Searching for the perfect gifts for truck drivers in your life? Explore our expert-curated list of practical and thoughtful truck driver gift ideas that make life on the road more enjoyable. Find the ideal gift for the asphalt cowboy (or girl) in your world!
Finding the perfect gift for anyone can be a chore, but it is especially difficult when the person you’re buying for spends most of their time away from you and their home. The trucking lifestyle and industry is a rough ride even for the most experienced drivers, but a thoughtful gift can make them smile and relieve some of the stress they feel on the daily.
If you’ve never been inside a big rig, let me be the first to tell you; there’s not much room in them. Even for sleeper cabs, every item that is brought on board needs to have a purpose and should be as compact as possible.
Whether you’re looking for a truck driver gift idea as a Christmas gift, as a birthday gift, anniversary or as a “just because” gift, you’ll want to ensure that you’ve taken the time to pick a gift that they will not only love and appreciate, but one that will actually be used and won’t take up unnecessary space as well.
What is the best gift for a truck driver?
The best gifts for truck drivers are those that improve their life in someway shape or form. Maybe the gift helps to increase their comfort in the truck. Maybe it is something that makes the long distances easier. Or it could be a gift that helps them pass the time on long drives or when they’re taking a reset.
In other words, when you’re shopping for gifts for truck drivers, make sure that your gift will enhance the driver’s life. When you do, you can be certain that your gift will be appreciated and well loved for years to come.
What Do Truck Drivers Spend Their Money On?
Another way to decide what gifts for truck drivers you want to buy is to look at where your driver spends his money when he’s running loads. Is he constantly eating out? Why not find a way to help him eat something that isn’t restaurant food? Not only will he appreciate being able to eat better quality food, but your budget will thank you and his health will.
Is she constantly suffering from extreme fatigue and drowsiness? Why not get her a gift that will help her rest better such as one of the many memory foam mattresses available for truck sleepers or a blanket that will provide extra warmth? She will be safer and happier.
It may sound silly, but when a driver is on the road, they spend money on what they need and want. Usually it’s money spent at truck stops where the cost is significantly more than it would be if you got them a few great gifts to start with. If you look at those expenses, you can get usually get a few good truck driver gift ideas to start with.
Just a word of advice though; if you don’t share expenses, ask your driver. Don’t go snooping where it’s going to cause your driver to get angry. That won’t make anyone’s special occasion better.
What do Truckers Want the Most?
As I said earlier, most drivers want gifts that will enhance their lives while they’re working long hours and away from home. What your driver will want will depend on what they need currently and their own personality. It could be anything from one of the various headsets made for truckers, to audiobooks, a new pair of sunglasses or a slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Side note: I don’t actually recommend using an Instant Pot in a truck. A slow cooker can be ran and cooking while the truck is moving during the day. An Instant Pot can not safely be used until you have shut down for the day.
Maybe they have back pain and need seat cushions to help keep their back aligned. Or if they already have a health issue, compression socks that help improve blood circulation make a great small gift since they help to prevent blood clots that are a common issue to drivers.
Another great gift idea is to pay their streaming subscriptions ahead of time for a few months.
The short answer is that your trucker will let you know what he or she needs and wants if you pay close enough attention. By watching, you can surprise them with a gift they will adore and one that will make their lives better for a long time to come.
The Gift of a Good Night’s Sleep
A quality mattress is another amazing gift idea for any trucker! Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for all long-haul truck drivers. A great example of a high-quality truck mattress is Sleep Dog Mattress. Sleep Dog mattresses are 100% American-made with memory foam that minimizes motion transfer and adapts to your sleep needs to ensure high-quality, DOT approved rest you can rely on. The mattresses are shipped in a box that allows for easy transport and set up and are sized to fit any semi truck sleeper, making this a perfect option if you are looking to bring a gift home for a truck driver.