In recent years, new legislation has improved health and safety standards for truck drivers, particularly in the US. Concern for the welfare of drivers has become a more important consideration. Although hours are still long, they are limited and provide a fixed number of breaks for eating, drinking, and personal needs.
On assignments, truckers are still in the cab for much of the journey so acquiring some of the new comfort aids has become a necessity. These include in-truck gadgets and practical items to help with any vehicle problems or personal care.
Here are 5 accessories that make a trucker’s life on the road much more enjoyable. They can also be the perfect gifts for truck drivers.
1. Portable Oven and Personal Food Warmer
For those days when truckers have a tight time limit, delays and difficulties, or a meal is needed at unsocial hours. The portable oven is a great boon in these circumstances and day to day use and an alternative to fast food at roadside eateries. Some of these appliances can only be used to reheat pre-cooked food, others have limited cooking time or capacity.
The 110V Aotto Portable Oven and Food Warmer fulfils all the requirements in one package. The Aotto will reheat prepared meals or cook raw food while the driver is still at the wheel. This mini-oven is compact and light, weighing only 1.19 lbs and measuring 8.2 x 6.05 x 0.6 inches it fits into the cab neatly.
Simple to put prepared food in the tote and easy to plug in and set to warm or cook. It is also extremely economical to run as a slow-cooker. The oven has an automatic thermo-control that heats food to a temperature of 239°F, reducing down to 149°F and keeps warming between those heat levels.
The food will cook evenly and stay moist, fresh, and nutritious. Other features are suitability for a choice of containers, sealing that prevents odors seeping through into the cab, and a 12-month warranty on purchase. Retailing at an attractive price, the Aotto Portable Oven is a great buy for truckers.
2. Portable Refrigerator
Truckers often drive long hours and long distances and also in all weathers. Stopping for drinks in crowded bars/ cafes may not be convenient so a portable fridge is a must, especially on hot days or sticky nights. Salads and other cool food will be very welcome too rather than stopping or eating prepared food left to warm unpleasantly in the cab.
Caravans have long included portable ‘fridges in the vehicles so there are now many choices for truck drivers. The 21 Quart (20 Liter) Alpicool C20 Portable Refrigerator and ‘Fridge-Freezer is an ideal pick for truckers. With dimensions of 23.54 x 12.6 x 12.6 inches and a weight of under 20 lbs, the Alpicool Portable is a compact in-truck food/drink cooling accessory.
It has the benefit of being used as a fridge or freezer and can freeze without ice at temperatures of 4°F. The container, which is made of strong durable plastic, holds up to 25 x 330 ml cans of cola or several packs of water. This model of cooler has good sealing properties to keep food fresh on long journeys and can double as a picnic box on other occasions.
Another important feature is the battery protection with high, medium, or low settings to prevent the truck battery from running down. This neat, gray, stylish cooling unit runs quietly, allowing peace during rest breaks and is also anti-shake/shockproof, performing well on slopes, and in rugged conditions.
Simple to operate and sensibly priced, the Alpicool Portable C2 Portable Refrigerator/Freezer is an essential accessory for truckers.
3. UV Cleaner Bag
Trucking involves travel in many conditions with concerns over contracting viruses, diseases, and germ-borne conditions. Keeping the truck clean and germ-free as well as dealing with personal hygiene in these circumstances needs special care.
The use of UV to eliminate bacteria has been known for some time but the cleaner bag is a relatively new concept. A compact and powerful UV system is ideal for sanitizing electrical and personal equipment on long journeys. The Coospider UV-C light UV Portable Cleaner Bag provides an easy to use and effective way of cleaning and destroying germs.
This recommended system is contained in a tote bag which is foldable so entirely portable and operated via a USB outlet. It has a powerful UV-C wavelength light which works almost at once, a 5/10/15 minute timing button, and comes with a 2-year warranty.
4. Organizer
It is easy to get disoriented and fatigued on the road for many hours and/or days. Keeping things in order, personal items to hand and necessities close by can be a great help to truckers. A front seat organizer also helps to keep the seat clean and tidy and can save the driver time looking for various items.
In an emergency situation or when essential paperwork is required an organizer can be a boon for truckers. The Tidify Front Seat Organizer is one of the best designs to keep everyday items neatly packed and close by.
This organizer has many good features starting with its large size suitable for laptop or table storage and roomy enough for other small devices. Lots of Velcro, padding, and waterproof tough fabric protect contents and comfortable adjustable straps make it easy to carry and move.
Pockets for pencils, pens, and writing pads feature at the front of the bag, and inside is roomy enough for paperwork, books, and maps. Mesh within the main compartment is for easy access to those items most regularly used. Side pouches keep bottles of water upright.
Several superior features like zips and cushioning keep items safe and secure plus overstitching of the strong material make for a very durable product. The Tidify Front Seat Organizer is a must-have accessory for truckers.
5. Portable Vacuum
Dust, ash, food crumbs and dirt (and dog hair if your pet travels with you) can quickly pile up in the truck. A hand-held vacuum is ideal to whisk it all away. ThisWorx Portable Vacuum Cleaner is a high-powered handheld vacuum with a 16 ft. cable and attachments for total and easy cleaning of the cab.
There is no battery to charge – it is simply plugged into a 12V lighter port. Lightweight but super-powerful and with 3 carefully designed nozzles, this cleaner can remove wet and dry grime and debris from corners, surfaces, and under seats.
Easy-emptying, it comes with a spare HEPA filter. At a competitive price, The Thisworx Portable Vacuum has everything a trucker could need to keep the cab clean.
Takeaway
Truckers are of invaluable importance to the workforce of any country. The US relies on truckers to transport freight across the country to depots, ports and warehouses, wholesalers, retailers, and even directly to consumers. The trucking industry needs reliable truckers to meet the demand for many goods, raw materials, and medical supplies.
Improvements in training, conditions, health, and welfare are ongoing in the drive to recruit new truckers and retain veterans. Anything that can help provide truckers with better in-truck conditions can only benefit the whole industry. In the new era of trucking, these quality accessories are 5 must-haves for all truckers.
Geoff is a freelance writer at TruckersTraining.com with 20+ years of experience driving trucks and buses, dispatching, supervising, and training commercial driving teams. His expertise is writing topics on the transportation and trucking industry, and information technology trends.
