If you’re a truck driver, then you know that having the right truck accessories can make your life a lot easier. There are a lot of different truck accessories on the market, and it can be hard to figure out which ones you need. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the top 5 truck accessories every truck driver should have!
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Why do truck accessories make a difference to a driver's day?
Before I list my top 5 truck accessories that every truck driver should have when driving trucks for a living let’s consider driving a truck around the UK with nothing but a delivery note with an address on it!
Truck accessories can help truck drivers in so many different ways, from making their job easier to keeping them safer on the roads.
Some truck accessories are essential for any truck driver, while others are more of a personal preference. However, all of the truck accessories on this list will make your life as a truck driver easier in one way or another.
Top 5 Truck Accessories
Below is my top 5 list of accessories that will make trucking easier, safer, and more enjoyable:
Truck Navigation Device
Navigating a large vehicle across the UK and beyond can be challenging especially if your routes change regularly or you’re unfamiliar with an area.
A truck navigation device can make your life a lot easier by giving you turn-by-turn directions, traffic updates, and even truck-specific routes that avoid low bridges and weight restrictions.
If you don’t already have a truck navigation device, then I highly recommend getting one. They are relatively inexpensive and can save you a lot of time and hassle.
There are various methods that can be used for navigating a truck, while some drivers prefer to simply use a map book, others prefer a less time-consuming approach that will provide them with up-to-date road conditions and warnings.
A dedicated truck sat nav is in my opinion the best solution and there are plenty of options out there.
Low cost truck navigation devices
Many drivers who are just starting out truck driving will very often choose a basic truck sat nav and with technological advances over recent years they are a great option, to be honest, I would prefer to use a cheap sat nav that is dedicated to providing information relevant to the size of vehicle I was driving than to throw a car sat nav in the windscreen of an 18 to 44-ton vehicle!
Here are some great examples of low cost truck navigation devices
Sniper SN-702T
Jimwey Truck Sat Nav
OHREX Truck Sat Nav
Premium truck navigation devices
A premium truck sat nav is more advanced with technology providing more detailed information for the driver, some examples of this would be truck-specific routes, real-time traffic updates, and even weather reports.
Although these GPS devices come at a premium the benefits they offer to a driver outway the cost over a period of time, they are generally faster and more responsive and the modern premium devices update the maps wirelessly rather than having to hook up to a computer, which many drivers found to be really annoying on older devices.
Here are some great examples of premium truck navigation devices
TomTom Go Expert
Jimwey Truck Sat Nav
Aguri Truck Sat Nav
App-Based truck navigation
Most truck drivers will have a smartphone with them when driving a truck so downloading an app designed for truck navigation is easy, personally, I prefer to have a separate device but many drivers opt for this option.
The problem I worry about with phone app-based GPS is as a driver you are totally relying on the app creators to keep the app updated, also a bad connection to the phone, a call coming in, or someone trying to facetime you could cause the GPS to suddenly shut off at any time!
Dash Camera
Modern truck driving in the UK has changed with regard to incidents that may occur on the roads, recent changes to the highway code have prioritized vehicles by size and trucks at the top of the scale which means if an accident occurs with a smaller vehicle they are more likely to be blamed for the incident.
A dash camera is a way of protecting yourself as a truck driver by providing vital evidence in the event of an accident, many trucking companies are now making it a requirement that truck drivers have a dash camera installed.
There are plenty of great truck dash cameras available on the market and they don’t have to cost the earth either, some even come with additional features such as lane departure warnings and forward collision alerts.
Here are some great options to consider if you don’t have one in your truck!
Snooper DVR-Pro Dash Cam
VANTRUE X4S 4K Dash Cam
Height Measuring Stick
A height measuring stick is a must if you regularly change trailers, although this is an accessory that won’t be required by every driver, class one drivers, or drivers of class 2 vehicles who have varying height loads would benefit from this simple accessory providing added safety and reassurance when driving under bridges, entering tunnels, or driving through warehouse doorways.
The best height measuring stick on the market is the Tensys Height stick, it folds into a neat bag so can easily be stored within the cab and be ready to use as and when required.
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All trucks should have a height indicator within the cab and ensuring that the height matches the height of your vehicle when driving is essential, if you were to hit a bridge, or similar displaying an incorrect height reading in the cab could get you into serious trouble!
Truck Device Charger & Power Supply
Powering and charging devices in a truck can be difficult if you simply rely on the power outlet within the dashboard of the truck. Depending on the truck you drive you may have the option of a 12v, 24v, or both single-source outlet.
With so many items to power or charge in the truck, a multi-port power supply and charger is essential for a modern truck driver’s needs.
I once destroyed my truck sat nav when I was asked to change trucks during a shift, I plugged my sat nav into the power socket in the truck which was a 24v outlet but my sat nav was only 12v, in a rush I guess!
Since then I have always had a simple multiport outlet that controls the voltage supplied to any device, so if the outlet in the truck was 24v and I had the accessory plugged in it would automatically only supply 12v to a 12v device, cool gadget!
Here are some great options for your truck!
OOWOLF Quick Charge 12v/24v
Skyocean Power Charger 12v/24v
Power Inverter
A power inverter is an accessory that most truck drivers will benefit from, the power inverter allows a driver to plug 240v household devices such as a TV, Kettle, Microwave Oven, or other items into it that will run these devices from the 24v system within the truck. The size of the power inverter will determine the items it will run and amperage does play a factor (more technical article about power inverters) but having this capability will make truck driving a more pleasurable experience and can actually save you lots of money by allowing you to make a brew or cook a meal in the truck.
Here are some great options if you have not got a power inverter in your truck
EDECOA 3000W 24V Inverter
CARRYBATT 2000W Inverter
Canotape 800w 24v Inverter
Conclusion
These are just a few truck accessories that I believe every truck driver should have in their truck, there are of course many more but these five items will make your life on the road much easier and safer!
