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 of life that if you’re driving a truck you run the risk of breaking down in a place that is unknown to you. You may not have anyone to call in the area, and you may not have any idea where to stop. Additionally, if it’s a weather emergency, you need to be prepared to survive for a few days off of what you have in your truck. That’s why it’s important that you think about what you will need in an emergency kit for your truck before you encounter an emergency.

What type of trucker are you?

The first question that you should ask yourself when you are thinking about an emergency kit for your truck is: what kind of trucker am I? Do you go home every night, every weekend, or are you on the road for long stretches of time? The answer to this question will determine the kinds of things that you will want to pack in your emergency kit. A truck driver who goes home each night will not need as extensive of a kit as a truck driver who is on the road for weeks at a time.

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 make sure that you are safe if an emergency should occur while you are on the road in an unfamiliar place.

Food, Water, and Warmth

While truckers who go home each night can get away with some snacks and a gallon of water tucked away in their cabin, long haul truckers need to do a little more planning. If you’ve been in the business for awhile, you know what you need while you’re on the road and you may already have a lot of supplies in your truck which can work in emergencies as well.

However, in general you will need food that will last you 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 shelf stable foods that may not need cooked. If you think you will cook, bring implements to cook in the case of no power. Several gallons of water should also be included in your stash. Lastly, make sure that you have blankets, warm clothing, hats, gloves, and anything that 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, and waterproof matches and emergency candles will also be helpful. A full medical kit that you know how to use, and a CB radio so that you can possibly contact someone for help in an emergency, and a weather radio can all be helpful as well. The emergency supplies section of your kit should be anything that 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 own emergency kits, but we urge you to follow all safety regulations already in place when constructing your kit as well. This kit should be in addition to what is already required. If you’re looking for a place to stop while 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!