Accessories For Truck Drivers (Things Truckers Need For The Road)

Pro truck drivers spend a lot of time behind the wheel so it’s important for them to have everything they need to not only get the job done, but live as comfortably as possible away from home. 

There are a lot of accessories for truck drivers that can be broken down into a couple of basic categories: Things drivers want and what truckers need for the road. 

That being said, sit down and switch your ELD to off duty while we take a look at 29 trucker accessories and gear you can actually use. 

At a Glance

1. Popular Power Inverter: Renog 1000w pure sine wave inverter
2. Top For Cooking: Koolatron 12v heating lunch box stove
3. Road Entertainment: Truck Friendly TVs

Accessories for Truck Drivers, Staff Picks

Sometimes it can be hard to find the best accessories and supplies that work for truckers. Truck drivers that are over the road (otr) for example may not have the same requirements  or needs as local drivers that don’t go out of the 150 air mile radius. 

In our buyers guide, you’ll learn the types of accessories for truck drivers that will work for you no matter what kind of trucker you are. You’ll get an idea of what to look for or maybe some ideas for things to bring with you on your next run. 

Then you can check out our list of accessories and gear from our curated list below that’s tailored to what pro truck drivers and other road warriors can use. 

The best part?

A lot of these are items you can use camping or other aspects of your personal life. Not a trucker? You’ll find some useful gear here also.

Truck Driver Essentials

There are plenty of accessories and tools that will make your life much easier on the road. But before you dive into the many items that’ll make your rig feel more like home, you must first get your essentials in order.

There are two basic truck driver essentials that you must prioritize above all else, namely your clothing and sleeping gear. 

Best Clothing For Truckers

As a trucker you’ll want clothing accessories (amazon) that are functional and comfortable. If you’ve been a pro truck driver for any length of time you know that your job can take you through just about every climate variation that mother nature can throw at you. 

How it’ll help: Things are pretty straightforward regarding clothing. As a trucker out on the road for long periods, packing the right clothes will keep you feeling clean, comfortable, and fresh.

Still, don’t forget to keep the climate in mind. Winter- and summer-friendly clothes also matter to ensure that you’re never too cold or too hot. That includes both when you’re in the driver’s seat and when you’re on your feet.

Keep in mind: Packing clean clothes for where you’re going is a no-brainer. But here’s one tip some truckers tend to forget: be sure to pack the right quantities of all your clothes.

Remember: your next chance to wash your clothes might be many hours or miles away. But, with extra clothing on board, you’ll never be out of clean clothes.

Sleeping Gear

How it’ll help: Everyone knows that getting enough sleep is critical for driving safely on the road. Still, many people forget that sleep quality is just as important, if not more important, than how much shut-eye you get.

That’s why you must invest in gear that improves your sleep quality. Excellent sleeping gear will improve your focus and mood when you get back out on the road and make the most of sleeper berth time. 

Keep in mind: Choosing the best sleeping gear is partly a matter of personal preference. Still, you’ll want to make sure your equipment is:

• Comfortable
• Cool (your body temperature affects sleep quality)
• Spacious (with just enough room for you to move around a little)

Hygiene Basics

Once you have your clothing and sleeping gear sorted out, the next most important thing is maintaining good hygiene.

Plenty of truckers out there neglect their hygiene because they mistakenly think it doesn’t matter. Well, that’s wrong. Good hygiene keeps you healthy and mobile, which means fewer detours or delays on your journey.

Here are some items you’ll want to keep in a hygiene kit onboard.

Toothbrush

How it’ll help: Keeping a toothbrush in your hygiene kit is the first step to maintaining your teeth, gums, and mouth clean.

That is yet another thing you don’t want to skimp out on. 

Toothpaste and Mouthwash

Remember: finding a dentist while you’re driving through an unfamiliar part of the country is going to be a nightmare. So, lower the chances of needing one by packing a toothbrush and using it regularly.

Keep in mind: There’s nothing much to say about toothbrushes. But as someone who’s always on the move, be sure to pack more than one at a time. Plus, keep the brush dry when storing it, so the brush doesn’t introduce new bacteria and germs into your mouth when you use it.

Sonic toothbrushes do work better than old school toothbrushes and you’ll find that with a good one, they really don’t have to be charged all that often. They travel well, and even with daily use, you can get a week or more off of one charge.

It goes without saying that you’ll need some toothpaste and mouthwash (amazon links) to go with it. (amazon links)

Deodorant

How it’ll help: Smelling good will make things go much smoother if you have a co-driver along for the ride. But even if you don’t, using deodorant (amazon) is an excellent way to keep yourself feeling fresh and confident.

Keep in mind: Deodorants (amazon) come in many different forms, like sprays and roll-on products. But what matters more is that your deodorant lasts for as long as possible. That way, you don’t have to reapply while you’re driving on a long shift.

Shampoo or Body Wash

How it’ll help: Last but not least, you’ll need shampoo to wash your hair (amazon link) and body wash for, well, your body. Both will wash away all the dirt and grime on you that comes after a long workday.

Keep in mind: When it comes to body wash, (amazon link) you’ll want to avoid using bar soaps. You likely won’t be showering in the same place twice, so packing and carrying a used bar of soap is going to be a challenge.

Instead, stick with a liquid body wash. It’s as easy to store and transport as it is to use.

Cleaning Supplies

At this point, you’ve got all the stuff you need to keep yourself clean. Now, you’ll need to think about items to keep the environment around you clean, particularly the space in your rig.

Baby Wipes

How it’ll help: Don’t let the name fool you; baby wipes are a must-have for truckers. They’re disposable wet wipes in a resealable bag or container that you can use to wipe down any surface you touch, like that nasty truck stop table you’re about to have your dinner on.

More importantly, they’re called ‘baby’ wipes because they have no harmful chemicals that might hurt a baby. That means it’ll most definitely be safe for your skin, too.

Keep in mind: Baby wipes are sometimes just known as ‘wet wipes’. They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and packaging. So, take your time comparing options to find which one suits your needs the best.

Toilet Paper

How it’ll help: There are plenty of toilets along your route, that’s for sure. But you can’t trust that they’ll all have toilet paper when you genuinely need it.

Let’s face it; roadside rest area government toilet paper isn’t the best. So, it’s best to bring your own along your own toilet paper when you can. Besides the toilet, you can also use it to wipe up coffee spills and other stains in your rig.

Keep in mind: Carrying toilet paper (amazon) in your rig is an excellent idea, but try not to pack too much. You’ll need some of that space for the other things on this list.

Hand Sanitizer

How it’ll help: Hand sanitizers are an excellent way to keep yourself healthy. Whether you know it or not, you pick up a lot of germs when your hands touch everything from doorknobs to light switches. 

Sanitizers will kill all those germs, especially if you don’t have access to a sink and soap to clean your hands.

Keep in mind: Hand sanitizer bottles come in different sizes. So it’s an excellent idea to keep a big one to use while you’re in your rig and a couple of smaller ones in your pocket when you’re walking around.

Basic Safety Items

You’ve got what you need to keep yourself and your truck clean and sanitary. Now, it’s time to talk about accessories for truck drivers that promote safety. It’s all about safety!

Here are some essential safety items to keep with you on the road.

Flashlights and Lanterns

How it’ll help: The first safety accessory you’ll want to equip yourself with is portable lighting. That will be crucial when looking for things in your rig when it’s dark out or when you have a breakdown.

More importantly, lighting is also helpful when performing inspections and repairs on your truck.

Keep in mind: Not all lights are made equal, and you certainly don’t want to buy a cheap one. So instead, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Flashlights vs lanterns: Flashlights give you a focused beam of light (amazon link), while lanterns illuminate the space around you. You’ll want both; a flashlight for when you need a straight light beam (like when you’re inspecting your truck) and a lantern for when you need both hands free to work (like when you’re performing minor repairs).
• Brightness: The brightness of your flashlight or lantern is measured in lumens. For both, you’ll want something in the 1000+ lumens range to see things clearly in the dark.
• Bulb types: You also have different bulb types to choose from, like incandescent, halogen, xenon, and LED. To put it simply: LED lights are the most energy-efficient and last the longest. 
• Batteries: Some lights also come with built-in batteries these days. They offer some convenience, but you’ll be better off with lights using removable batteries. That way, you can swap out the batteries for new ones and continue using them with little interruption.

Check Out The Latest Flashlights on Amazon

High Visibility Safety Vest

How it’ll help: When it comes to trucker safety, seeing others is just as important as being seen. That’s why a hi-vis vest is crucial (amazon) for your protection, especially when you step out of the truck. 

High-vis clothing ensures that other road users see you even at night and keep a safe distance as they drive past.

Keep in mind: High-visibility vests come in different classes. The higher the class, the more parts of your body are visible.

Your vest will get dirty, without a doubt. So, be sure to invest in a product that’s durable and easy to clean. 

Alternatively, you could also wear a high-visibility t-shirt (amazon) instead. These work the same way, though they could be more comfortable for some drivers.

First Aid Kit

How it’ll help: The whole point of a first-aid kit is to get you patched up if you hurt yourself (of course) and the ability to help out if you stumble across a traffic accident. Spoiler alert, if your a truck driver it’s only a matter of time. So, a well-stocked first aid kit (amazon) can help you deal with injuries that either you sustain or to assist someone else. 

More importantly, it can also help you provide basic care for more severe injuries before getting yourself proper medical care.

Keep in mind: First-aid kits come in a variety of sizes. Since you’re the only likely user, a small one will do. However, it never hurts to invest in a medium or large-sized first aid kit if you prefer a higher level of preparedness.

Just make sure that you give the kit a designated space in your rig. That way, you won’t have to search for it during an emergency.

Leather Work Gloves

How it’ll help: As a trucker, you’ll probably agree that your hands are some of the most important body parts you’ve got. That’s why you must invest in a durable pair of leather work gloves.

Leather gloves help you maintain your grip on the steering wheel or any cargo you’ll handle. Better yet, it’ll also protect your hands from injuries of all kinds.

Keep in mind: You don’t want to go with cheap options for work gloves. Instead, look for natural or synthetic leather gloves that are:

• Abrasion-resistant
• Fit your hands perfectly, not too tight or too loose
• Touchscreen compatible, so you don’t have to take them off to operate your smartphone or tablet

There are lots of excellent brands on the market. But if you’re not sure where to look, start by checking out brands like Mechanix Wear, Kinco Gloves, and Carhartt Gloves.

Tire Pressure Gauge

How it’ll help: Tire pressure is another factor that can keep you safe or put you in harm’s way, and from getting placed out of service during an inspection. That’s why a heavy-duty tire pressure gauge is a must-have, especially for inspecting your truck daily.

Besides maximizing your safety, a tire pressure gauge also maximizes your fuel efficiency. That’s because under-inflated tires will increase friction, causing your engine to burn more fuel than necessary. As expensive is fuel is getting you need every edge you can.

Keep in mind: For starters, always ensure that you have a heavy-duty and durable tire pressure gauge with you to check your wheels.

Alternatively, you could invest in a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) or an automatic tire inflation system (ATIS).

These technologies allow you to monitor the pressure on all tires right from the driver’s seat. But, more importantly, they’ll have alarms to warn you of a sudden drop in pressure that points to a flat tire. A warning like that could be a lifesaver by allowing you to respond quickly and avoid losing control of your truck.

Cell Phone Mount for Windshield, Dash or Cup-holder

How it’ll help: One of the biggest distractions while driving isn’t road dangers. Instead, it’s often the cell phone right in your hand.

So, keep yourself safe by investing in an affordable cell phone mount. These items don’t cost much, but they’ll help you keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

In case you didn’t know, DOT has specific hands free rules for both hazmat and non hazmat drivers. The fines aren’t cheap, often more than the cost of buy a cell phone holder!

Keep in mind: For added convenience, get a cell phone mount that allows you to quickly mount and remove your cell phone. That way, you don’t have to struggle when taking your phone out when you have to leave the truck.

Sunshade for Windshield Side and Rear Windows

How it’ll help: The sun isn’t much of a danger when it’s up in the sky at high noon. However, it can affect your vision when it’s dawn or dusk, and you’ve got a sunbeam coming straight into your rig.

Aside from that, direct sunlight can also cause your rig to heat up more than usual. Blocking that sunlight out with a sunshade will help to keep things as cool as they can be.

So, a simple sunshade is a vital accessory to have, particularly on your side and rear windows.

Keep in mind: Any sunshade that blocks sunlight is good. However, it’s better to get one with reflective materials on it.

That way, the sunshade won’t trap the heat. Instead, it’ll bounce that heat back outwards and away from your truck.

A Good MultiTool

How it’ll help: You can’t go wrong with a reliable multitool. Sure, you probably have a fully-equipped toolbox somewhere onboard. But you don’t want to have to lug that heavy thing out just to tighten a small screw or cut a piece of tape.

With a reliable multitool like the ones from Leatherman, you’ll have a basic set of tools in your pocket or on your belt at all times.

These can also be handy in a road emergency, like when you need a blade to cut your seatbelt to evacuate the truck.

Keep in mind: Multitools come in a variety of sizes. So be sure to check the complete list of features before you choose the model you’re going to carry.

Also, how you carry the tool is just as important. If you prefer to have things on your belt, be sure to invest in a durable belt pouch to secure that tool until you need it.

Truck Driver Comfort and Entertainment Accessories

Being a trucker is challenging enough. But things will be worse if your rig has disorganized with no comfort or entertainment.

So, here are some accessories that can make each of your trips just a little bit easier on you.

Semi Truck Front Seat Organizer

How it’ll help: First and foremost, you’ll want to invest in an affordable front seat organizer. These come in all sorts of designs, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. Still, they share one purpose: to give each of your things a place of its own, thereby decluttering your front seat.

For example, the front seat organizer can house your pens and other stationery while holding a coffee cup and preventing it from spilling over.

Keep in mind: Before buying an organizer, it’s best to take note of the things you typically need to keep within arm’s reach.

That way, you can invest in an organizer with enough space for all of your things. So, don’t forget to consider:

• Basic stationery like a pen and notepad
• Cup Holder and a space to keep snacks
• Room for your devices like your phone, tablet, and their charging cables
• Other personal items, like your hygiene kit or even private family photos

Remember: it’s always better to have an organizer with too many compartments than too few.

12 Volt Fan With Mounting Clip

How it’ll help: Keeping your truck cabin well-ventilated is easy when you’re on the move, but not so much when you park to rest overnight. So, it would help to keep a small 12-volt fan nearby. (amazon)

You could power these with a plug, a USB port, or even batteries. Whatever works best for you.

Keep in mind: You don’t want to hold the fan in your hand the entire time. So, buy one that comes with a mounting clip.

Not only does it let you use the fan hands-free, but it also gives you the flexibility to move it around the cabin.

Seat Cushion

How it’ll help: At the beginning of this guide, you saw that it was an excellent idea to invest in high-quality sleeping gear since you’ll spend a big part of your day resting. Well, you’ll be spending even more time in your day in your rig’s driver seat.

So, in the same way, you should also invest in high-quality seat cushions. These will add comfort and support to your upper and lower back, not to mention your backside that’s in that seat.

Keep in mind: Much like your sleeping gear, sleep cushions can vary in price and quality. It would be an excellent idea to invest a little extra into these cushions since they help you drive longer while staying comfortable.

On top of that, you’ll also want to pick one that has an ergonomic design and supports your back. After all, nothing spoils a trip more than having to drive with a hurt back!

Air Seat Blow Gun Kit

How it’ll help: Many trucks come equipped with an air seat that’s supplied with pressurized air. Another popular accessory among truckers is an air seat blow gun kit.

That’s a hose kit that hooks up to the same system that supplies pressurized air to your seat. The kit allows you to add a blowgun to the system.

So when the kit is in place, you can use it to blow away any dust inside the cabin to keep it clean.

Keep in mind: When choosing an air seat blow gun kit, make sure that the hose is long enough to reach all corners of your cabin. That way, you’ll be able to clean every inch of your cabin without a problem.

Portable TV Antenna

How it’ll help: You’ll often find yourself in places where the WiFi connection is spotty, and you can’t keep your devices connected. So to keep yourself entertained, you should always keep a portable TV antenna on you.(amazon)

At the very least, you’ll be able to tune in to whatever TV stations are local to the area you’re passing through and hopefully pick up HD channels.

Keep in mind: An antenna is pointless if you don’t have a display to hook it up to. So, if you don’t already have a TV in your cab, you can consider buying a portable TV.

These units combine a palm-sized TV display and a built-in antenna, which keeps everything tidy.

If you need to check out mounting accessories you can find mounting kits on amazon.

Trucker Bluetooth Headphones

No matter if you’re hauling LTL freight or hazmat, DOT rules say that you must use your device hands free. So for truckers, bluetooth headphones are a must. You can read our full buying guide for the best bluetooth for truckers (amazon) . We break down everything you’ll need to know to make a decision so that you can get the best headset that’ll meet your needs.

How it’ll help: Headphones are always a good idea. But as someone who’s always on the road, you’ll want to get yourself a wireless pair that uses Bluetooth.

Bluetooth allows you to connect those headphones to pretty much any smart device, including your phone, laptop, tablet, or what have you.

Plus, they have no cables that get in the way or that you might accidentally rip in half. As long as the battery is charged up, you’re good to go.

Keep in mind: Like any other kind of headphone, Bluetooth ones come in different designs, each with its fair share of pros and cons.

For example, you can get headphones that are:

• Over-ear: These kinds of Bluetooth headphones also come with noise cancellation technology. They’ll give you total privacy while blocking out all external noise. However, that’s not always a good thing, as you won’t hear if someone’s messing with your truck while you’re inside.
• In-ear: These Bluetooth ‘earphones’ will give you excellent sound quality, but you’ll still hear some of the ambient noise around you. That’s not always a bad thing since you can maintain your situational awareness by hearing things outside your cab door.

Portable Cooking Appliances

When it comes to eating on the road, you have two choices. First, you can rely on diners, fast food outlets, and other food outlets along the way. But, unfortunately, that might not be the best for your health in the long run.

In addition to potentially being unhealthy, it can get expensive as well. 

Thankfully, you have the second option of cooking your meals. But, of course, you’ll need to have portable cooking appliances with you to do that.

Sadly, you can’t keep a fully-equipped kitchen in your cab. But what you can do is invest in the best combination of appliances for you based on the recipes you’ll want to cook on the road.

So, here are the types of portable appliances you can buy for your rig and the kind of cooking you can do with each one:

• Coffee Maker – Okay, so this one isn’t exactly a cooking appliance. But still, it’s an incredibly crucial part of your day, especially if you hate buying takeout coffee.
  With a coffee maker of your own, you can stock your preferred coffee beans and powders. That way, every cup you have on the road will be just the way you like it!
• Blender – A blender is an essential appliance for almost anyone. Firstly, you can use it to grind the coffee beans for your coffee maker above. Besides that, you can also use it to prepare ingredients to cook using other appliances on the list below. From healthy smoothies to meal prep, a blender can help step up your meal prep game!
• Electric Frying Pan – There are many ways to prepare eggs and bacon in the morning (or other fried items), but nothing beats an electric frying pan. Naturally, going electric helps you avoid needing a gas stove (never use gas inside your cab!) and make your cooking safer and more convenient. 
• Portable Stove – With a stove onboard, you can saute, braise, sear, and fry meals.
• Portable Oven – Yes, that’s right! You can even get a portable oven for your cab. That will open you up to a wide range of cooking methods, including baking.
• Traveling Slow Cooker – Sometimes, you miss hearty home-cooked food like stews and soups. Thankfully, you can make some of that on the road by investing in a traveling slow cooker!
• Microwave – These days, you can even get a portable microwave. These are particularly useful if you prefer a multipurpose cooking appliance that works well for heating store-bought frozen food items.
• Sandwich Maker – Of course, if you’re a no-fuss kind of cook, you can always just get a sandwich maker. Keep bread and a few canned items onboard, throw them in the sandwich maker, and you have a quick and easy meal.

amazon links

Mini-Fridges For Truckers

There’s no better way to take control of your nutrition than cooking meals for yourself. Now that you know what portable cooking appliances you’ll need, you’ll need to figure out how to store the ingredients you take with you.

The answer to that problem is simple: get a mini-fridge. That way, you can stop at a supermarket on your journey and store enough ingredients until you reach your next stop.

Remember: mini-fridges aren’t just for ingredients. You can also use it to chill beverages and even desserts!

How Big Of A Mini-Fridge Should I Get?

Even though they’re called ‘mini-fridges’, they come in a wide range of sizes. In your case, you’ll want something that fits snugly inside your cabin. 

Many truckers find that getting a fridge with a 25-35 quart capacity is big enough.

Still, if your cabin can fit a slightly larger mini-fridge than that, you should go for it. That’s because it’s always better to have a fridge that’s too big than too small.

If you want to get a breakdown on all the things to consider when buying a mini fridge you can check out our best mini fridge for truckers buying guide. 

Power Inverter For Semi Truck

Last but certainly not least, you’ll need to have a reliable power source for all of the appliances you choose to have onboard. For that, you’ll need something called an inverter.

An inverter will ‘invert’ direct current (DC) electrical power to alternating current (AC) electrical power.

Why does that matter?

Well, many appliances require 120V AC power to run. But, unfortunately, your onboard batteries store DC power.

That’s where an inverter comes into play. It inverts DC power back to AC and allows you to power those appliances that need it.

What Size Inverter Do I Need For My Semi Truck?

Inverters come in various capacities, typically starting at 2,000 watts or more. To figure out what capacity you need, you must first calculate your power needs. 

You can do that by adding up the wattages of all your onboard appliances.

Then, you can shop around for inverters from leading brands like Energizer, Giandel, Bestek, and many others. You can check out our full power inverter for a semi truck buyer’s guide.

Accessories For Truck Drivers… Conclusion

When it comes to making your sleeper and cab seem a lot more like home, accessories for truck drivers are essential to road life a bit more tolerable. 

Realistically, this massive list of trucker accessories is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to items you can purchase to make your travels easier. Hopefully in this big curated list of stuff you were able to get some ideas for your next trip out on the road. 

The amount of things you can bring with you on the road is limited only by your imagination and cab space! Keep checking back, as we’ll continue to research and expand this list.