Preparing your truck for the winter months is an essential part of keeping safe whilst on the road. This time of year can bring all kinds of weather conditions, sometimes making a trucker’s life quite difficult. So, being prepared for any circumstance can help you through the harsher conditions.

At Barnes, our employees have been discussing some of the winter essentials you should keep in your cab to stay safe and warm over the winter period – so we thought we’d share them for all of our drivers. Stay safe out there!

Winter Essentials For Your Cab

 

• Warm and spare clothing

Since winters in the UK are almost always predicted to be cold, wet, and windy… Dressing appropriately is essential. You may get cold and wet if you are hauling cargo, removing snow from your windshield, or stopping for fuel. What could possibly be worse than travelling in damp clothes? Start off by adopting warm, water-resistant attire, and having a backup set of clothes on hand. We bet your journey will be much more comfortable as a result.

 

• Food and hot drinks

As a trucker, visiting a garage to grab a bite to eat and a hot drink may be a normal part of your day. But as the colder weather draws in, you can never be too prepared for circumstances that may occur. Preparing a hot flask of tea or coffee before you set off along with a pre-made lunch and a few snacks can always tide you over if you cannot access a rest stop or weather conditions are too harsh to continue in.

 

• Torch

A very key essential to carry in your cab over the dark months is a torch. If a situation occurs where you need to stop and check tyre pressure or something on your freight, having a light on hand will help you see clearly, and can also let other people / cars know you are there. Being safe outside of the truck is of utmost importance to anyone working in the logistics industry.

 

• Cab top ups

Before setting off on a long-haul journey, you should always ensure your truck has enough oil, water, window wash, and anti-freeze. Especially in the winter months, you don’t want to stop on the side of the road, freezing, filling up your tank. Although, do ensure you carry extra in your cab so you can refill at a more convenient time!

 

• Heater checks and warm blankets

In sub-zero temperatures, you need to stay warm, so it’s important to make sure your cab’s heating is working before your journey. In an instance that your heater breaks out on the road or you’re feeling the cold pinch, having a warm fluffy blanket on the side will always keep you toasty… Just in case!

 

• Mobile phone & portable charger

With harsh weather conditions come dangerous roads. Truckers know that the winter is not only the busiest time but the most dangerous to be making deliveries. If it’s the case where you can no longer travel or you become stranded, having your mobile phone to contact someone for help is key to your safety. Keeping that phone charged throughout your journey is also very important, because what use is a phone with no battery? Whilst we definitely say no phones whilst driving, we do know the value of keeping in touch with loved ones whilst out driving, especially in the winter.

 

We hope this winter the weather won’t throw anything too drastic at our drivers, but it’s always important to be prepared! Will you be adding anything from our list to your cab this winter? Let us know over on our Twitter and LinkedIn.

Stay safe.