Truck drivers—commonly called truckers—are on the road almost year round. For those cold nights that they spend in their trucks, there are things they can do to keep warm. When my step dad took a job as a truck driver, I researched different ways for him to stay warm at night and in the winter as well. Here are some of the things I learned!
So, how do truckers stay warm at night? Truckers tend to bring things like thick blankets and down comforters, sleeping bags that can withstand low temperatures, and 12-volt heaters or heated mattress pads to plug into their rigs to keep them warm when it gets cold at night. Truckers also often let the heat run in their cab for a bit before they hit the road so it never gets too cold.
These simple little things will definitely keep a trucker warm in their rig at night. All of these things are great, but there is much more information that I found about how truckers can stay safe and warm in the cold weather.
What to Bring
Much like the winter time, the most important thing that truckers can do is to bundle up! Long johns, thermal socks, and thick gloves are essential to making sure you will be able to keep warm. However, there are tons of other things that you may need as you drive through the nation.
CDLJobs.com composed a list of 32 Truck Driving Essentials to Bring on the Road which includes things such as:
Off-duty clothes – All of the time spent on the road won’t be work time. So, be sure to bring comfortable, weather appropriate clothes for free time activities.
Safety apparel – Depending on the destination of the rig, steel toed work boots, a hard hat, or other safety equipment may be needed.
Sunglasses – Squinting at the sun while driving is very dangerous. To avoid that danger bring either prescription glasses with transition lenses or polarized or amber vision sunglasses.
Toiletries kit – The standard toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, or any other bathroom essentials will definitely be need for long stretches in between rest areas.
Shower kit – Some truck stops may have showers. It is important to stay sanitary and pack a travel loofah and shower shoes with your soaps and shampoos.
Cleaning supplies – Hopefully there won’t be too much mess, but in case of a spill or accident inside the truck, bring all purpose cleaner, disinfectant wipes, and even a handheld vacuum.
GPS and Paper Maps – It is important to have a global positioning system in the truck—preferably one that is NOT on a cell phone—so that faster routes can be taken and traffic can be avoided, but a paper map is also essential in case the GPS dies or breaks.
Toolbox – Many small issues on your rig can be fixed with just a few simple tools. Be sure to carry a screwdriver, some zip ties, a flashlight, and a few other handy tools in a toolbox on the truck.
Emergency supplies – The worst case scenario would be engine failure or any other car problem that you can’t fix yourself. In case you get stuck in that situation, it is important to have extra non-perishable food, road flares, and reflective clothing.
Why only 12 Volts?
When researching what things truck drivers should bring on the road with them I found that a lot of the appliances were recommended with a very specific voltage. Whether it was a space heater, heated mattress, mini fridge, or a computer charger, the recommend voltage was always 12.
In my research, I found that most semi-trucks use three to four 12-volt batteries in parallel. Twenty-four volts from that series of batteries is connected directly to the starter and used ONLY for starting the truck and keeping it running. After that, the trucker’s cab only gets the leftover voltage from the series of batteries.
It is imperative that truckers stay within their voltage limit. If too many things are plugged in, they could possibly start to pull energy from the truck’s starter and might even kill the battery.
But, don’t think of the limited voltage as a bad thing! Think of it as a reason to learn more about all of the cool, portable, 12-volt appliances that you can SAFELY bring aboard your truck. There are many gadgets and gizmos that have been made into mini 12-volt sizes such as:
- Coffee Makers
- Microwaves
- Mini Fridges
- Vacuum Cleaners
- Air Purifiers
- Space Heaters
- Heated Blankets
- And many more!
Sleeping at Rest Areas/Truck Stops
With a name like “rest area” some would assume that this would be a place where trucker drivers and road trippers could stop and take a rest and even enjoy a few amenities while there, and to some extent that is true. However, not all rest areas are the same and, depending on the state, you may not even be able to rest at a rest area.
First, let me tell you the difference between a rest area and a truck stop.
Rest areas are roadside areas that usually have restrooms and other facilities for everyday travelers to stop at during a long ride. According to WikiTravel, rest areas other facilities can include:
- Pay phones
- Picnic area
- Vending machines
- Convenience stores
- Restaurants
- Gas stations
- Information centers
- Newspapers and magazines
- Travel brochures
- ATMs
- WiFi hotspots
A truck stop is very similar to a rest area because they often have the same facilities that I listed above for rest areas. The biggest difference between a rest area and a truck stop is that—while truckers can pull their rig into a rest area—truck stops are made specifically for long haul trucks. The parking spaces are typically bigger; they usually have plug-ins for electrical power for the refrigeration of goods being shipped; and might even have laundry and shower areas that normal rest areas would not have.
However, with rest areas and truck stops alike, there may be some issue with actually sleeping at one of these places. In many sates it is illegal for a trucker to park in a rest area or truck stop overnight to sleep. In those states, a trucker could be fined if caught sleeping in their rig.
Luckily, there are some states that not only allow overnight sleeping but actually require that truck drivers take a rest every x amount of hours. Those states are:
- Arizona
- Arkansas for safety reasons, which can apply to truckers based on hours of service rules
- California, but only for eight hours in a 24-hour period
- Connecticut only allows overnight parking at rest areas along the Illinois Toll Road
- Idaho but only for 8 hours at rest areas on the interstate and 16 hours at rest areas on highways
- Indiana only permits you to park overnight on Indiana Toll Road
- Kansas limited to one night
- Minnesota, but only for 6 hours at a time
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska has an 8-hour limit
- Nevada
- New Jersey offers limited overnight parking
- New Mexico
- New York, but only allowed to park overnight at rest areas in the case of an emergency
- Ohio, but you can only rest overnight at the Ohio Turnpike rest areas
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington for up to 8 hours in parking areas including rest areas and public truck parking unless otherwise indicated
- Wyoming has individual limitations at certain rest areas
I found all of this helpful overnight sleeping information on CareersInGear.com and if you click here you can read more interesting and helpful information.
Other People Asked
Do truck drivers have beds in their trucks? Yes, the inside of most semi-truck cabs have twin size beds that pull down from the wall.
Do truck drivers have air conditioning? Yes, like most vehicles, the trucker cabs are equipped with heating and cooling systems. Do 18-wheelers have bathrooms on the truck? No, unfortunately not. Many truckers utilize rest areas, truck stops, or local business since there aren’t bathrooms on the truck.
