Truck drivers definitely don’t have it easy in the summer. Drivers who drive long-haul suffer all day long as they haul through the summer heat. This is especially true if you have a route that takes you through the Southwest. The first thing you can do to keep cool in the summer is to make sure that your rig is operating at its best. We can help with that here at Midlane Truck & Trailer Repair. We can inspect your rig to make sure it doesn’t break down. Here are additional tips to help you stay cool during your summer long-haul route.
Stay Hydrated
The first thing you want to do is to stay hydrated, but we don’t mean drink a ton of coffee and tea. Caffeinated beverages work as natural diuretics, so they don’t do a good job of hydrating you. Sugary sodas also don’t do a good job of hydrating you. The best thing you can do is to drink plenty of water throughout the day even if it means you have to make a few bathroom stops.
Avoid Fatty Foods
Aside from caffeinated beverages and sodas, it’s also a good idea to avoid fatty and heavy foods. Eat light throughout the day so that your body isn’t working as hard to digest your food. The harder your body works to digest your meals, the hotter you are going to feel. When it’s hot outside, it’s a good idea to eat light and small meals frequently to help prevent from getting too full.
Spritz Yourself
Take a spray bottle and fill it with water. Every time you start to heat up, spritz yourself with the spray bottle and let the air blowing through your big rig’s vents or through the open windows refresh you. If you have air conditioning in your, the water on your skin will still help you feel cooler as the cold air blows on you. You’d be surprised how well this actually works in keeping you cool.
Wear Breathable Fabrics
Wear a breathable fabric such as cotton. Don’t wear heavy fabrics that can’t breathe like polyester or nylon. These clothes will make you feel as if you’re in an oven. Cotton is a natural fabric that evaporates your body heat through it. It will not trap your body heat inside of it like polyester or nylon will.
Finally, let Midlane Truck & Trailer Repair in Eugene, OR, take a look at your rig, especially your rig’s air conditioning system. We can service it to make sure that it works all summer long.