These Are the Essentials Professional Drivers Rely On

With holiday airfare climbing and flight cancellations becoming more common, driving is a popular alternative for holiday travel. To help you prepare for your next long drive, we asked professional drivers, from tour bus operators to long-haul truckers, for the essential tips and tricks they rely on during winter travel.

Essential comforts for the long haul

Robert Pace, owner of World Trade Logistics in Maryland, polled his team of long-haul drivers about how they make hours behind the wheel manageable. At the top of the list are seat cushions and quality insulated bottles. His drivers recommend cushions with a coccyx cutout and gel or memory foam layers. “Coffee is very popular with drivers, so a good thermos flask is on the list,” says Pace.

Rest and recovery must-haves

Before you even hit the road, Stacy Batiste, 2025 Road Warrior champion who has logged more than 5 million accident-free miles, suggests always adding in buffer time.

“You’re on the road a long time during the holidays, so you need to slow down and take your time,” he says. “You’re not just driving for yourself. You have to drive for the people around you. They might be on the phone, distracted, or doing something else in the car. Even if you’re in the right, there can still be an accident. Give yourself extra time.”

Pace’s drivers named noise-cancelling headphones as their top pick for better sleep at truck stops, blocking out idling engines and highway rumble. They also recommend a supportive travel pillow with memory foam that maintains its shape—and don’t forget shower shoes, just in case.

“Sometimes you end up in the middle of nowhere and have to stay in a less-than-desirable hotel, that’s just life on the road,” says Damian “Showtime” Holton, vice president of touring at Dreamliner Luxury Coaches—he’s driven for stars such as Aretha Franklin and Rihanna. One time, during a breakdown in El Paso, he ended up at a questionable hotel.

“I was beyond thankful that I packed myself some shower shoes,” he says.

Staying alert on the road

Keeping alert requires more than willpower. Haley Straw, a former taxi driver and author of the Tales of an Amish Taxi Driver series, always keeps peppermint essential oil on her during trips. “It wakes me up, settles queasy passengers, and masks roadside horrors like skunk blasts and factory-farm air,” she says.

Batiste also suggests adjusting your vehicle’s temperature. “Sometimes if the cab feels too comfortable, too warm, or too cozy, you might get sleepy,” he says.

However, the most important thing is not necessarily the gear that you have with you—it’s about knowing your limits. “If you start feeling tired, take a 15 or 30-minute break,” says Batiste. “Find a safe rest stop, get out of the truck, walk around, get some fresh air.”

Winter weather and emergency gear

Since it can get cold in truck cabs, Pace’s drivers always keep lightweight, packable sleeping bags on them during trips. Similarly, Batiste recommends layered clothing and slip-resistant boots for winter driving. “I carry a couple of gallons of antifreeze for the truck and some gel coat for the diesel so it doesn’t freeze up,” he says. “Depending on your truck and how far up north you go, you might need chains or other equipment.” 

Batiste also keeps extra bottles of water and additional layers of clothing within easy reach. A waterproof headlamp is another essential that’s often overlooked. “When I started out, I had no idea that a head lamp was so crucial,” says Holton. “I realized I needed one when changing a tire belt on the side of the interstate in the middle of the night. I needed both hands and was trying to use my phone flashlight, but that wasn’t working well!”

The emergency knapsack

“I was in the military, so I keep a knapsack with me,” says Batiste. “In that bag, I’ve got my phone charger, an extra cord, Ziploc bags, trash bags, bottles of water, snack bars, a small jacket, and plastic raincoats from the dollar store. That little bag has helped me so many times.”

Batiste explains that if you have to jump out of your car in an emergency, your phone may not be charged, and you may be dehydrated. Having an emergency knapsack could save you in a pinch—and it could help others, too.