There are many reasons why you might find yourself on the interstate or highway in a truck. If you have your CDL, you probably find yourself in a truck making deliveries on a regular basis, a caterer may make long trips in a refrigerated truck, while those who drive tow trucks may be called out of town to pick up broken down cars regularly.
No matter what kind of truck you drive or how long your road trip, there are things you can do to make the time you spend in your truck more comfortable.
Make Sure It Gets a Tune Up
Just like any other vehicle, large trucks require regular maintenance. Not only will regular maintenance keep you safe behind the wheel, it can also make things more comfortable on the road. For example, if you replace the shocks in your vehicle when they wear out, you’ll enjoy a smoother ride.
Before you hit the road, make sure:
- Your truck gets an oil change
- The tires are inspected, rotated, or replaced
- The battery doesn’t need to be replaced
- To change clogged and dirty filters
If you take your truck into a professional, they can also provide you with a five point inspection. That enables you to uncover potential issues before they cause huge problems that leave you stranded on the side of the road.
Leave Early
Few things are more stressful than worrying about whether or not you are going to be late. If you’re running behind, you’re more likely to speed, which is extremely dangerous, and you’re more likely to drive aggressively. It’s important to leave with plenty of time to get to your destination so you aren’t tempted to drive in an unsafe way.
Leaving with plenty of time also means you have time to stop and take breaks. That includes bathroom breaks, but it also includes breaks that enable you to get out of the truck and stretch your legs. You’ll enjoy your trip a lot more if you’re able to stretch so you don’t arrive at your destination stiff and sore.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Speeding is dangerous, but so is drowsy driving. Scarily, one in 25 adult drivers has reported falling asleep behind the wheel in the previous month, and commercial drivers who operate trucks are more likely to fall asleep than those driving a car.
Even if you manage to stay alert behind the wheel, it’s not comfortable to be on a long road trip in a truck when you are struggling to keep your eyes open! Do yourself a favor and make sure you get a good night’s sleep the night before your big trip.
If you didn’t get as much sleep as you would have liked, and you find yourself drowsy behind the wheel, you should pull over. It’s much better to pull over, take a break, and even take a catnap than it is to power through your tiredness and find yourself in an accident.
Trick Out Your Seat
You can’t do a lot of moving around when you’re in the truck and it’s rolling down the road! Unfortunately, seats aren’t always that comfortable, but there are things you can do about that! If you are planning a long trip, make sure you do everything you can to trick out your seat for comfort.
That might include a seat warmer if you’re traveling during the winter season, or it might include a luxurious car seat massager.
There are simple things you can do to make your seat more comfortable too, like adjusting your headrest and the seat so they are in the optimal position for you.
Keep It Clean
Trucks can get messy fast, but feeling like you’re drowning in a sea of garbage is a quick way to make your trip more uncomfortable. Keep your truck clean by keeping things organized. From using a cereal container as a garbage can to hanging a shoe organizer on the back of the seat, there are many ways you can keep things clean and keep important items, like eating utensils and scissors, close at hand.
You aren’t doomed to have an uncomfortable drive if you’re stuck in a truck for a long road trip! From making sure your truck is ready for the road to having a plan for garbage and giving yourself plenty of time to stop and rest, there are many things you can do to make sure your trip is both successful and comfortable.
