Image Source: Morguefile 

The recognition of American truckers’ gallantry and sacrifices must extend beyond the National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. Since the truck drivers continue to work to make sure the stores’ supplies are adequately replenished despite the weather and the pandemic, Americans shouldn't stop thanking them and the other frontliners.

This Halloween, instead of the usual trick-or-treats for kids, why not deviate a little from the norm and continue appreciating the country's road heroes by giving all treats and no tricks? If you could use some help, here are practical ideas to keep in mind:

#Treat-a-trucker with:  

Food baskets. As the old cliché goes, the fastest way to a person's heart is through his stomach. What could be a better way to treat your favorite trucker this Halloween than an attractively arranged gift basket? You can put together all his favorites—fruits, sweet treats, snacks, baked goodies, dairy, and jams—in one basket and wrap it in a stylish Halloween-inspired packaging. 

If you don't have much time to collect his top food picks, you can wow him with themed food baskets. A gourmet gift basket never gets old so does a thoughtfully curated fruit basket. How about a crate filled with morning favorites—a pack of best-smelling, freshly ground coffee, pancake and waffle mix, fruit jams, Maple syrup, freshly baked bread, and many other delights—that could help a trucker start his day right? Or maybe a more romantic wine-cheese-and-crackers combo to make him cap off a day with a bang?  

Meal coupons. Truck drivers working within a budget will surely appreciate free or discounted meals. If you're thinking of treating a trucker this Halloween, it's a good idea to give him food or discount coupons to his favorite truck stop restaurant or diner. You can make a truck driver happier by putting his family into the mix. Consider buying him a family meal coupon so he can bring his family out for a hearty feast during the holiday. If the trucker has kids, it won't hurt to add some sweet treats for them.

Theme park free pass. Why not wow your favorite trucker and his family with a free 1-day admission to a nearby theme park? It's not every day that truckers could spend quality time with their families, so they'd really appreciate a treat that could help strengthen their bond with them. The fun adventure that they’d experience from this simple treat is priceless and can be way more valuable than any material gift.

#Gift-a-trucker with: 

Spot/floodlights. Surprise your trucker friends and loved ones with practical gifts that could help save them during emergencies. Among such components are spotlights that can also function as floodlights or auxiliary lights in extreme circumstances. These are perfect gift items for long-haul drivers, who could use extra illumination when doing night checks and working in their trucks. There is a wide range of options available for this product, so you can choose one that suits your budget and the driver's needs. Get a unit with a high waterproof rating, scratch-resistant lens, and longer lifespan. Since it is not intended for use as a driving light, there are no restrictions on how bright the light should be.  

Customized mugs, tumblers, or water bottles. No matter the driver's destination, having a water bottle or tumbler handy keeps him hydrated. Make the truckers feel that you care about their health and wellbeing by giving them personalized tumblers, mugs, or water bottles. Your message should depend on the trucker's personality and your relationship with them. For a trucker loved one, you can make a sweet and more personal message and have it etched or printed on the tumbler.

Besides the personalized message, your other considerations should be the material and liquid container's unique features. If budget is not an issue, the best choice is a BPA-free, vacuum-sealed container with insulation as it provides ultimate heat or cold retention. Since most customized containers are reusable, they are also good for the environment. They help reduce the number of disposable plastics that could otherwise get thrown into the ocean or landfills.

Cozy blanket, duvet covers, or sleeping pad. Truckers deserve something that could keep them warm on cold Halloween nights. This makes a comfy blanket, comforter, duvet cover, or sleeping pad an excellent gift idea for long-haul drivers. Your options for this type of gift seem endless. You can base your choices on the size of the truck's sleeper, type and design of the fabric, size and color of the blanket, and your budget. There are also personalized blankets or duvet covers. What's important is you pick one that will make the trucker feel the warmth and comfort of his own home wherever he goes.

Personal hygiene kits.  Kits containing masks, alcohol, and personal hygiene products are more crucial now more than ever. Since truckers are always out there and exposed to different people, we need to remind them to protect themselves from the coronavirus. The best way you can do that is to give them face masks or shields and hygiene kits. You need not spend much on this kind of gift, but it could keep our truckers safe.  

Cost-effective service kits. There’s no better way to make a trucker feel appreciated than to gift him with components or kits that will take the guesswork out of a taxing maintenance job. You can go for the Haldex General Service Kit or the Air Brake Dryer, which helps make servicing and maintenance of your truck’s air tanks, air valves, and the entire air brake system a whole lot easier. Since these kits are for the brakes, these will also make the trucker feel that you care about their safety.

Here at FinditParts, we offer many other parts and gift items at prices that fit your budget. One of such is the Power Products heavy-duty dash fan that helps provide driver comfort. You can also consider the Bendix air disc brake rotor and pad wear gauge, so you’ll know when it’s time to service or replace your truck’s brake pads and rotors.