Accessories to make your CMV Comfortable
Accessories to make your CMV Comfortable
When you're on the road for long hours, you need to be comfortable. Your truck is your "home away from home". While it may cost something to upgrade, even small improvements can go far in making long trips feel shorter. When your rig becomes your office, dining room, bedroom, and your living room, it's important to fill it with practical items that will help you sleep better, stay organized, eat healthier, and reduce fatigue. Here are some of the best comfort accessories recommended by veteran truck drivers, along with important safety considerations.
Get quality sleep!
Some truck drivers say they can actually sleep better in their truck than at home due to some of the accessories they've purchased. Many recommend a memory foam mattress topper, high quality pillows like MyPillow, comfortable sheets, lightweight blankets for summer, and heavy comforters for winter. Blackout curtains can help block sunlight. Earplugs, a white noise machine, a small fan, and or noise-canceling headphones can cancel loud noises allowing you to sleep better even during the day.
Soft LED lighting makes the sleeper more inviting so many drivers install reading lights, LED strip lights, and motion-sensor lights for nighttime. Avoid lighting that reflects on the windshield or that will distract you while the vehicle is in motion.
Keep a comfortable cabin
Lumbar support cushions, cooling seat covers for summer and heated seat cushions for winter, premium truck seats, and heavy-duty suspension seats can help reduce back and hip pain, as well as fatigue and leg soreness. Making sure your seat is properly adjusted will also help improve posture and visibility.
Even with air conditioning, a small fan helps circulate air inside the cabin. This can help you have better airflow, lower humidity, keep you cool while parked, and give you white noise for sleeping. Choose fans designed for vehicle use and secure them well.
A clean cabin can provide a calming atmosphere and reduce allergens and unpleasant odors. Some helpful things to have on hand include: disinfecting wipes, glass cleaner, paper towels, trash bags, hand sanitizer, a small vacuum, and air freshener. Along with keeping the cabin clean, try to keep things organized. Many truck drivers recommend a pen organizer for your sun visor, under-bunk storage bins, car seat organizers, hanging closet organizers, and small containers to keep things close at hand and accessible.
Ensure accessories do not interfere with the mirrors, windows, vents, emergency exits, access to safety equipment, seat belts, airbags, steering, pedals, or driver controls. Keep the walkways and the sleeper area free of clutter to reduce slip and trip hazards.
Stay fresh
Having changes of clothes that fit the weather can go a long way to staying fresh. In winter, consider packing wool socks, thermal underwear, insulated gloves, knit caps, and waterproof boots. You don't want to get caught outside in an emergency without the proper clothing and a change for when you've resumed your ride. In summer, consider moisture-wicking shirts, cooling towels, breathable sleepwear, lightweight shorts and flip-flops for when you're off-duty. If you'll be crossing multiple states with different weather patterns, it may be wise to layer your clothing or bring a variety of different clothes.
Home-cooked meals on the road
Making your own food can give you a feeling of independence on the road, help you eat healthier, and save time. Popular accessories that can help are a 12-volt refrigerator, electric or ice cooler, microwave, Hot Logic oven, 12-volt lunch box stove, crock pot, and coffee maker. Many drivers also like to have simple seasonings on hand so food tastes like it does at home. Just because you are away from home doesn't mean you can't have home-cooked meals.
Safety Tip: Only operate cooking appliances according to the manufacturer's instructions. Avoid overloading electrical circuits, and never leave heating appliances unattended while operating.
Increasing your comfort in your off-duty hours
It's important to be comfortable not just when you're on the road, but also in your off-duty hours. Stretching and doing simple exercises can help reduce stiffness and fatigue, as well as aid your mental health. Some compact fitness gear you can purchase include resistance bands, a yoga mat, foam roller, massage gun, and hand grip exerciser. Even just a few minutes of stretching makes a difference.
Hobbies can also help you reduce stress, combat loneliness, and stay sharp. To make it easier to engage in hobbies on the road, some drivers install a television, video game consoles, and streaming devices. Others bring a laptop, tablet, E-readers, and noise-canceling headphones for more portable options.
Safety Tip: FMCSA regulations prohibit drivers from holding a mobile phone while operating a commercial motor vehicle. Mounts should never obstruct the driver's view of the roadway or vehicle controls. Secure all electronics before driving so they cannot move around the cab.
At CDL Direct, we don’t just prepare you to pass the exam. Our course is designed to prepare you for real-world situations—inspections, roadside stops, accidents, and the decisions and driving techniques that protect your livelihood.