Trucking professionals are indispensable global workforce members. Goods wouldn’t reach their destinations without them, leaving consumers everywhere seeing nothing but empty shelves at their favorite stores.
However, sometimes, these hard-working people who spend much of their time on the road can forget how much they’re needed and appreciated. That reality opens an excellent opportunity for their employers to make care packages for their team members. Here are some great gifts to consider for anyone in the trucking industry.
Seat Cushions
Being a professional truck driver means spending a lot of time seated. More specifically, federal trucking limits in the United States stipulate that a person can drive for a maximum of 14 consecutive hours before going into a mandated 10-hour off-duty period.
Being in the same position for so many hours at a time can cause a person to develop pressure points. However, specialized seat cushions can help drivers stay comfortable while they’re behind the wheel. Some seat cushions for truckers provide extra lumbar support. That makes them ideal for people who already deal with back discomfort or want to avoid developing it as a consequence of the job. However, others don’t have built-in backrests.
Many options also exist concerning what provides the necessary support to the user. Some are inflatable, but there are also memory foam and gel-filled possibilities. Choosing the outer material for the cushion is also important. Buyers should keep comfort and user-friendliness in mind by considering things like whether the fabric is extra soft, has moisture-wicking capabilities or a washable cover.
Anti-Sleep Alert Products
Even drivers who do everything they can to stay well-rested will inevitably have some instances where they start to feel sleepy. Unfortunately, if a person experiencing that doesn’t act in time, the sleepiness could result in disastrous consequences.
Data from the U.S.National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicated there were 697 fatalities caused by crashes associated with drowsy driving in 2019. Avoiding such accidents starts with encouraging drivers to take rest breaks when they start to feel tired. However, people don’t always know how tired they are until they begin nodding off.
That’s why people should consider adding an anti-sleep alarm to a care package for trucking team members. These small and lightweight accessories attach to various parts of the body, including the hands, behind the ear and the neck. They detect signs that people are getting tired, then emit audible warnings.
After hearing them, drivers would realize it’s time to pull over and take steps that’ll help them become more alert. However, feeling permitted to stop when necessary has a lot to do with the company culture. If a driver feels they will receive negative repercussions for resting when they truly need a break, some may try to push themselves too far.
Branded Coffee Mugs
When truck drivers need perking up during a long shift, coffee is usually one of the most accessible ways to get it. That’s why a coffee mug is a thoughtful item for a trucking care package. Statistics show that 62% of adults in the United States drink coffee daily.
However, the people giving these products to team members should go beyond picking a standard type sold in many online and physical stores. It’s ideal if the mug’s design features the employer’s name, logo, contact details and other specifics. Having an accessory like that helps a person take pride in where they work while appreciating the practicality of the present.
A branded coffee mug could also be an excellent recruitment tool. Truck drivers typically make from $50,000-$100,000 annually depending on experience and the nature of their duties. Those that your team member encounters at truck stops, hotels or otherwise along a route may be interested in working for a new company for various reasons.
A branded coffee mug is a smart way to promote a trucking company to others. It could all happen naturally while the recipient drinks their cup of joe while on a break. It’s also a good gift for people who aren’t coffee drinkers. After all, a person could use it for tea or even water. Staying hydrated is an essential part of remaining healthy while on the road.
Organizational Gifts
A truck is the driver’s home while they’re on the road. A clean desk can help office workers stay productive, and the same is true for a person who spends their time behind the wheel for work. Many professional truckers get creative with their methods. For example, Velcro strips are handy for attaching hard products, like boxes, to flat surfaces. However, there are also plenty of purposeful gifts that can help a trucker achieve an organizational level that helps them feel more comfortable and less stressed.
Many of them help people make the most of available space, such as by featuring designs that let storage containers hang over the back of a seat. A hanging toiletry bag is also a useful gift to include in a trucking care package, especially since so many professionals spend days on the road at a time. People choosing these gifts should also think about whether the budget might allow for getting an organizer monogrammed or adding another type of personalization.
It’s not always easy to know which challenges people encounter most while trying to get their trucks organized. Similarly, it may not be feasible to buy different products for each care package recipient depending on their needs. An alternative is to take a survey and find out what kinds of products would help recipients best stay organized. Then, purchase the items of most benefit to the largest number of truckers at the company.
12-Volt Coolers
Trying to have fast-food for every meal as a trucker likely isn’t sustainable from a financial point of view, and it’s not an ideal option for long-term health. That’s why many truckers prepare meals before going out on the road. After that, they need somewhere to keep them until it’s time to eat.
That’s why a 12-volt cooler is another fantastic addition to a care package for trucking professionals. Then, people can keep food cold without ice by plugging these gadgets into the truck’s cigarette lighter.
Some coolers even have settings that allow people to keep food hot, too. Others have extra-long cords that give people more flexibility in where they place the cooler inside the truck.
As people browse for coolers to give truckers, they’ll get the best results by trying to envision themselves in the position of the recipients. Some of the administrative members at a trucking company may never spend the hours driving per day that the professional drivers do. However, imagining the features or design choices that users would find most valuable will increase the chances that recipients genuinely love their coolers and use them during all their trips.
Delight Trucking Professionals With These Ideas
The suggestions here will get people off to a good start as they shop for items to put into a trucking employee care package. When these professionals get reminders of how they’re valued members of the workforce, they’re more likely to have higher morale, which could cause associated benefits, such as better productivity and safer driving.
