How to Create an Emergency Kit for Your Truck

None of us want to believe it’ll happen to us, but it’s a fact that if you’re driving a truck, you risk breaking down in a place unknown to you. You may not have anyone to call in the area, and you may not have any idea where to stop. In a weather emergency, be ready to survive for days with supplies from your truck. Plan and assemble an emergency kit beforehand to ensure preparedness.

What type of trucker are you?

When planning your truck’s emergency kit, ask yourself: What kind of trucker am I? Consider your unique needs to tailor your preparedness. Do you go home every night, every weekend, or are you on the road for long periods? Your response dictates the contents of your emergency kit. A local trucker requires a less extensive kit than one on the road for weeks.

If you go home each night, consider packing the basics in any emergency kit: some extra food with high caloric content and protein, water, and a safety blanket. You should already have a medical safety kit in your cab, so keep all of these together. If you are in it for the long haul, keep reading. You will need these items and more to ensure you are safe if an emergency occurs while you are on the road in an unfamiliar place.

Food, Water, and Warmth

Local truckers can suffice with snacks and a gallon of water stored in their cabin. However, long-haul truckers need to do a little more planning. For seasoned truckers, having been in the business for a while means knowing the necessary supplies for the road. They may already have a stock of items in their truck that can serve in emergencies.

However, you will generally need food that will last you for at least a week, but more if possible. The food should be high in caloric content and protein, and it should be able to sustain you. Think of shelf-stable foods that may not need to be cooked. If you think you will cook, bring implements to cook if you have no power. Several gallons of water should also be included in your stash. Lastly, ensure that you have blankets, warm clothing, hats, gloves, and anything you might need should the weather turn south and leave you stranded.

Emergency Supplies

If you are a long-haul trucker, you will also want to bring extra money, extra changes of clothing, toiletries, and anything you might need to get by. Money, batteries, waterproof matches, and emergency candles will also be helpful. A complete medical kit that you know how to use, a CB radio so that you can contact someone for help in an emergency, and a weather radio can also be helpful. Your kit’s emergency supplies section should be anything you need in a weather or breakdown emergency but bigger because you don’t know how long you will be stranded. Lastly, grab a tool kit because you may need to fix something, and you don’t want to be stranded without even a screwdriver to help you.

We hope this guide has helped give you ideas for your emergency kits, but we urge you to follow all safety regulations already in place when constructing your kit. This kit should be in addition to what is already required. If you’re looking for a place to stop on the road, look no further than Waspy’s Truck Stop in Templeton and Audubon. We have many amenities for truck drivers, and we know you will enjoy the food and family atmosphere. Give us a call today for more information and safe travels!