Always Keep These 7 Essentials in Your Truck!

It goes without saying that truck driver jobs mean hours cruising along the country’s many highways! It’s an adventure that opens you up to new places, faces and days that promise to offer something different than the typical 9 to 5 desk job.

If you’re just starting your truck driving career, it takes time and experience to get your routine sorted just the way you prefer. But, the drayage community is always there to offer invaluable insight to help you get going. 

For one, since you will be on the road a lot, there are certain essentials to keep in your cabin for comfort and convenience. We’ve compiled a list of the items that help drivers daily for intermodal drayage jobs.

Cleaning supplies for trucks

These days, it’s more important than ever to stay vigilant about hygiene. Truck drivers especially need to stay on top of cabin cleanliness. Invest in a bundle of disinfectants, a dustpan and mini trash can. A handheld vacuum makes it fast and easy to suck up crumbs and dirt in a jiffy, especially in hard to reach places, like seat creases. 

Travel LED flashlight

An extra light source is always handy when you’re traveling, especially over the road. It makes it easy to find important documents in the dark or for inspecting your truck if you have some mechanical issues. Don’t opt for one of those small key chain lights, though. Invest in a proper, durable LED flashlight for long lasting quality.

Emergency & First Aid kit

Of course, you need to be prepared with a fine set of emergency kits! One should be for mechanical issues and the other should be for health emergencies. Keep an inventory of the items in each kit and if you use something, remember to restock for the next trip.

For your emergency kit, consider these items:

• Road flares
• Cones
• Safety vest
• Road atlas
• Tire pressure gauge
• Extra water bottles

Health snacks & water

It’s a challenge to stay healthy on the road, but now there are plenty of resources available to truckers to meal plan and exercise. One way is by stocking up on healthy snacks like fruits, whole grains, nuts and vegetables. Keep a cooler or mini fridge on board for more flexibility. Always stock up on water. With healthy snacks available, you won’t be as tempted to buy fast food.

A good pair of work gloves

When you need to get under your truck or do some heavy lifting, you’ll be ecstatic to have your own pair of gloves on hand! Look for quality leather cowboy gloves that are durable and comfortable.

File folder

Truck driver jobs require organization, especially with important paperwork. Set up a file system in your cabin for quick access to all of your documents. Try to automate your system as much as possible, updating your electronics with the latest transportation software, GPS and other office apps to make it easier.

Electric skillet

Sometimes it’s nice to cook your own pancakes or burgers- even if you’re on the road! An electric skillet is an easy way to cook while traveling, plus you can whip up a big batch of food at one time. They’re also a cinch to clean and don’t require propane refills.