You already know that when spending long hours on the road, how you dress can have a big impact on your comfort level. But have you ever considered if you’re dressing for success with your clothes as a truck driver?
Try these ideas for selecting your clothes as a truck driver:
- Keep your look professional
- Consider wearing company-branded apparel
- Stay fresh and comfortable
- Layer up for cold weather
- Support your feet
- Keep everything clean
Clean Cut and Buttoned Up: Keep your look professional
Maintaining a professional appearance while driving helps you represent your industry, and the company you drive for, in a positive manner. Truckers who wear polished attire are more likely to gain respect from law enforcement or Department of Transportation officials that they interact with on their travels.
To create a professional look, make sure your clothes are clean and don’t have any holes or tears. Avoid clothes with potentially offensive slogans or images. When in doubt, solid-color shirts, sweaters or jackets paired with clean pants are a classic option.
Get Down to Business
Consider wearing company-branded apparel
To take your professional attire as a driver to the next level, consider wearing company-branded clothing. Wearing a shirt, jacket or an iconic trucker hat with your employer’s logo will help establish credibility at shippers and receivers, and will help give you a distinguished look if interacting with customers along your route.
Sweat-Free and Feeling Fresh
Stay cool and comfortable
One key part of staying comfortable for long stints on the road is staying fresh and dry. Clothes that hang on to sweat or moisture can create an uncomfortable clammy feeling or chafing that can put a damper on any route.
To avoid this, opt for truck driver clothes made of light, breathable or sweat-wicking fabrics that aren’t too tight, such as golf shirts made of moisture-wicking fabric blends. Stretchy materials that move with your body, such as stretch denim pants, are also a great option. Comfort starts with base layers so don’t forget to consider your undergarments, too!
Lay It on Thick
Layer up for cold weather
Layers are best for staying warm in cold weather because they can trap your body heat more efficiently. Plus, they’re easy to put on or take off if you experience weather changes on your trip.
Some ideas for efficient and easy layering that’s not too bulky to wear or store are:
- Long underwear made of moisture-wicking fabric
- Long-sleeve, base layer shirts for underneath hoodies or zippered jackets
- Thick socks, gloves and hats
Pack Light But Pack Right
A winter capsule wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe is a minimalist collection of clothing items that can be easily mixed and matched to create different outfits. Here are ideas and links for inspiration for a driver capsule wardrobe that can keep you covered and comfortable for 5 days and 6 nights while on the road:
- 2-3 pairs of sweatpants or pajama pants
- Hoodie or sweatshirt
- Winter coat
- Hat and gloves
- 5 pairs of underwear
- 5 pairs of socks
- 5 undershirts
- 5 Midwest branded polo shirts
- 3 pairs of jeans or pants
Foot Comfort is Foundational
Support your feet
One part of your driver attire that can’t be ignored is your shoes! People who spend long periods of time driving can be at greater risk for painful foot injuries like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, swelling, or deep vein thrombosis, a type of dangerous blood clotting.
To limit your risk of developing one of these potentially serious foot ailments, wear a sturdy shoe with plenty of arch and ankle support. To combat swelling, consider compression socks and make sure that your shoes are appropriately sized – your toes need room to move within your shoes. Pro tip: make sure you’re also stopping regularly along your route to stretch your legs and your feet too!
Squeaky Clean
Keep everything washed and spotless
Finally, maintaining clean clothes as a trucker can make a huge difference in your appearance. Clothes that are dirty, stained or have an odor will reflect poorly on your employer and cause a host of health issues, like rashes, chafing, acne or dandruff.
Try keeping a to-go bag with an emergency stain remover pen for small drips or spills, and extra clean shirts, pants, undergarments for when you need to freshen up fast. Storage can also be a concern after a while on the road, but be sure to store dirty clothes separately from your clean ones to keep them fresher for longer.
Wash ‘n Fold
How to wash your clothes while on the road
We’ve all been there – you’re out driving for the week and run out of clean laundry. If you need to wash your dirty clothes on the road, you have a few options. Many full-service truck stops offer laundry services if you need to wash, dry and fold a load of clothes, and as a bonus, you can take care of other things like showering, grabbing a meal or refueling while you wait. There are always laundromats too, in every town along your trip so plan a stop strategically!
Try these steps if you need to spot-clean a garment:
- Soak the garment for a few minutes in warm or hot water if possible. Truck stop restrooms are great for this!
- Use a dime-sized dollop of laundry detergent on the stain. Allow it to soak in for a few moments. For tough grease stains, try a specially formulated stain remover or dish detergent.
- Using a brush or your fingers, scrub the stain gently.
- Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry.
As a truck driver, choose clothes that keeps you comfortable and looking your best.
With a little organization, you can select clothes as a truck driver that are professional, comfy and clean. And with a little extra planning, you can stay ahead of the pending mountain of laundry by packing light and identifying points along your route to wash a quick load.