-free laws that will ticket drivers for using their phones while driving. However, many people use their smartphones as a navigation device, which might necessitate a glance every here and there.
Put your phone into a holder so you can glance over whenever you need without entirely taking your attention off the road.
8. Earplugs
A good night’s sleep is very important when you’re on the road. And sometimes it’s just not feasible to rent a comfortable hotel room every night. Sleeping in the truck doesn’t have to be a bad experience if the proper preparations are made.
Earplugs help to remove any road noise, wind, or surrounding noise when you’re trying to get those important hours of sleep.
9. Comfortable Bedding
A nice pillow and blanket will go a long way when you’re tired. There’s nothing to gain from simply trying to tough it out and sleeping in an uncomfortable position.
You’re going to have some extra room in your truck. Make use of it—stretch out, get comfortable, and wake up the next day refreshed and ready to go.
10. Appropriate Clothing
It might be easy to think, “Well I’m going to be in the truck the whole time, so what does it matter what I wear?” But you’ll thank yourself if you have to gas up in the snow, or walk into a diner while it’s raining.
Check the forecast along your route and bring along a few changes of clothes that will keep you comfortable along the way.
