If you’re a truck driver, it is common that you’ll spend a lot of time on the road, meaning you wouldn’t have access to all of your household goods and essentials, including certain things that would be beneficial in a time of crisis. Though these essential things can differ depending on the person, here are some trucking essentials that you can consider bringing with you the next time you go on the road.
1. First Aid Kit
First aid kits can be used to aid yourself in case you encounter small accidents. A well-stocked first-aid kit should include sticky bandages of various thicknesses, sterile gauze pads, alcohol. Antibiotics, tweezers, antihistamines, and pain reliever.
2. Emergency Kit
This emergency kit refers to the vehicular emergency kits. It should include a properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench, and tripod jack. It could also include batteries, a flashlight, duct tape, knife, fuses, and pliers.
3. Road flare and cones
Truck drivers should have road flares and cones in hand in case of emergency. Road flares and cones are very much essential when it comes to warning oncoming traffic and vehicles about an accident site ahead. Train conductors first used flares to signal how near they were to a train ahead of them in the railroad sector.
4. Electronics
It’ll be necessary to bring some electronic devices with you simply for personal usage. It’ll not just be useful to aid boredom, but will also be really useful in case of emergency. To back it up, you should also bring a power inverter, a phone charger, and headphones.
5. Healthy Snacks, Water, and Change of Clothes
If you will be spending a lot of time in some rural or isolated places, it’ll be good to bring some food, water, and a change of clothes; since there are plenty of times that a driver can be stranded. Bringing not just any food but healthy snacks will also be great instead of bringing junk foods because they can help you stay attentive on the road and avoid accidents.
6. Tire pressure gauge
Tire tread depth gauges are a low-cost gadget that can help you see if your tires are becoming excessively worn out. These tools can help you avoid accidents caused by tire problems. Keeping a tight watch on tire pressure can also have a financial impact, since under-inflated tires flex too much under load and produce increased rolling resistance, wasting gasoline.
7. Fire Extinguisher
This would not be the first requirement of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations if it were not important for work vehicles. All trucks, truck tractors, and buses are obliged by law to have fire extinguishers. The fire extinguishers must be filled and placed in a convenient location for usage.
8. Jumper Cables
In some circumstances wherein the vehicle battery is accidentally discharged, drivers should have jumper cables and other tools on hand. The vehicle manual outlines safe techniques for connecting and detaching cables.
9. PE/Spill Response Kits
If your truck is primarily involved in transporting hazardous goods, you must follow all local and federal transportation safety rules. In the event of an accident or mechanical failure resulting in a hazardous substance spill, PPE and a spill response kit are required.
10. Extra Money
Having some money stashed aside can come in handy if you lose your wallet and have to take hotel accommodation, buy supplies, or fuel.
