Six things to make life easier on the road

You shouldn't have to forego life's little luxuries just because you're on the road

Life can be tough when you spend your week on the road, so we have compiled a list of gadgets that should not only make life easier, but could also potentially save you some money.

A Fridge

While a lot of new trucks come fitted with a fridge as standard, there are also many that don’t. The range of units available caters for all manner of drivers, from the lunch box sized models for the local driver right up to the multi-zone fridge/freezers that offer separate compartments for chilled and frozen products. While it’s always nice to have a cold drink on hand, the humble fridge also offers some protection for your Mars Bar in the summer months, and plenty of space for a few days’ worth of fresh food.

For those who live on the road, there are big savings to be had by taking your own food along. A serve of leftovers from the weekend, heated up in the microwave at the depot, is probably the most nutritious food you will see all week, and costs nothing. Put a box of Weetbix, a bowl and a spoon in the cab, and a bottle of milk in the fridge, and there’s a good healthy breakfast on hand wherever you wake up in the morning too.

12/24v Oven

The portable oven has only really taken off in the last couple of years, but plenty of drivers already swear by them. Back in the day, a lot of drivers carried a small gas stove to cook dinner on, and many still do, but cooking dinner can be a pain on a rainy night. It can also cut into your sleeping time. The beauty of the little oven though, is that you can prepare your meals at home on the weekend, keep them in the freezer (see above), and then heat them up as you are driving along.

By the time it’s ready to eat, you can find a nice quiet place to have dinner, and the smell in the cab will have you well and truly ready to enjoy your meal. Oh, and most importantly, there are no dishes to wash afterwards!

There are a few different varieties of these available, but most will accommodate a standard foil container (like a Chinese take-away dish) that can be bought at the supermarket for just a few dollars for a pack of five or six. Fill them up with your favourite stew or lasagne, and you can eat what you like, when you like, without spending a weeks wages on dinner. A great way to enjoy a different meal every night is to have your wife, partner or mum cook enough for you at home each night, and freeze it. That way, when you get home, you simply re stock the freezer in the truck, and away you go!

On board camera

On board cameras, or Dashcams, have become the latest must-have gadget for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road. A good quality unit might set you back a couple of hundred bucks, but they provide the cheapest insurance that money can buy. While the facts show that most collisions involving heavy vehicles and cars are the fault of the smaller vehicle, without witnesses it could be your word against theirs. An on board camera provides a safeguard against the actions of others, and peace of mind for a driver if the worst should happen.

Among the models available, there are those that also record the date, time and GPS location, along with the vehicle's speed. This can provide good evidence in the event of a false complaint being made against a driver, as is often the case these days. An on board camera also provides the opportunity to share some the ridiculous things we see on the road every day, for the amusement of friends and family.

Bluetooth hands-free

Again, Bluetooth technology has become almost standard across the board on both cars and trucks. While most stereo units now incorporate Bluetooth hands-free phone operation, the quality of the audio can be questionable at times, especially for the person on the other end of the phone. Bluetooth headsets are a great way to improve the call quality, and make it easier to concentrate on the job at hand without straining to hear the voice on the other end of the line. Most of these headsets offer good battery life, and a USB charger that can be used to recharge them overnight. While a good Bluetooth headset may cost a few dollars, it’s a lot cheaper than getting caught with the phone in your hand, and much better for your long-term employment prospects.

The other beauty of Bluetooth is the ability to stream music from your phone. Most people these days have a smartphone, with plenty of their favourite music loaded onto it. Bluetooth offers the flexibility to listen to your favourite Barnsey, ACDC or S Club 7 tunes through the stereo without needing to run a lead to the phone.

240-volt inverter

While most of the gadgets we use in the cab can be powered by the cigarette-lighter plug or USB outlets, there are some things that use a little more power or are easily upset by power spikes. Fitting a 240-volt inverter allows a driver to use most appliances that are fitted with a standard power point type plug, including TVs, microwaves and kettles. It also provides a steady power output for those items that are sensitive to power spikes, like laptop computers. Surprisingly, inverters have not yet made it to the standard items list on many trucks. We recommend you use the services of a good auto electrician to install these, in order to ensure safe long term use.

Auxiliary batteries

To ensure the truck will start in the morning after a night watching Smokey and the Bandit 1, 2 and 3 on the flat screen, a set of auxiliary batteries is also a good idea. These are independent of the main starter batteries, and can also be used to operate other accessories, including stationary use air conditioners.

These systems can also be used to maintain the charge in the main batteries, and run all of the truck's accessories should the alternator fail, meaning the truck can get to a workshop under its own power, saving on expensive call out costs. They will also run all of your accessories, including fridges, ovens, on board cameras and TVs, for days on end without needing to start the engine and recharge the batteries.

Six things to make life easier on the road

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