Part of the appeal of being a truck driver is freedom. For some, this means long hauls across open countryside, while for others, it means being able to return to your home base in Arizona four nights per week after shorter trips across the California state line and back.
Unless your employer requires you to wear a uniform while working, truck driving clothing is part of the freedom that your profession provides you. However, you should still maintain certain standards.
What Should Truck Drivers Wear for Across-State Driving?
When you only go on short drayage trips over the state line from Arizona, you do not have to pack as much truck driving clothing as you would if you were going to be gone for weeks on end. Nevertheless, while you are packing for the trip, there are several considerations you should keep in mind:
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- Comfort: Because you are driving for long hours at a time, clothing in which you feel comfortable is a must.
- Practicality: Your clothes should allow you to perform your job duties without interference.
- Professionalism: Your clothing should reflect well on you, your company, and the trucking profession as a whole.
What Should Every Truck Driver Have?
Follow these comfortable truck driving clothing tips to make sure you have the essentials for your trip:
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- Even when traveling in Arizona and Southern California, the weather can be unpredictable. At times it can get chilly, especially after dark. Therefore, you should dress in layers. Bring sweatshirts, flannels, or sweaters that you can wear over T-shirts or long-sleeved shirts. While it is rare that you have to deal with precipitation, it doesn’t hurt to bring a rain jacket just in case.
- Bring shoes that are appropriate for different situations. Work boots protect your feet when loading cargo or performing pre-trip inspections. Sneakers are good for walking or working out during downtime. Shower shoes can be worn for hygiene.
- Pack as many as each item as you need for a short trip. For example, you should bring at least one T-shirt for every day that you plan to spend on the road, and you may want to bring extra undergarments, just in case, but you probably only need to take a couple of flannels or sweaters.
Why Practical but Professional?
When you drive your truck, you represent your employer and yourself. You want the people you encounter to have a good impression of you and your company. There is an unfortunately persistent perception of truckers as slobs who don’t bother to take care of themselves while on the road. If you do not present yourself professionally, you reinforce that negative stereotype in people’s minds.
Still, no one expects you to drive your truck in a three-piece suit. Professional doesn’t necessarily mean formal; it means dressing in clothes that are comfortable and appropriate to your profession, such as blue jeans that are also clean and in good repair.
Truck Driver Outfit Example
Don’t wear jeans that are ripped at the knees or worn-out T-shirts that are full of holes. You may think that it doesn’t matter because no one sees you when you’re driving, but at some point, you may have a customer interaction that requires you to step out of the truck.
Since comfort is also essential when you are spending many hours driving, an example of a truck driver’s outfit that is practical as well as professional includes the following:
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- Work Boots
- Clean socks
- Unripped jeans
- Clean, pressed undershirt of either white or a solid color (no lettering or graphics)
- Sweater or flannel as needed
Because you may not wear flannels or sweaters every day, these may take longer to get dirty, meaning that you can probably wear them several days in a row. When in doubt, however, you should grab a fresh one if possible.
Items You Didn’t Think of
While not truck driving clothing per se, there are other accessories that are still essentials to bring along with you on your trip. For example, sunglasses are a must when driving back and forth between Arizona and California on short runs lasting several days. For the three nights a week that you sleep on the road, you need to bring pajamas or something comfy to sleep in. Since this is not a work outfit, it does not need to meet the same standards of professionalism.
There are also accessories that you should bring along for safety. For example, if you need to work outside your vehicle at night, you should wear a reflective vest that makes you more visible to passing cars. You should also have gloves of sturdy material, such as leather or canvas, to protect your hands while you’re working.
Duncan & Sons Lines is hiring experienced drivers with valid commercial licenses for drayage and intermodal jobs based in Arizona. Find out more about career opportunities with us.
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