Gear for drivers

Buying guides

• Guide
  How to Choose a Dash Cam for a Semi Truck

  What to look for in a truck dash cam: dual-channel recording, power, storage, night video, mounting and legal placement, plus how to compare listings.

• Guide
  How to Choose a CB Radio for a Semi Truck

  A plain-English guide to CB radios for truck drivers: the features that matter, what to skip, and how to compare listings before you buy.

• Guide
  How to Choose a 12V Fridge or Cooler for a Truck Cab

  What to look for in a 12V cab fridge or cooler: compressor vs. thermoelectric, power draw, battery protection, fit and mounting, and what to skip.

• Guide
  How to Choose Tire Pressure Gauges and TPMS for a Semi Truck

  What to look for in truck tire gauges and TPMS: range, accuracy, durability, sensors, alerts, and what to skip. A practical buying guide for truck drivers.

• Guide
  How to Choose a Truck GPS: Features That Matter

  What to look for in a truck GPS: routing by size and weight, map updates, screen and mount, offline use, and how to compare listings before you buy.

• Guide
  How to Choose a Pre-Trip Inspection Flashlight and Tools

  What to look for in a pre-trip inspection flashlight and basic tools for a semi truck: beam, battery, durability, and what to skip when comparing listings.

Gear from the explainers

• Gear
  Work gloves

  Slider release handles and pins can be greasy, gritty or sharp, so gloves help when you handle them. Goes with: Sliding Tandems: Which Way to Pull and Why It Works

• Gear
  Flashlight

  It helps you see whether each pin is fully seated when you check at night or in poor light. Goes with: Sliding Tandems: Which Way to Pull and Why It Works

• Gear
  Tire pressure gauge

  A reliable gauge fits into a thorough pre-trip along with the air system checks. Goes with: Why Semi Trucks Use Air Brakes Instead of Hydraulic Brakes

• Gear
  Inspection flashlight

  Lets you see the gap between the plates and the jaws around the kingpin shank. Goes with: How a Fifth Wheel Locks a Trailer and How to Check It

• Gear
  Work gloves

  Protects your hands around greased plates and sharp steel. Goes with: How a Fifth Wheel Locks a Trailer and How to Check It

• Gear
  Grease gun

  Helps you keep the fifth wheel plate lubricated as your company's procedure calls for. Goes with: How a Fifth Wheel Locks a Trailer and How to Check It

• Gear
  Block heater timer

  It lets the heater run only for the hours before start-up instead of all night. Goes with: Should You Idle a Diesel to Warm It Up in Cold Weather?

• Gear
  Diesel anti-gel additive

  Added before the cold arrives, it helps prevent wax from gelling and plugging fuel filters. Goes with: Should You Idle a Diesel to Warm It Up in Cold Weather?

• Gear
  Ice scraper with long handle

  It helps you clear a big windshield during the short warm-up instead of idling longer. Goes with: Should You Idle a Diesel to Warm It Up in Cold Weather?

• Gear
  Flashlight

  Helps you check skirt panels and brackets on a dark-morning or night walkaround. Goes with: Do Trailer Side Skirts Really Save Fuel? What They Save

• Gear
  Work gloves

  Protects your hands when you handle cracked panels or sharp edges during a skirt check. Goes with: Do Trailer Side Skirts Really Save Fuel? What They Save

• Gear
  DEF funnel or spout

  A clean, dedicated spout helps you pour from a jug without spills or contamination. Goes with: What Is DEF and Why Do Modern Diesel Trucks Need It?

• Gear
  Disposable nitrile gloves

  They keep your hands clean when filling from a jug or pump. Goes with: What Is DEF and Why Do Modern Diesel Trucks Need It?

• Gear
  Tire pressure gauge

  Checking each dual's pressure helps catch a soft tire hiding next to a good one. Goes with: Why Do Big Rigs Have 18 Wheels? The Weight-Law Math

• Gear
  Tire thumper

  Tapping each dual during a walk-around helps you spot a low tire by sound. Goes with: Why Do Big Rigs Have 18 Wheels? The Weight-Law Math

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