Gifts for Truck Drivers: What They'll Actually Wear

Most truck drivers have plenty of mugs, keychains and novelty signs. Gifts that actually get used are the things they reach for every morning before a pre-trip: a shirt that stays comfortable through a long day in the seat, a cap that fits right, a hoodie for a cold dock. This guide helps you choose one of those without guessing at size, fabric or timing.

Start with what they already wear

A driver's day is long, and it's mostly spent sitting, climbing in and out of the cab, and walking a truck stop or a dock. Over the years most drivers settle on clothes that stay out of the way, so the safest gift looks like something they already own.

Before you shop, check three things:

• Their usual colors. Plenty of drivers stick to dark shirts that hide road grime and coffee. If everything in the laundry basket is black, navy or charcoal, start there.
• How they like a shirt to fit. Some people want a closer fit. Others want room through the chest and belly for long hours behind the wheel. Look at the shirts they wear most, not the ones in the back of the drawer.
• Front or back graphics. Some drivers like a small chest mark that works for a shipper's office. Others like a big back print with a joke only another driver will get. Both are good gifts, but they aren't the same gift.

Getting the size right when you can't ask

Size is where most clothing gifts go wrong, and a size letter on its own doesn't help much. A large in one brand of shirt can measure very differently from a large in another. Here's what works:

1. Measure a shirt they already like. Lay it flat and measure across the chest from armpit to armpit, then from the top of the shoulder to the hem. Compare those two numbers with the size chart on the product page. Every product page in our shop has a chart for that specific garment.
2. Read the fit note. Some blanks run small or large, and we say so on the product page. Our pullover hoodies, including the Long Haul Hoodie, run small, so order one size up. The 525 FT Polo has a relaxed fit that runs large.
3. When in doubt, go one size up for tees and hoodies. A slightly roomy shirt still gets worn in the cab. A tight one usually doesn't.
4. Or skip sizing entirely. A cap or beanie is one size and adjustable, which makes it the lowest-risk clothing gift there is (more on that below).

Fabric matters on long days

Drivers spend long stretches in the same shirt, sometimes in a hot cab and sometimes on a cold dock, so fabric weight is worth a look before you buy. We use two main T-shirt blanks:

• Everyday weight, about 4.2 oz. The Bella+Canvas 3001 is 100% combed ring-spun cotton (heather colors contain polyester). It's light and soft, good for warm cabs and layering under a hoodie. Light colors can be slightly sheer, so darker colors make sense for work. Many of our trucker tees, including the holiday and family gift designs, are printed on this shirt.
• Heavyweight, about 6.1 oz. The Comfort Colors 1717 is garment-dyed 100% ring-spun cotton with a relaxed fit and a broken-in feel. It's thicker and holds its shape, which some drivers prefer for a tee they wear as an outer layer. You'll find it in our heavyweight tees and the Collection 01 tees.

If you don't know their preference, think about where they drive and when. Someone running southern lanes in summer will probably reach for the lighter shirt. Someone pulling cold-weather routes may like the heavier one.

Gift ideas by the kind of driver

For the driver with a sense of humor

Driver humor lands best with other drivers. These designs are about things every professional driver deals with:

• I Brake For 4-Wheelers Trucker Tee: a rig on the brakes while a car cuts in. $27.99–$35.99 depending on size.
• Roller Grill Connoisseur Truck Stop Tee: for anyone who knows the truck stop menu by heart. $27.99–$35.99.
• 80,000 LB Club Trucker Tee: a laurel badge for drivers running at max legal gross. $29.99–$37.99.

For the driver who takes pride in the job

Some drivers would rather wear something that quietly says what they do. The Collection 01 tees are printed on the heavier Comfort Colors shirt:

• Somebody's Everything Tee: a trailer silhouette with "Somebody's Everything." Every load is someone's groceries, medicine or holiday gift. $39.99–$45.99.
• Office With A View Tee: one truck on a long highway line, for drivers whose office is the windshield. $39.99–$45.99.
• Still Rowing Gears 10-Speed Trucker Tee: for drivers who learned on a manual and still prefer it. $29.99–$37.99.

For a dad, a wife or the family at home

Gifts don't only go to the driver. Families who work around home time like a shirt that says so:

• Trucker Dad Christmas Tee: $27.99–$35.99.
• Trucker Wife Tee: Home Time Is My Love Language: $27.99–$35.99.
• My Heart Rides Shotgun Trucker Family Tee: $29.99–$37.99.

For the driver who's always cold

Early pre-trips, open dock doors and overnight parking in winter are where a good hoodie earns its keep. The Long Haul Hoodie ($69.99–$75.99) is a cotton-face pullover with a front pouch pocket and a three-panel hood. Remember that it runs small. For a winter-themed design, the Chain Up & Roll Winter Trucker Hoodie ($54.99–$60.99) shows a 4:45 AM pre-trip on a snowy pass. Browse all of them in hoodies and sweatshirts.

For the driver you can't size: a cap

Caps take the sizing risk out of the gift. Two styles cover most drivers:

• Structured trucker cap with a mesh back and a snapback, the classic shape. The 525 FT Trucker carries a stopping-distance number every professional driver knows, and the 53 FT Trucker shows a dry van silhouette. Both are $34.99 on a Richardson 112.
• Unstructured dad cap with a low profile, soft cotton twill and an adjustable strap. It sits lower and packs flat in a bag. The Fluent Dad Cap ($36.99) has an embroidered shift pattern.

If they wear a cap every day, look at its shape before choosing. A driver who wears a tall, structured cap may not switch to a dad cap, and the reverse is just as true. See every style in our hats collection.

Everyday basics are a gift too

Not every gift needs a statement design. A couple of plain, comfortable tees in their usual color can get more wear than anything else you buy. For a soft everyday basic with a small left-chest design, try the Return Route Everyday Tee. Want a design instead? Browse our trucker tees. For a heavier basic, the Dispatch Standard Heavyweight Tee has a small left-chest wordmark and a clean back. If your driver already has a favorite from our original designs, the original Stars & Stripes Big Rig Tee is still in the lineup.

Plan for made-to-order timing

Everything in our shop is printed or embroidered for you after you order, so nothing sits in a warehouse. That means it takes longer to arrive than a gift from a big-box store. Our delivery estimate is about 7–15 business days. For delivery by Christmas in the US, order by Tuesday, December 1. Fifteen business days from December 1 lands on December 22. For a birthday or a retirement, give yourself the same three weeks or so. Check our shipping policy and refund policy before you buy, especially if you're unsure of the size. For a few more checks before ordering, see Before You Order: Five Checks for Made-to-Order Apparel.

A quick checklist

• Pick a color they already wear.
• Measure a shirt they like and compare it to the size chart.
• Read the fit note: hoodies run small, some polos run large.
• Choose fabric weight by season and route.
• Not sure of the size? Pick a cap.
• Order early. For Christmas delivery in the US, order by Tuesday, December 1.

Still deciding? Browse everything we've put together in Gifts for Truckers, or see the latest designs in New Drops.