Trucking Through Doomsday

Special thanks to professional truck driver Stephen Crabtree, who has twenty years of industry experience and over a million safe driving miles.

Truck drivers are a vital part of our everyday life. They put the food on our table, the clothes on our backs, and the fuel in our gas tanks. There are currently 3.5 million truck drivers in the US, with one in nine being an owner-operator (a truck driver who owns their own business). Every year, truck drivers pass over 105,000 miles of road hauling 10.23 billion tons, or 72% of the overall freight in the country. The industry makes 732 billion dollars a year in revenue hauling anything and everything. Without them, stores and hospitals will be out of stock in just three days. They will force ATMs and banks to close. Water treatment plants will have to stop operating as they’ll run out of chemicals used to treat water. Because of this, truck drivers are always moving 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. If you know someone who is a truck driver, or a truck driver yourself, here is a way to put together an emergency kit to help while at work.

The Basics

Your truck driver’s survival bag is going to be like that of a Bug-Out Bag. You’re going to want to start off by getting, at the minimum, three days’ worth of food and water. You’ll want food you can travel with that requires no outside equipment, like boiling water or a microwave. Most over-the-road drivers often have a 12-volt refrigerator and a similar voltage cooking device. You can find these at a nearby truck stop or online. Next, get a couple of extra pairs of work pants and shirts because if you break down or have to pull over for whatever reason, it will not be the best weather outside. Double the amount of socks and underwear you would normally bring, as these have a variety of uses. Buy a car charger or a couple of portable battery packs to stay in touch with your employer and other people. Invest and educate yourself on how to use a CB radio just in case something happens to your phone. If you bring a pet, don’t forget their needs. If your cab has a bed, rotate the linens as often as you rotate your food rations.

Personal Hygiene

Truckers spend a great deal of time over the road to make tight deadlines. To make sure they arrive on time, they often skip showers and forgo normal bathroom breaks. Remember, you are the face of the company, so try to arrive looking as presentable as possible. You should always make sure when you leave for work you are wearing strong work boots, long denim pants, and a decent shirt that isn’t ratty or torn. Wet wipes or bath wipes give you that clean fresh feeling when showers aren’t reachable. If you have long hair, put a can or two of dry shampoo and a hairbrush in your bag. Body spray or aerosol deodorant is great for quick sprucing-ups to make yourself smell pleasant. A bottle of hand sanitizer is very helpful when visiting an outside bathroom like a Port-A-John. For long-haul drivers, consider setting up a makeshift toilet with a bucket, trash bag, and a pool noodle in the farthest corner of your cab. Remember to keep it clean by emptying it at a waste disposal site.

Truck Hygiene

You’ll want to keep your truck as clean as your body. Cleaning out your truck regularly not only helps with your mental health but increases your chances of getting the Department of Transportation (DOT) and police departments off your back as it shows signs of being responsible. Get a hand-held vacuum to sweep up crumbies in the seats. Interior car cleaning wipes are good on dashboards, steering wheels and other surfaces within the cab. Glass cleaner makes windows and mirrors sparkle and shine. Fabric spray can freshen the seats and bed. Air freshener clips keep everything smelling nice for days. Collect your trash in plastic grocery bags or large paper bags. Get an old, deep box and place it on the passenger side of the truck to act as a trash can. Every night, before turning in, get into the habit of doing a quick clean-up of the inside of the truck. When throwing away trash, do so in a proper receptacle, and not on the side of the road.

The Tool Box

Every driver should carry basic tools of the trade to help them through daily tasks. Trucking companies are required to supply you with roadside equipment such as chains and a reflective triangle. Before leaving the facility, make sure these items are there and accessible. In your spare time, put together a personal tool kit of the items the company doesn’t give you that are needed to perform certain tasks. Keep the receipts of anything you buy for work, as these are tax deductible expenses. Get a large tire thumper to check your tires with. Invest in a large, sturdy metal flashlight since some places you’ll deliver to could be poorly lit. Both can double as a weapon should there ever be a time you need to defend yourself. Other tools to have on hand are:

• Heavy, one-handed hammer
• Vice grip set
• Multi-tool
• Pliers assortment
• 2-3 crescent wrenches
• Duct tape and a thicker, sticky tape
• Zip ties
• A Philips and flathead screwdriver
• Multiple pairs of work gloves

Mental Health

Being a truck driver is one of the loneliest jobs on the market today. We are social creatures by design, so spending days on the open road alone can really take its toll on your mental health. It might not always be easy, but there are ways to help you cope better while at work. When at a truck stop or gas station, mingle with the other drivers there. Nobody understands what you are going through better than your peers. Some might even be willing to help you with your “blacktop blues”. While waiting for a storm to pass, deep clean the interior of your truck. Get caught up by binging your favorite show on your laptop or phone. Read a book you saw at the truck stop that caught your attention or listen to an audiobook on Scribd. Bring along your favorite type of puzzle book to give your brain a good workout. Invest in a simple hobby, like drawing or journaling, to help you through difficult times by embracing your inner creativity.