What to do if You Are on the Road for the Holidays
Being away from your home and family as a truck driver is difficult no matter what time of the year but it can be especially difficult if you are away for the holidays. The holidays can be lonely on the road and it often when the weather is the coldest and the road condition can be less than ideal.
Take Extra Caution on the Road
During the holiday season, the road will likely be busier than usual plus the road conditions could be questionable this time of year. Allow yourself extra time to get to your destination so that you do not have to rush. Be patient on the road and be sure you are prepared for the road conditions. If the weather turns bad and you need to wait for roads to open be sure you are prepared with enough food, fuel and warm clothes. If you are in the mountains, be sure you have chains for your tires. If you do need to wait on the side of the road until they are open again, take advantage of the time and connect with family and friends.
Participate and Spread Holiday Cheer
If it is possible, participate in nearby holiday festivities. If time allows, find a nearby activity that you can participate in to help get you in the holiday spirit. If that is not possible, try listening to holiday music, decorating your cab and pick yourself up a special treat to help celebrate. When you meet other truck drivers that are on the road, spread kindness. Be sure to wish everyone happy holidays and even consider having treats that you can hand out to other truck drivers and truck stop employees.
Stay Connected with Family and Friends
Thankfully, with technology today it is easier to stay connected with family and friends. When it is safe to do so, video chat with family and friends. You could also consider sending packages home from where ever you are to remind your loved ones that you are thinking of them. Send pictures of where you are and ask them to send you pictures of what they are doing so you feel a part of the holiday celebrations.
Use Your Time Off Strategically
If you are going to be on the road during the calendar holidays, talk to your loved ones about celebrating either before you leave or once you are home. There is no rule that you have to celebrate holidays on the actual calendar date. Be flexible and encourage your friends and family to be flexible as well so that everyone can enjoy holiday traditions, no matter when that is.
Loved Ones of a Truck Driver
If you are a loved one of a truck driver and you know that they will be on the road for the holidays, consider helping them get through the holidays on the road. Some ideas might be to pack them a homemade care package, connect with them often by sending holiday inspired photos/videos and plan your holiday festivities around their schedule when possible.
No matter what, being on the road for the holiday season can be difficult but hopefully some of these ideas can help you get through the season the best way possible.
When you are a truck driver you spend hundreds of hours on the road, there is no way to avoid it. So, what can you do to increase your comfort on the road and allow you to do your job properly and in a timely manner? Below we explore some ideas for accessories that might help and how to help give you a smoother ride in your truck.
Truck Driver Accessories
There are many accessories available to truck drivers today that could help make your hours in the truck more comfortable. The most common complaint of pain for truck drivers is their back. Take time to stretch before you get in your truck and whenever you have a chance to stop. Be conscious of your posture and look for a memory foam cushion and lumbar support that you can use. These have been proven to help with back pain and even hip and leg pain.
Use a cell phone mount. When used properly a phone is a great tool to have on the road. It is important it does not become a distraction on the road and you can keep your hands on the steering wheel. This way you are not looking down and hurting your neck even when you are safely stopped.
A seatbelt cover is a simple yet great accessory to use on the road. It can prevent uncomfortable chaffing on your collar bone and across your stomach.
Keeping the temperature regulated in your cabin can add to your comfort. Sometimes it can be tricky to find the balance but a fan can be a handy tool to use. It will keep the air moving in the truck and help to keep you comfortable while you are driving and can also help you to get a quality sleep.
Keep Your Truck Driving Smoothly
There are a couple things you can do to help your truck ride smoother. You can replace your shock absorbers with lighter ones. It is also suggested to replace the springs in your truck with lower rated leaf springs.
Tires can also make a difference in your ride. Make sure they are properly sized for your type of truck and that the air pressure in them is what is specified by the manufacturer.
If your truck is vibrating one way to help is to consider double-stacking the rubber rings on the coil springs. They can sometimes be noisy but one way to avoid the unnecessary noise is to coat them in grease before setting them in place.
There are many things you can do to stay comfortable while driving in your semi truck. Drinking lots of water and eating a balanced diet will also help with your overall physical comfort. It can help to avoid headaches, body aches and stomach pains.
Keep all of these tips in mind when you hit the road and hopefully you can have a comfortable and productive trip in your truck.
When you are planning to hit the road as a truck driver it can be overwhelming trying to decide what to take with you. Knowing you will be on the road without all the comforts of home can make it challenging. It can be especially tricky if you are new to truck driving or don’t know how long you will be away from home. So here we have rounded up a list of essentials that you could bring with you to help when it is time to get on the road.
Tool Kit
It is important to have some key tools and supplies with you. They can come in handy if you have a breakdown or need to do a quick repair of something on the inside or outside of your truck. Here is a short list of tools and supplies that you consider bringing with you on the road: screwdriver, brake cleaner, zip ties, pliers, hammer, wrench set, tire pressure gauge, flashlight and batteries, pocket knife, shovel, chains for tires (if there is a chance you will run into poor weather), and wire cutters.
Clothing and Personal Items
It may seem unnecessary to think about what clothes and personal items you will bring on your trip but it can really contribute to the comfort of your trip. If you think ahead and consider factors like weather, location and duration of your trip it will help to plan what to bring. For example, even if it is a small possibility that you could run into bad weather bring extra sweaters and a warm jacket and pants so that you don’t have to worry about being cold. Some other things to consider bringing with you would be: a shower kit, a grooming kit, enough clean underwear for the duration of your trip incase you don’t have access to a washing machine, any pills that you take, raincoat, any necessary PPE, sunglasses, raincoat and wipes for any small spills that may occur.
Cleaning Supplies
Keeping a clean truck is important for your comfort and safety. It is important for your safety for a couple of reasons. Keeping your truck clean and free as possible of germs can help you stay healthy during and after your trip. Also, if you have a messy truck there is risk of something distracting you while you are driving and causing major damage. Keep key cleaning supplies in your truck such as; a handheld vacuum, paper towels, all-purpose cleaner, disinfectant wipes, laundry detergent and air freshener.
Electronics and Accessories
Electronics can be very helpful tools but it is important to bring a paper map or atlas in the off chance that all technology fails. Some things on this list might seem obvious but they are important and worth having on the list. Be sure your cell phone and two chargers, incase one fails and you are not in an area to get a new one. For entertainment during your downtime you could bring; a handheld gaming device, e-reader or tablet. Even if your truck has a built in GPS it would be good to have a handheld GPS that you could use if the one in your truck malfunctions.
Being prepared on the road is one of the best ways to help yourself get through long trips away from your home and family. Preparation starts long before you get on the road and is an important step in your overall trip.
