Maintaining good hygiene is important for every individual. The daily routine of a truck driver requires them to plan ahead and get creative in order to stay fresh and clean. Keeping up on your hygiene can have a lot of positives affects such as boosted confidence, good first impressions, and breaking the stereotypes people have about truckers and the industry. Read on to explore some of our tips and tricks.
“Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct, they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them”-Benjamin Disraeli
Hygiene Supplies to Have Handy:
Don’t overpay for toiletries at truck stops! Plan ahead and pack everything that you will need in a portable travel bag. Having a carrying case will help keep you organized and will be more convenient to take with you outside the truck.
Here is a list of some items you may want to pack:
- Toothbrush
- Eco-floss
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Comb or brush
- Hair ties (for longer hair)
- Razor
- Bar of soap in holder
- Shampoo/Conditioner (for longer hair)
- Body Spray or an essential oil
- Lip balm
- Prescriptions
- Moisturizing lotion
- Shower sandals
- Towel
- Washcloth
- Baby wipes
- Hand Sanitizer
- Roll of toilet paper
- Makeup essentials (if you wear it)
- Menstrual products (if you are a female trucker)
Laundry and Clean Clothes:
Although you will want to pack light, you should try to bring enough clothing pieces to get you through a week. Pants can be worn a few times before being washed but shirts, especially in the summer, will probably need washed after one wear. There will be a lot of chores that need completed in your spare time. Manage this time wisely in order to complete the highest number of tasks in the smallest amount of time. For instance, throw a load of laundry in the washing machine and then grab something to eat. When you finish, move the clothes to the dryer and go tidy your truck up.
Laundry-related Items to Pack:
- Small coin purse with quarters
- Mesh laundry bag
- Dryer sheets
- Detergent
- Stain stick
Showering:
It can be difficult for truck drivers to find a place to shower every night. Although most truck stops have showers, there are some that do not. These places typically charge $8.00 to $10.00 per shower, which can get incredibly costly. Pay attention to the places that offer driver reward cards. The way these programs work most of the time is that fuel purchases can go towards free shower tokens. If you by a specified number of gallons of fuel within a some sort of time frame, you will be given a free shower. Be sure that you keep track of these rewards because they oftentimes expire after a few days. Another option you may have if you work for a trucking company is to shower at their facility for free.
There may be times where a hot shower just isn’t feasible. Don’t walk around with nasty body odor! Take action. Worst case scenario, wipe the bacteria and sweat off of your skin with heavy duty baby wipes or use a washcloth and soap and take a sink bath.
Nature Calls:
The call of nature cannot always be ignored. Come up with a solution to your bathroom woes before you got to go! Many truckers urinate into bottles. Female truckers can do this as well but they should use a bigger cup with a lid. Don’t throw these bottles or cups away at truck stops, that’s ignorant. Take the bottles into a restroom and flush the contents before washing them out for reuse. Not only is this more environmental but it is also more respectful.
It might also be a good idea to consider having an emergency toilet in your rig. There may be times when you are stuck in traffic and have to go, or times when you don’t want to walk across a parking lot on a cold night. There are a few options to look into. You could invest in a portable toilet that can be stored under your bunk or make your own. The second option is definitely cheaper but comes with its own set of inconveniences. You would line a bucket with a heavy-duty trash bag and scoop in kitty litter once you were through with your business and close the lid. Some people even choose to go directly into a bucket of kitty litter that they scoop into the trash later. Don’t forget the hand sanitizer!
To the outside world, many of these hygiene methods may seen unconventional but a trucker’s daily life is just that-unconventional! Find what works best for you and your needs and stick with it!
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