Imagine waking up on a cold winter morning, your hands numb. Yet, you have to load or unload your cargo in between running other errands. Better still have to keep your truck moving despite the odds.
We have all been there as truck drivers facing these challenges. Thankfully, trucking gloves have proven to be ingenious in such moments. They undeniably help keep our hands warm and protected from the elements, injuries, and toxic chemicals.
In this guide, we’ll explore the different types of gloves best suited for you as a driver, how they can be of assistance, and what to consider when making a purchase, among other important details.
But First, How Can Gloves Help You as a Driver?
Like any job out there, trucking comes with its fair share of challenges. Come to think of the days you have to check your engine oil or barrow down the axle to change your truck tires, and so forth. You, of course, require hand protection to stay safe and protected.
And as a truck driver with over a decade of experience and a ton of mileage under my belt, I have not been left out of this equation. My five pairs of trucking gloves have always been by my side when out and about and helped me in several ways.
Particularly when:
Loading and unloading cargo
You’ll agree that loading or unloading merchandise from your truck can sometimes be not a walk in the park, especially when dealing with hazardous or injurious material.
My hand protection trucker driving gloves have always come through on such occasions to help keep my hands safe and protected.
Checking my truck engine
In most cases, venturing down your truck’s engine barehandedly, particularly after doing some miles, can turn nasty. You can get your hands burned by the hot engine or pierced by a sharp object.
So, I usually use my canvas pairs when checking the water and oil levels on my truck’s engine and any spills or circuitry goofs that might have occurred.
Warming up my hands during cold weather
In most cases, cold weather is not something you warm to as a driver. Personally, I hate cold mornings due to the damage they usually cause to my hands―I’m arthritic.
So, to rise to the occasion, I normally wear my heavy-duty cold winter gloves, which save the day.
You can as well wear this type of gloves to keep your hands warm when driving in cold conditions.
Keeping my hands protected from dirt and bacteria
Most of my trucking journeys have inadvertently subjected my hands to perilous amounts of dirt―undoubtedly loaded with lots of bacteria.
Sometimes, I have come into contact with sludge when changing my tires or handling cargo. Fortunately, my pair of hand-protection driver gloves have always come in handy in such circumstances as they often take the hit.
What Are the Different Types of Gloves That Can Best Suit You as a Driver?
Work gloves for truckers come in different designs, materials, shapes, and sizes depending on one’s needs.
Here are a few of my favorites:
● Nitrile-coated gloves: They’re one of my favorites as they can double up in their number of uses. Firstly, I usually use them when checking my truck engine. In this case, they help protect my hands from the hot engine, oil spills, as well as sharp objects and crevices around the engine. Secondly, they’re my constant partner when pulling out my trailer tandems and when pulling out the fifth wheel.
What I like most about them is their sturdiness. They can withstand heavy use without tearing easily. They can be a good addition to your combo if you need something that can take you for a while.
● Leather gloves: Cowhide leather gloves or synthetic leather work gloves are also common among trailer drivers. They’re soft, porous, easy to wash, and stain-resistant.
These gloves can make a good companion if you prefer functionality alongside fashion. You can use them for fuelling and checking engine oil. They can also be the best gloves for tow trucks because of their toughness and durability.
● Insulated /Cold weather gloves: like I said before, I have a soft spot for winter work driving truck gloves owing to my arthritic condition.
Most have a soft inner lining covered with an insulating fabric to keep your hands warm when it’s freezing. You can also use them to load and unload cargo, as well as perform repair work on your truck in cold environments.
● Summer gloves: They come in handy during summertime. Most feature breathable material that can help prevent your hands from becoming a sweaty mess during such periods.
Best summer gloves are also usually lightweight and made from synthetic materials like polyester and nitrile.
● Fingerless gloves: Unlike your closed regular gloves, these types allow your fingers to move freely for a closer handle of your vehicle.
They even allow you to operate other smart gadgets, enabling convenience and ease of use. They can be the best work gloves for truck drivers needing a grip on the steering wheel and, at the same time, flexibility on their hands.
● Knuckle-less gloves: Similar to the fingerless gloves above, knuckle-less also allow better ventilation and flexibility.
They can cut in as the best choice for drivers wanting to stay at the wheel for hours on end. Or need to make a fashion statement.
● All-season gloves: As the name suggests, these types can complement all your driving experiences. In this case, provides hand protection and support in various applications. For example, keep your hands warm and dry, reinforce your grip on the steering wheel, as well as ensure ironclad protection from toxic elements.
What Should You Look for in a Pair of Gloves?
Choosing the best trucker gloves for your driving needs requires sifting through a number of considerations.
The most common ones include:
Grip
How well you can handle your truck’s steering wheel should be your number one priority as a driver. So, it goes without question that your to-go-to-driving gloves should have enough grip to enable you to steer your vehicle without trouble.
In most cases, synthetic leather on the palm varieties provides an excellent grip on the steering wheel.
Material
The quality of the material also weighs heavily when choosing your trucker gloves. Notably, leather gloves can withstand constant abuse longer than nylon or polyester counterparts.
They can also protect your hands from abrasions common in the trucking field. So, it’s wise to carefully consider what your to-go-to glove is made of before making that purchase.
Size
Without question, our hands differ size-wise, so it’s equally important to factor in this aspect when looking out for the perfect gloves to get the job done.
I advise reviewing a brand’s sizing chart to determine your best fit. The correct glove size would ultimately improve your driving experience.
Durability
How durable your pair of driving mittens is is also important. Chasing for new pairs whenever you want to move out isn’t convenient, especially in the trucking field.
So go for a pair of gloves that can last several months without requiring replacement.
Waterproof
As a trucker, you’ll sometimes encounter rainy or watery situations. Therefore, you require driving pairs that can withstand water in your arsenal to keep the hands warm and dry on such occasions.
Most waterproof gloves are made from nylon liner or nitrile coating, like the best winter gloves for truck drivers who chain and tarp their loads.
Flexibility
The flexibility of your hands is also a priority when it comes to successfully navigating the usually treacherous trucking journeys.
A free movement of your fingers allows a good grip on the wheel and the ultimate safe delivery of your cargo. Therefore, it is advisable to shop for driving gloves that allow dexterity. For example, stretchy pairs allow movement at the back of the thumb, palm, and fingers.
Comfort and fit
Comfortable to wear gloves are also recommended when it comes to truck driving. You’ll spend most of your time on the road, so you want something that won’t be a pain on your hands.
Gloves made from stretchable soft inner linings make a good fit for this category; also, choosing the correct size matters.
Design
The overall performance of your pair of driving gloves boils down to its design. Drivers need gloves designed with the various road challenges in mind. For example, is a given pair designed with a hook and loop closure to prevent debris from entering while working the dirt roads? Do they feature texturized surfaces or synthetic leather on their palms to improve their grip?
Depending on the glove’s immediate trucking use, you can pick up your desired design.
Cost
Last but not least, choose gloves depending on your budgetary allocations. As a rule, don’t go for something overly cheap, as they won’t stay long. Equally, don’t go for overly expensive options as they might not bring in the extra value.
A good option for truck drivers should cost you somewhere between $30 and $60.
Maintaining and Caring for Your Trucking Gloves
Cleaning and storage tips
● Regularly clean your wear gloves: Truckers must constantly clean their gloves according to their manufacturer’s instructions.
Regularly wiping your leather gloves with a damp cloth to remove oil and dirt, for example, can do good to them. Likewise, rinsing your latex or nitrile gloves with water and mild soap is recommended.
● Properly dry your trucker gloves: Gloves last long if dried naturally. Exposing your made-from-leather gloves to direct heat sources or sunlight can cause them to crack or degrade. In this case, the gloves won’t serve you for long.
● Check out for any damages: Drivers who need a consistent optimal performance of their trucking gloves should regularly check them for any signs of wear and tear, including abrasions, cuts, or holes.
You can check their stitching and seams for any damage or loose threads on a daily basis.
● Provide proper storage for your gloves: To protect your pair of trucking mittens from various weather elements, storing them in a dry, clean place devoid of extreme temperatures is advisable.
Final Thoughts
We believe gloves for truck driving will continue to be a mainstay in the trucking world for many years. Besides keeping your hands warm and safe when working in different weather conditions, they help protect against injuries and dangerous chemicals.
We at Hanvo are more than willing to provide you with the best gloves for tow truck drivers, the best gloves for flatbed truck drivers, and general truck driving gloves for any type of work. You can contact us here or call us ( +8651381901801, +862165877599, +81-3-5291-5477 ) for an immediate response.