Truck drivers are no strangers to having long shifts and strange schedules as a part of their jobs. Some drivers have trips that last all day long while others drive throughout the nighttime. With winter finally arriving, overnight travel for truckers becomes more of a hassle due to poor road conditions and harsh weather. This can of course lead to mistakes, and in some cases the driver can be issued a ticket. If you handle this part of your trucking business, you should contact a legal firm that can assist you with handling these Trucker Tickets to keep your business out of trouble, operating safely and within the rules.
Our Flint Michigan semi-truck repair experts provide some tips to keep comfortable during these overnight trips on the road.
Truck Inspections
Never, ever skip out on your truck inspection. Your truck is not only the mechanism that allows you to get your work done safely but also your home away from home. It is important to inspect your truck and perform any truck repair deemed necessary before an overnight trip and frankly, any trip. Truckers should check everything that might malfunction on a truck from fluid levels to the tire and the lights. Your vehicle's wheel alignments should also be inspected by professional mechanics. When your truck is running at tip-top shape, so are you. There is nothing scarier than your semi-truck breaking down on the side of the road with below-freezing temperatures waiting for you.
Run Your Heater
When your hours of driving come to a close, run the heater to allow for hot air to be fresh in your cabin right before you go to sleep. Crank the heater up to the highest setting for a little bit then shut it off right before bedtime. A better alternative to cranking up the heater is to consider getting a space heater that runs on a different power source to keep you warm at night during the winter.
Layer Properly
Before a long winter trip, it is important to layer properly in the way as suggested by the experts here. Not only layer your clothes well but layer your sleeping area as well. Be sure to purchase a sleeping bag that can withstand lower temperatures and layer it with blankets for extra comfort and warmth. Sleeping bags are great investments because many are constructed to reduce cold spots and can frankly be warmer than your very own bed.
Insulation Sunshades
Sunshades can help insulate your truck and keep your truck’s cabin warm at night. Sunshades are fairly cheap to purchase and can have benefits during the day as well. Sunshades help block out sunlight during the early hours of the morning so you can get the most sleep while at night, they can ensure no heat escapes through your windows. Sunshades are also great for giving you a sense of privacy while you are asleep in your cabin.
Crack A Window
This may sound ridiculous and counterproductive during the wintertime when staying warm is a priority. However, leaving a crack in your window lets moisture in the cabin creep out which will keep your cabin drier and effectively warmer as well. Moisture in the cabin will make it way colder while the crack in the window will only let out a tiny bit of heat, so it's a fair trade-off.
