Gift guide: What to get your favorite trucker this Christmas

2010 Waimea Christmas Parade

With Christmas less than three weeks away, there’s still time to find a way to make those on your list feel special. Here are a few gift ideas to buy — or request — this season:

splashGift cards: Don’t overlook gift cards for truck services, such as those sold by the nationwide Blue Beacon Truck Washes.

In-cab comforts: Staples such as power inverters and 12-volt appliances are well-received and readily available at truck stops and online websites such as Truckers-Store.com.

Photochromic_page_header_2Shades: Sunglasses designed to fit over prescription glasses and night driving glasses are practical presents. Here again, gift cards allow the recipients to make the choice. Wal-Mart sells wraparound night driving glasses starting at $7.99 and fitover sunglasses for around at $20. The retailer also offers the highly durable Cocoons fitover sunglasses for $49.95, with a wider selection available on the Cocoons’ website.

A little help: Gifts of time and effort are well appreciated, anywhere from assisting someone with something they keeps meaning to do or handling it yourself. This could range from cleaning out a basement to helping with minor repairs or maintenance.

Screen Shot 2014-12-11 at 10.41.27 AMTreats: A less time consuming option is purchasing a treat they may not buy for themselves, such as Harry & David gourmet gifts. The 80-year-old company sells a wide variety of gourmet items and high-quality fruit

Massage: Nearly every licensed massage therapist sells gift certificates, as does chains such as Massage Envy Spa. The latter offers introductory one-hour massage for $39.99 at more than a thousand locations open seven days a week.

Medley: An easy, but thoughtful gift is a personalized basket of practical and fun items for the cab, such as their favorite foods, laundry supplies and an audio book. Also, consider searching for and purchasing something your loved one has mentioned, but has not been able to locate. Amazon and Ebay are among the websites selling difficult to find items such as out-of-print books.

Truck stop merch: Love’s announced recently it has ramped up its in-store merchandise offerings for those doing a little Christmas shopping on the road. Among the gifts available are electronics like nav units, Bluetooth headsets, solar battery chargers and TV/DVD combo players. They also have specialty treats like 5-pound Hershey bars and 1-pound Reese cups.

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Charity: Finally, consider donating to a charity or in someone’s name, such as the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund. This non-profit provides financial assistance to truckers with medical problems who are suffering financial hardship.