Here’s a startling stat: According to the Department of Transportation, 500,000 truck accidents happen annually.
Whether you knew that statistic or not, it’s no secret accidents and emergencies can happen anywhere at anytime. When they do happen, you want to be prepared. You don’t want to be broken down in the middle of nowhere with a dead cell phone and no food or water. When accidents and emergencies happen, you never know much time it will take until you are back in route.
The most common emergencies truckers could face and should always be prepared for include:
- Hurricanes
- Flood
- Tornado or high winds
- Snow storm, blizzard, hail or ice storm
- Wildfire
- Traffic jams
- Accidents
- Road, bridge or tunnel failure
- Truck break down
- So it’s absolutely critical you are prepared for whatever the road throws at you by preparing an emergency kit for your truck. Here’s everything you’ll need based on how long you normally spend on the road.
If you are a slip-seat driver or a day cab truck driver, you should have these items in your kit:
- One gallon of water
- Food for two days
- Cell phone and charger
- Cash and a nationally accepted credit card
- Swiss army knife or multi-function tool
- Pepper spray for your safety
- Extra pair of undergarments
- Truckers atlas
- First aid kit containing bandages, wet wipes, and pain relievers
- Clothing adjustable for temperature change
- Good pair of shoes
- Up-to-date medical emergency contact information
In addition to everything needed for a slip-seat driver or a day cab driver, it’s recommended that regional truck drivers have these items in an emergency kit:
- Three or more gallons of water
- Five or more days’ worth of food to last through your work week
- Can opener
- Mess kit (or plate, bowl, cup, and eating utensils)
- Cooking device or a solar cooker)
- Power inverter
- Cooking utensils
- Soap
- Washcloth, hand towel, shower towel
- Dish cloth and dish towel
- Sleeping bag and a pillow
- Seasonal clothing, spare pair of shoes, and personal weather protection
- First aid kit including bandages, wet wipes, pain relievers, ointment, gloves, oral thermometer, gauze, cold compress, and a space blanket
- Flashlight
- National truck stop directory
- Portable toilet and deodorizer
- Personal hygiene items and toilet paper
- CB radio
- Larger amount of cash
For long-haul or OTR truck drivers, it is recommended you also have these items in your emergency kit:
- More water and food
- A water filter
- First aid manual
- More clothing
- Laundry supplies
- Plastic bucket
- Small sewing kit
- Large set of tools
- Emergency radio
- Emergency candles and waterproof matches
- Spare pair of glasses or contact lenses
- Spare batteries for flashlight
- Larger amount of cash
- A quality tablet that can provide you with everything you need for communication, entertainment and navigation.
Remember, the best time to prepare for an emergency is in advance. Being stranded in the middle of nowhere can be a disastrous situation if you aren’t ready for it. So get these items and prepare your kit today.
Roeder Cartage Co. Inc. drivers also have the benefit of a great support team to help them out when an emergency strikes. With dispatchers who are always on top of every situation, top-of-the-line safety training and a family atmosphere, our drivers’ safety is always priority one. If you’re interested in working for our team, check out our careers page today.