6 Entertainment Ideas for Truckers While On The Road

Truck Drivers

Jun 8, 2022

Implementing these entertainment ideas for truckers can help keep your fleet members happy while they’re on the road.

Truck drivers can be out on long hauls for weeks at a time with hours to kill every day as they crawl through traffic jams, cross state lines, and wait for crews at the loading and unloading dock. Whether it’s behind the wheel or during mandatory rest and recovery time, every trucker needs a great way to stay entertained and pass the time.

Truck driving is a fantastic career, especially if you want a high-wage, stable job with an opportunity to travel. However, like all occupations, truck driving comes with exciting and boring moments. And a healthy work-life balance is essential to happiness and performance.

While jobs of this nature require a high amount of focus and awareness at times, there is quite a bit of time where the driver is required to rest or is behind the wheel for extended periods.

Luckily, in our modern world, there are many passive activities that help keep our minds active while allowing truck drivers to maintain alertness and attention to the road simultaneously. 

Continue reading to learn how truckers can stay entertained on the road and during downtime below.

 

 

3 Entertainment Ideas for Truckers While Behind the Wheel

 

  1. Listen to Music — Sure, this may be one of the more obvious approaches to entertainment ideas for truckers on the road, but it’s a great way to do it! Today’s music streaming technology and apps make it super easy, convenient, and affordable (if not free) to listen to a seemingly unlimited amount of music of your choosing.

Download an app or two, such as Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, YouTube, and more, and select your favorite genre of music. Each app offers something different and access to an enormous amount of tunes, regardless of your taste in music.

 Another great music option is satellite radio since truck drivers are not always in areas with cellular service.

 

  1. Listen to Audiobooks — Life can get so busy that finding time to read can be tricky. Luckily, truck drivers usually have an abundance of time, making listening to the books they’ve had on their reading list totally doable.

Purchasing single audiobooks can add up and become expensive. However, you can become an audiobook subscriber or get a library card at your hometown library and gain access to many audiobooks.

 

  1. Listen to Podcasts — If you are looking to stay intellectually stimulated and feel as though you’re a part of a conversation, podcasts are a great option for staying entertained on the road. 

Podcasts are often a part of a series about a specific topic. If there’s something specific that interests you, chances are you’ll be able to find a podcast that focuses on that very topic.

Podcasts cover a wide variety of topics, like:

 

  • True crime stories
  • Interviews
  • Self-help
  • History topics
  • TV and movies
  • Storytelling 
  • Education
  • Politics
  • and more.

Podcasts can be streamed using cellular service or be downloaded, making it yet another reason podcasts are great for those on the road.

 

 

3 Entertainment Ideas for Truckers During Downtime

 

  1. Find a Hobby — Many truck drivers find that mandatory rest time can be a bit of an inconvenience. However, you can make the most of this time by taking up a new hobby or fostering the hobbies you already have. 

One of the great parts about driving a truck is that you usually have space to bring along any of the supplies or equipment that you might need. Here are some ideas for hobbies you can take on the road with you:

 

  • Learn guitar or another musical instrument
  • Take up photography
  • Start journaling or blogging
  • Draw or paint
  • Read books
  • Learn a new language
  1. Explore Local Cities — As a truck driver, you have a unique opportunity to check out many different cities you may not otherwise visit. Whenever possible, park at a location that will allow you to get into the city to explore.

Take an Uber, taxi, or a form of public transportation into town and check out a professional sporting game, tourist attraction, or must-try restaurant. There are tons of things to do that won’t cost any money either. Go on a hike or head to a local park where you can spend some time outside; a great way to get changed back up for another stint on the road.

 

  1. Catch Up on TV — When you’re away from home a lot, you miss out on watching your favorite shows. During your mandatory downtime, you have the time to get caught up! Watching your favorite TV shows, movies, news, and sports games is a great way to unwind from the mental strain that comes with driving for hours on end.

 

 

Need Entertainment Ideas for Your Truckers? Get EpicVue!

 

One of the best entertainment ideas for truckers is equipping your fleet with EpicVue. EpicVue specializes in outfitting trucks with premium in-cab satellite televisions.

With EpicVue, truck drivers can kick back and watch their favorite TV shows and catch up on the latest sports events and news while they’re away. It doesn’t matter where you are on the road; the comforts of home are available with our satellite TV that lets you stay connected.

It’s easy to feel isolated and lonely while you’re out on a long haul, but watching TV while you’re away can help counteract those overwhelming feelings. It is the perfect way for truck drivers to relax during their mandatory recovery and rest time in the comfort of their truck. 

This gesture creates loyalty, commitment, and appreciation between drivers and their fleets. Moreover, happy and healthy employees are much more likely to stay with their fleet, which significantly reduces the expensive, tedious cycle of recruitment and retention. The benefits you and your crew will see make EpicVue well worth the investment!

Even if you aren’t a part of a fleet and own your rig, EpicVue is a great addition to your truck!

With many premium channels, drivers are sure to find something they want to watch, regardless of their preferences. Contact our support team to learn more today!

Quality truck fleet management with a good strategy is a vital element for success in the trucking industry. These systems are necessary for communication, and processes are sure to succeed. There’s no doubt that the best semi-truck fleet teams are those that are effectively and efficiently managed, making a great fleet manager worth their weight in gold — and then some!  But what is it exactly that makes a fleet manager great? It all comes down to a solid fleet management strategy and reliable semi-fleet processes. In fact, these are essential to finding both short- and long-term success. If you’re in charge of a semi-truck fleet and are looking to build a fail-proof truck fleet management strategy, you’re in the right place. We’re here to give you some tried-and-true tips and tricks for developing a solid plan. With a little hard work and the right strategy, you will surely see increased profits, fleet growth, and a happier, healthier, and more productive crew. Keep scrolling to learn more.

5 Things to Consider When Developing Your Truck Fleet Management Strategy

If you want to develop a quality truck fleet management strategy, make sure to consider the following:
  1. Invest in a Fleet Management System — You could be the most experienced and focused manager, but you will still have difficulties staying organized and productive without a quality truck fleet management system in place. Managers of old used to rely on elaborate systems involving paper spreadsheets, filing cabinets, and more to run their business, but there are simpler ways to get the job done. Join the digital age by digitizing your workflow and operations; you’ll find that processes are optimized, and your team’s performance is improved! A good system will allow you to keep track of the best routes, maintenance schedules, driver and vehicle efficiency, automating various tasks (such as routing and scheduling deliveries, billing and invoicing, sending jobs to drivers, etc.) and more so you can maximize the potential of your fleet.
  2. Find Ways to Cut Maintenance Costs — It’s no secret that the economy is in an exciting place right now. Inflation is on the rise, and maintenance costs are not exempt. A solid semi-truck fleet manager must prioritize finding ways to reduce costs. Taking a defensive, preventive approach to maintenance is key. Improving fleet efficiency and ensuring that your rigs and necessary equipment are in tip-top shape and ready to go can help you stay ahead of maintenance issues. Consider utilizing a good fleet management system that can tell you about the vehicles’ engines and other diagnostic features to help extend the life of your trucks. These tools can help you quickly identify any problems with your trucks and avoid issues down the road when they become more serious, thus cutting maintenance costs. Another way to reduce maintenance costs is to base your trucks’ service schedule on accurate engine usage hours instead of an arbitrary calendar. This helps to eliminate unnecessary repairs and potential hours and revenue lost, allowing you to make the most of your fleet while still taking great care of them.
  3. Find Ways to Save Money on Fuel — As a fleet manager, it almost always comes down to budget. And one of the biggest portions (we’re talking between 50% and 65%) of overall operating costs is dedicated to fueling costs. As mentioned above, having a good management system and GPS tracking in place can help you develop an excellent management strategy. You’ll be able to monitor your drivers’ driving performance, habits, and behavior and monitor fuel usage, which directly affects fuel consumption. By tracking and analyzing this information, you’ll be alerted to issues sooner than you may have been otherwise. Moreover, tracking this info will keep you apprised of any safety concerns, such as aggressive driving. Addressing these issues will help you reduce operational costs associated with your fuel budget.
  4. Perfect and Optimize Your Drivers’ Routes — Customers and clients demand quick and on-time deliveries, so taking the perfect and optimal route is absolutely crucial. Your business’ reputation counts on it! Inaccurate arrival time estimates, delays, and inefficient routes will only lead to frustration. Hiccups and issues along the way are bound to happen and are an inevitable part of any industry, including trucking. But, by automating customer notifications and other processes, fleet managers can experience a lot less stress, allowing them to spend time and put their focus elsewhere.
  5. Prioritize Your Drivers’ Health and Wellness — One of the biggest parts of developing a good truck fleet management strategy is prioritizing your team’s health and wellness. Feeling isolated on the road comes with being a truck driver; it’s part of the territory. So fleet managers who promote a healthy work-life balance and positive mental health are typically much more successful.

Here are some ways managers can prioritize employees’ health:

Include EpicVue in Your Truck Fleet Management Strategy

Developing a truck fleet management strategy is essential to the success of your business, and EpicVue is here to help make it happen. EpicVue will outfit your fleet with premium in-cab television so your drivers can enjoy a bit of home on the road and catch up on their favorite shows. Contact EpicVue today to learn more.