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A truck driver emergency kit is one essential that every driver should have while they’re out on the road. The U.S. is a big country and you never what types of emergencies you’ll be faced with during your travels. Having a kit ready in case something goes wrong will allow you to take care of yourself until help arrives.
Truck driver emergency kits need to have essential items that can help you out in a variety of situations. Be sure to include these items in your survival kit:
We’ll discuss each item your truck driver emergency kit should have and how each item will be able to help you when you’re in an emergency situation.
The first and most important item that you can include in your truck emergency kit is a cell phone charger. While a cell phone charger is an essential item that you’ll be using on the job anyways, it’s important to have a spare in your emergency kit just in case.
Your phone will be the first tool you’ll use to let law enforcement or first responders know that you’re in danger. Therefore, you should always make sure your phone battery is in the higher percent range.
Losing your wallet is a pretty serious emergency, especially when you’re a truck driver who’s a long way from home. In case this happens, it’s good to have cash stowed away and a nationally accepted credit card that’s only to be used in emergency situations. Cash and a spare credit card will give you the opportunity to buy any essentials you need.
Pepper spray is a great and easy-to-use self-defense item. If you find yourself in a situation where you’re being attacked by an assailant, pepper spray will stop them in their tracks momentarily. This will allow you enough time to escape the deadly situation and get to safety.
There are a few other benefits to using pepper spray such as:
Another benefit of pepper spray is that it’s legal in all states. That said, different states have varying regulations regarding the size of pepper spray and what type of spray is allowed used. Make sure that the spray you have is legal in the state(s) you’re traveling through.
Getting multiple spray bottles that conform to specific states’ regulations is also an option you can explore.
Emergency blankets are another great item to have, especially when you’re driving in extremely cold temperatures. If you’re truck breaks down in a snowy environment and you lose access to warm air, your safety and health will be put at risk.
These blankets are typically made of some type of metalized material on the inside. This allows the blanket to reflect body heat which keeps the user warm. You’ll likely encounter cold temperatures driving through mountainous terrain, so check out our article on truck driving tips for mountain roads.
A Swiss army knife is another useful item to include in your emergency kit as well. Besides a sharp blade, a Swiss army knife comes with many other tools that will be able to help you in an emergency situation.
Some of the tools that are on a swiss army knife that will come in handy are:
The many tools that come attached to a Swiss army knife have a variety of applications that you might find useful based on the emergency situation that you’re in.
Road flares can come in real handy if the emergency situation you find yourself in is in an isolated area. In fact, the Department of Transportation (DOT) even requires truckers to have flares in their vehicle. Within Title 49 of the Federal Code Of Regulations (CFR), there are specific guidelines on the types of flares that DOT expects you to have in your truck.
DOT requires you to have at least one of the following amounts of flares:
These flares will let any oncoming drivers know that your truck is stopped. Flares will help law enforcement and first responders know where you’re at as well.
An emergency kit wouldn’t be complete without a medkit (first aid kit) included in it. Your first aid kit will be the first thing you use to patch yourself up if you sustain an injury. The items that you have in your first aid kit will help you manage your wound until first responders are able to reach you and begin treating your wounds.
If you find yourself in an emergency situation that occurs at night, the last thing you want is to be stuck in the dark. Therefore, you should make sure that you have some type of artificial light source that you can use to navigate in the dark.
Some artificial light sources you can use are:
Either option is viable so long as your chosen device can illuminate your surroundings well enough for you to see in the dark.
While you might think it’s pretty easy for oncoming traffic to see a broken-down semi-truck on the side of the road, careless drivers have still managed to hit them. Therefore, using warning flags and cones is an essential way to communicate to other drivers on the road that your truck isn’t operational.
A safety vest is one item that you should always have on when you pull over on the side of the road. Even during the day, the fluorescent colors of safety vests will make you stand out to oncoming drivers. If an emergency like a blown motor or flat tire puts your vehicle on the side of the road, then you should put your safety vest on when you get out of your truck to inspect the problem.
There are three types of safety vests that you can get:
As a truck driver, you should obtain Class 2 and 3 vests due to them having higher visibility compared to Class 1 vests.
Every truck driver has food and water in their truck while they’re out on the road. That said, it’s good to have some set aside for more emergency purposes. If you’re ever stranded out in the middle of nowhere and the food you packed has already been depleted, your emergency supply will hold you over.
Some food and water options you can include in your emergency kit are:
When you become stranded out in the middle of nowhere, your driver survival becomes your first priority. With these supplies at ready, you’ll be able to stay fairly comfortable until help arrives.
There are many emergency situations that can cause you to get your hands dirty. Having some hand sanitizer ready will let you rid your hands of germs. Hand sanitizer is even good to use throughout your day on the job.
Along with a safety kit, you should also have the skills needed to be a truck driver.
If you’re ready to take your trucking career to the next level, then apply with ABCO. Our trucking company values the work of its drivers. We offer competitive pay, great benefits, and the free stays at exclusive company resorts.
This will allow you to have plenty of time at home to recuperate and de-stress after a long time on the open road. Lastly, our benefits package will provide you with access to the medical care you need to stay healthy. Complete your ABCO application or contact us today at (866) 980-2710 to start your journey with a company that cares about you.
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