10 Essentials Every Truck Driver Should Have

Aug 10, 2020 | Blog

New to driving truck? You’ll quickly find out there’s some essentials that every driver should have in their cab. Here’s a few must-have items to keep in your cab:

Work Gloves

You’ll be going through a lot of work gloves, but a good pair to start on are leather cowboy gloves. Many truck drivers agree that these are the most comfy and durable, and tend to be less constricting than racing gloves.

Tire Pressure Gauge

You’re going to be checking the tire pressure a lot, you better have a handy-dandy trusty tire pressure gauge. These small tools can help you avoid a big accident due to tire issues, so they’re very important.

First Aid Kit & Emergency Kit

If you’re driving for a company, most of the time there’s already a first aid kit somewhere in there. However, these tend to be very basic. When you actually need a first aid kit, you’ll want one that’s fully-stocked and has everything you need, so either make sure the current one is adequate, or get a good, new one.

Emergency Kit

Similar to the first-aid kit, many companies already include an emergency kit. And also like the first-aid kit, it may not include everything you need. A good emergency kit should include batteries, a flashlight, tin snips, bottled water, flares, duct tape, jumper cables, tarp, canned food, extra gloves, socks, and a hat, a window de-icer, a wrench, a knife, fuses, and pliers.

High-Visibility Safety Vest

These are very smart to have if you’re working on your truck during the dark nighttime, and you should also have one because some vendors and sites will require truck drivers to wear one.

Durable LED Flashlight

Truckers have dozens of uses for a flashlight, and having a very strong and durable one is important. If your truck breaks down during a snowstorm or heavy rain, you’ll be extremely grateful for a powerful flashlight to help you see.

Snack – Healthy ones!

Because of their crazy schedules, truck drivers have a reputation for bad eating habits. But having good-for-you snacks around will cut down on the urge to grab fast food. Keep fruit, whole grain crackers, sunflower seeds, nuts, and dark chocolate nearby.

Handheld Vacuum

Keep your cab clean! Handheld vacuums are a must for truck drivers. They don’t take up as much space as a regular vacuum, but they get the job done.

Expanding File Folder

A good truck driver should be organized. A light, portable, easy way to keep your paperwork in order, protected, and in one place. It’s always good to know exactly where your receipts, contracts, and other important papers are.

Up-to-Date Map or Road Atlas

We all have GPSes now, but we also all know that technology doesn’t always behave—or batteries can go. For those times, having a good Randy McNally Motor Carrier’s Road Atlas is like gold. This atlas is made especially for truck drivers.