Gifts for Truckers: A Gift Guide to Cool Things Truckers Actually Want

We’ve curated a selection of excellent gifts for truckers, taking into account what they truly need.

This way, you can confidently choose the best gifts for your truck driver friend.

From GPS devices and dashcams, to food-prep technology and coolers – we’ve got plenty of ideas.

So if you’re struggling to think of something for that professional truck driver in your life, this list of unique gifts for truckers has got your back.

A photo of a man wearing a Smart Trucking t-shirt. He is holding up a large trophy.

Choosing Good Gifts for Truckers

Understanding a truck driver’s daily life will help you choose the best gifts for a truck driver. Here’s some of what they do:

  • Drive for up to 11 hours
  • Check their truck before and after trips
  • Take required breaks with time to relax
  • Prepare and store food

Truck drivers are busy every day, so try to make their day easier. Look for gifts that:

  • Save them money
  • Help them rest well
  • Keep them healthy on the road
  • Keep them entertained during downtime
  • Let them work safely and efficiently

The Trucker’s Wishlist: Gift Ideas for Truckers

12V Cooler

Every trucker needs a 12V cooler to keep their food and drinks cold and fresh as long as possible.

Truckers can easily be caught in the trap of relying on fast-food. Of course, this food is not the healthiest. That’s why a 12V cooler can be key to staying healthy – it means they can more easily cook their own food. It also saves them money. 

If you’re looking for the best 12-volt cooler for truckers, we recommend the Igloo 40 Quart Iceless Thermoelectric 12 Volt Cooler.

We like this 12V portable cooler because it can keep your food and drinks cold without ice. You just plug it into the truck’s cigarette lighter.

It also comes with an 8 feet long power cord so you can position it easily in the truck’s cabin. Not to mention, the cooler is big enough (40 quarts) to make most truckers satisfied.

Another good option is the Koolatron Travel 12V Cooler.

This not only keeps your food and drinks cool, it can heat up your food to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

A photo of a travel cooler. The door is slightly ajar, so food can be seen inside. It has a long power cord.

Orthopedic Seat Cushion

Since truck drivers are always on the move, they spend most of their time seated.

The problem is, sitting for too long could cause long-term side effects. These include back pain, neck pain, hemorrhoids, tailbone pain, and a compromised posture. 

That’s why an orthopedic seat cushion gift is useful – it’ll help minimize these risk factors in the long run, while also improving blood circulation. 

As far as inexpensive gifts for truck drivers go, it’s a great choice.

A photo of the inside of an orthopedic seat cushion. You can see the gel capsules that aid in comfort.

GPS Device

A GPS device is one of the best gifts for drivers. 

Though be careful, you need to choose a GPS device designed for truck drivers.

These include special features that help truckers to avoid weight restrictions, low bridges, and roads that don’t allow big trucks.

If you’re searching for the best GPS for truckers, we recommend the Garmin dezl 580 LMT-S.

It’s one of the most popular GPS devices for truckers because it lets you plan a suitable route based on the size and weight of your truck. It also notifies you of any nearby restaurants, gyms, truck stops, shower amenities, and rest areas.

Some other notable features include built-in Wi-Fi receptor, live traffic updates, voice control, live weather updates, and an external memory slot. It also has eLog compliant ELD and Bluetooth. 

If you’re a truck dispatcher, you can also send delivery addresses through the GPS device.

Related > Our Pick of Best GPS’ For Truckers

A photo of a Garmin GPS device. It has a large screen with a map and directions.

CB Radio

Even though CB radios are not as popular as they used to be back in the days, they’re still important for most truck drivers.

Why? Because most truckers receive live updates and emergency alerts through the CB radio. For instance, if there is an accident or a speed trap up ahead, most truck drivers will talk about it on the CB radio.

Not to mention, sometimes truckers drive through places with poor cell phone reception, so they have to rely on the CB radio.

If you’re hunting for the best CB radio, consider the Cobra 29LX Professional CB Radio.

It’s a great CB radio that ticks all the boxes: It has all the 40 CB radio channels, NOAA weather channels, adjustable dynamic boost, RF gain settings, switchable noise blanker, and instant channel 9 access.

It also has an in-built clock and alarm!

Related > Our Pick of the Best CB’s!

Portable Slow Cooker

Here is an idea: how about you surprise a trucker with a slow cooker gift so that he/she can have the food ready after a long trip?

Another reason to get a slow cooker for a truck driver is because most restaurants and truck stops have too much junk food.

So if you’re looking for the best slow cooker for truck drivers, we recommend the TrianglePatt Portable 24V Food Oven and Warmer.

What makes it convenient is that you just plug it into the cigarette lighter. Then you can cook raw food such as beef, chicken, and pork in about 2 to 3 hours. 

The internal temperature is between 140 to 230 degrees Fahrenheit, but it doesn’t burn the food even if you plug it in overnight. It’s also easy to clean and compatible with heat-resistant containers made out of glass, metal, plastic, aluminum, ceramic, and Tupperware.

Another good option that helps truck drivers to cook on the road is the RoadPro 350 Quart 12V Slow Cooker. It comes with a glass lid with a cord to secure it – preventing food from spilling while you’re driving.

But if you just want an electric lunch box that a truck driver could use to warm or reheat pre-cooked food or leftovers on the go, consider the Gideon 12-volt Electric Lunch Box or Travelismo Electric lunch box.

Note: A trucker could also use a slow cooker to warm up or reheat the food.

A photo of a portable slow cooker. A container of food is being warmed on top. You can also see the power adapter.

Guardian Angel Lite Device

Sometimes big rigs break down on the side of the road, and it could be a hazard, especially if it happens at night.

This is because there is a potential risk of an oncoming vehicle hitting the truck or driver due to poor visibility. In such a scenario, a truck driver needs to use an amber light to alert oncoming drivers to slow down.

What if there was an emergency light device designed for professional truck drivers? It turns out such a device exists; it’s known as the Guardian Angel Lite device. It’s a 3 in 1 device that features a flashlight, amber light, and work light.

Truckers can stick it on their shirts, jackets, or hat when walking at night, helping to improve their visibility. It also comes with a magnetic mount so you can easily attach it to your truck.

What’s more, if your loved one needs immediate assistance, he/she can promptly turn on the SOS flash mode. It’s also waterproof so you can use it when it’s raining or snowing.

Read our more detailed review on this very bright and powerful multipurpose flashlight. These are super handy devices to have!

A photo of the Guardian Angel light device. It is a small black box, with flashing lights and various dials.

Leather Work Gloves

Most truck drivers have to deal with hand fatigue and sweaty palms after driving non-stop for hours. They have to deal with road vibrations and extreme weather conditions.

That’s where a pair of leather gloves come in. They’re designed to absorb road vibrations, reduce hand fatigue, protect against extreme weather conditions, and improve steering wheel grip. 

If you’re looking for the best gloves for a trucker, we recommend the Wells Lamont Men’s Cowhide Leather Work Gloves. They’re made out of 100 percent grain cowhide with a reinforced leather palm patch to improve durability.

A photo of a pair of yellow leather driving gloves.

Polarized Sunglasses

Why does a trucker need polarized sunglasses? Because they’re often exposed to sun glare, UV rays, and intense light while driving. This can cause eye fatigue and light sensitivity issues. 

Polarized sunglasses are better than usual sunglasses. Their lenses have a special film to filter UV rays, sun glare, and intense light.

If you want to surprise a truck driver with polarized sunglasses, we recommend the J+S Premium Military Style Classic Aviator Sunglasses.

Apart from looking cool, their lenses are scratch-resistant with 100 percent protection against UV rays.

Deep Tissue Massage Gun

Most truckers experience muscle soreness after a long-distance trip. In our experience, one of the best remedies to get rid of muscle soreness is using a deep tissue massage gun. 

We recommend the Vybe Percussion Massage Gun.

This massage device has 8 interchangeable attachments to cover every muscle group. In addition, it can vibrate up to 3200 rpm, and still remain surprisingly quiet. The battery also lasts up to three hours.

A photo of the Vybe Percussion Massage Gun. The various different attachments can also be seen.

Cellphone Holder

Truth be told, a lot of road accidents happen because the driver was distracted by their cell phone. This makes it a good idea to get a cellphone holder as a gift. 

This makes  it easier for truck drivers to answer phone calls, read text messages, and record videos without letting their hands off the steering wheel. 

Nowadays, most smartphones can use voice commands, so it’s possible to control the phone without touching the screen.

If you’re looking for the best option, we recommend the IPOW Upgraded Truck Phone Mount Holder.

A photo of the IPOW Upgraded Truck Phone Mount Holder. It also shows two other phone attachments.

Bluetooth Headset

As much as a cellphone holder helps to prevent driver distraction, we think it should go hand to hand with a Bluetooth headset gift. 

This is because even if you talk hands-free while using a cellphone holder, there’s still background noise.

That’s why we recommend you get a Bluetooth headset like the Plantronics – Voyager Legend. It filters this background noise to improve sound clarity.

But that’s not all; you can use it to listen to music or audiobooks while driving. After a full charge, you can use it for up to 7 hours. Not to forget, it’s compatible with iPhone, Android, Mac, or any device with Bluetooth.

A photo of the Plantronics Voyager Legend wireless headset. It is black, with a curved piece for looping around your ear.

Dash Camera

Sometimes when unfortunate incidents happen on the road, there are no reliable witnesses to give proof of what exactly happened. 

However, if a trucker has a dash camera, it will record everything and provide evidence. For that reason, we think the Garmin Dash Cam 55 is one of the best gifts you can give a truck driver this Christmas.

It’s designed with an in-built GPS and 3.7-megapixel camera that produces 1440-pixel video quality. It will even warn the truck driver if there is an upcoming hazard on the road. Better yet, it warns of speed cameras. 

To prevent distracted driving, the dash cam also has a voice control feature, so you don’t need to take your hands off the wheel to record. In case of an accident, the dashcam will automatically back up the footage to the SD card. 

A photo of a dash cam. The screen is showing a preview of what the camera sees.

Black Out Mask

According to NHTSA, driver fatigue causes at least 40 percent of truck accidents.

Even if you get enough sleeping hours as a trucker, it’s possible to wake up still feeling tired. This usually happens when truckers don’t sleep well because they’re sensitive to light.

The good news is, if a trucker uses a blackout sleep mask, he/she can sleep better during the day or night. We recommend this Manta sleep mask – it’s tailored to block 100 percent of light to improve your sleep.

It’s an inexpensive gift that’s incredibly useful.

Memory Foam Mattress

Talking about sleep, the type of mattress you use greatly affects how deep you sleep.

If you want to buy a quality mattress for a truck driver, we recommend the Better Habitat Memory Foam mattress

Memory foam mattresses are more comfortable than other types of mattresses. They also don’t squeak, and disperse weight better than a spring mattress.

Also, the mattress is portable, meaning you can carry it just about anywhere. It also comes with a hypoallergenic cover to keep off allergens and dust mites.

A photo of the Better Habitat Memory Foam mattress being rolled up.

Seat Organizer

How about a seat organizer gift for a trucker?

This helps truck drivers store important items that shouldn’t be left too exposed in the cabin. 

For instance, laptops, tablets, medication, and concealed weapons are some of the things that should be kept hidden when driving in a truck. Besides that, nobody wants a cluttered cabin.

If that is your gift idea, we recommend the Tidify Seat Organizer. For starters, it has enough compartments to store a large laptop, water bottles, cell phone, wallet, lunch box, and camera. 

You just strap it to the passenger seat to prevent it from swaying.

A photo of the Tidify seat organizer. It is full of various objects, like a tablet and water bottle. A handle can be seen at the top for attaching to the back of a seat.

Multi-Tool

Any professional trucker would appreciate a multi-tool to help fix or install things on the truck. 

If you’re looking for options, consider this Gerber Truss Multitool with sheath. 

It comes with all the necessary tools: can opener, wire cutters, wire stripper, bottle opener, ruler, flathead driver, scissors, pliers, saw, edge blade, cross driver, awl, and even a file.

If you’re not convinced yet, the handle is made out of hardened steel so it’s nice and strong.

A photo of the Gerber Truss Multi-tool. It is similar to a pair of pliers, but with many tools that can be folded out.

Insulated Yeti Mug

You don’t want a trucker to be dehydrated while doing a trip, do you? This stainless steel Yeti Rambler Tumbler could just be what a trucker needs to stay hydrated on the road. 

We love it because it’s a vacuum insulated cup – so it’ll keep your coffee hot throughout the day. What’s more, if you pour in carbonated drinks with ice, it will stay cold even if outside is hot as hell.

If you want a bigger option, consider the 46-ounce Yeti Rambler Bottle.

A photo of the Yeti Rambler tumbler, in turquoise blue color. It is quite large with a clear lid with a locking mouthpiece.

Cup Holder

We think an insulated yeti mug gift should be complemented with a cup holder. 

The problem with most cup holders built into a truck’s dashboard is that they’re not reliable – leading to occasional spill. Not to mention, they can be too small for larger cups.

Here is a secret though; you could use a more convenient cup holder like the Ledge Auto Cup Holder. It’s big enough to fit most Yeti mugs, hydro flasks, and large bottles. 

Another cool thing about it is that you can secure it to the truck’s door.

A photo of the Ledge Auto Cup Holder. It is black against a white background.

Power Inverter

A power inverter converts the 12 or 24 volts from a cigarette lighter to the 110-volt AC needed by most electric devices. This means you can use laptops, microwaves, portable air conditioners, and even coffee makers.

We recommend the BESTEK 300W Power Inverter if you’re looking for a good trucker gift in this category. 

As the name suggests, it can deliver 300 watts of continuous power and 700 watts of instantaneous power. It’s also designed with two 110V AC outlets and 2 USB charging ports.

But if you want a more powerful option, consider the BESTEK 2000W Power Inverter.

This unit can deliver 2,000 watts of continuous power and 4600 watts of peak power. It has 3 110V AC power outlets that should be enough for high-consumption appliances.

A photo of a Bestek power inverter. It looks like a red metal box with two power outlets.

Lock Box

If you know a truck driver who has been on the road long enough, he/she will probably have an interesting story about when something unexpected happened. 

In such situations, a lock box comes in handy. They help secure a trucker’s valuables such as cash, emergency cell phone, handgun, or anything that’s easily stolen.

If you want a cool lock box for a trucker, consider the Smathou Secret Hidden Safe. It looks like a real book and most people wouldn’t notice it’s a safe. It’s locked via combination lock. 

Alternatively, you can choose the Snapsafe Keyed Lock Box. It comes in 3 different sizes: from large to extra-large. It’s also made out of steel and big enough to stash a handgun.

A photo of a Smatou Secret Hidden Safe. It's shaped like a book and has a combination lock.

Chess Board and a Pack of Cards

It’s easier for a trucker to make new friends at the truck stop with a chess board and a pack of cards. They ease that boredom when waiting for the next shift. 

Consider these gifts: the Chess Armory Chess Set and LotFancy Playing Cards. It’s a wooded chess board and you can fold it in half to save space for storage. 

The set of cards is made of durable material – so they’ll last plenty of games of poker, bridge, and blackjack.

A photo of many packs of playing cards, with some spread out below.

Conclusion

If you’re thinking about buying gifts for truckers, all the products we’ve mentioned in this guide will make their lives easier and more comfortable on the road.

Any professional truck driver will appreciate a good gift and your thoughtfulness.

Otherwise, if you’re a truck driver reading this, who said you can’t buy yourself a gift this holiday season or any time?

We appreciate all your hard work and dedication to keep the economy running. 

Are you thinking of becoming a truck driver?

Here’s a guide to the process of getting your CDL!

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