Getting a good night (or day) of sleep can be challenging for a long-haul truck driver. Many truckers have to take jobs at varying times of day, meaning they never sleep on a consistent basis. Since everyone is hard-wired to follow a sleep schedule, truckers can experience higher levels of stress and exhaustion. Check out these four essentials for your semi-truck sleeper cab to make sure you get some rest.

1. Blackout Curtains

It’s likely that your sleeper cab comes with curtains to cover the small windows in the back of the cab. However, those curtains may still let in light. When you have to sleep during the day, it’s important to make the cab as dark as possible so your body will relax and you can go to sleep. We suggest replacing the standard curtains in your cab with true blackout curtains that will block all light.

2. A Proper Mattress

Trucking companies don’t always replace the mattresses in their cabs when they loan them out to new drivers. If you’re having trouble falling asleep, that could mean it’s time to replace the mattress in your truck cab. The best mattresses are ones that allow your spine to remain in its natural S-curve while supporting your back and neck.

3. White Noise

Sleeping in a truck cab may mean having to block out sounds as well as light. For example, sleeping at a truck stop often means being near a busy highway, which can keep you awake. To block out unwanted sounds, try using a white noise machine, a fan, or even sounds from your phone. There are plenty of apps and YouTube channels that have relaxing white noise tracks to help you fall asleep.

4. An Air-Ride Driving Seat

Being able to sleep in your truck cab means turning off your mind and body so you can rest. Unfortunately, a day of experiencing whole-body road vibrations can make your muscles so tense that it leads to insomnia. When your muscles spend all day tensed up, they sometimes don’t know how to relax again, making it difficult to rest.

An air-ride seat can help block road vibrations, making it an essential for your semi-truck sleeper cab. You can find commercial truck seats, including air-ride seats, at GRA-MAG. Our air-ride seats can block up to 70 percent of the whole-body vibrations that truckers normally experience, giving you a better chance at catching some Zs.