Semi Trucks are at the gas station for refuelingDid you know that many long-haul truckers spend up to 11 hours driving during a 14-hour duty window? That’s a lot of time behind the wheel of a big rig––three hours longer than most people spend at the office on a given day. If you’ve been trucking for years, you’re probably used to it by now, but those long stretches of highway can get pretty lonely.

Sure, you want to have plenty of music and ebooks to listen to. But what happens if you get hungry? Having a handful of snacks on hand can lift your spirits and provide you with some much-needed energy should you start feeling low. There are thousands of snacks to choose from, but we’ve narrowed down a list to four favorites.

1.) Snickers. Hungry? Why wait. It’s a slogan we see everywhere from the time we’re little. It’s also true. When you’re dying of hunger, nothing quite fills the void like caramel, chocolate, peanuts and caramel. It’s sweet, salty and satisfying. It also has enough calories to serve as a meal.

2.) Cheetos. Potato and tortilla chips get most of the fanfare, but Cheetos are the true heroes of snacking. Not only are they crunchy and satisfying, but they also cover your fingers in soft cheesy dust, perfect for licking once you’ve finished the bag.

3.) TGI Fridays Potato Skins Cheddar and Bacon Chips. When you’re long-haul trucking, you don’t have much time to stop and sit down for a meal, but you can get the next best thing. Of course, we’re talking about TGI Friday’s Potato Skins Cheddar and Bacon Chips. They’re a play on the classic potato chip that’s much more flavorful. If you close your eyes (please, not while you’re driving) you might even find yourself in happier times. Ie: your local TGI Friday’s with an ice-cold brew in hand.

4.) Beef jerky. What’s a road trip without beef jerky? Nowadays, there are hundreds of brands to choose from and just as many flavors. Whether you’re a classic teriyaki fan or you prefer your jerky a little more daring, dried meat is a snack that can’t be beaten.

What’s your favorite trucking food? If it didn’t make our list, visit our Facebook page and let us know. Safe travels!