Let’s face it – the United Kingdom doesn’t have the most sunshine in the world. With only 1,457 hours of sunshine per year, it doesn’t come close to comparing with many of the places in Europe, northern Africa, and even parts of America, which receive in excess of 3,000 hours of sunlight per year. But, as you may have noticed while out driving on deliveries and return loads, it doesn’t have to be sunny for the UV rays to make you squint. Sunglasses come in a huge variety of styles, costs, and fits and, as a hauler, it’s best to have a couple of pairs on hand, even if you are hauling through the hills of Scotland and there is no sunshine in sight.
Safety Glasses- Cheap, quick, and easy, safety glasses are those that you pick up at your local hardware store or in the lorry stop while filling your tanks. These glasses are usually not the most stylish, but in recent years, hardware companies have been putting more effort into designing these glasses so they look a bit more ‘public friendly’. They often come several to a pack and are the perfect way to always have a pair of glasses on hand – stuffed away in the glove box or behind the seat.
Thin-framed and Stylish- On the long second leg of your return loads, style may not be at the forefront of your mind! But several well-known sunglass brands have now designed frames that are extremely light on the face. This means that on those long hauls these glasses, like the Whisker Sunglasses by Oakely, don’t sit heavily, allowing you to wear them for longer with more comfort – which comes in handy when you are on the road from morning to night.
Wrap-Around Glasses- You’ve seen these before, the ultra cool glasses that seem to belong more on the set of Star Trek than on your face. But they have major benefits – especially for drivers who make sunrise starts on their return loads. These glasses offer protection for both the front and sides of your eyes, which is important when the sunshine rarely comes from dead ahead. You can pick up a pair of standard wrap-around glasses just about anywhere you stop on your return loads, but the cheaper ones are typically less than stylish. However, if you opt to fork out a bit more cash and venture into a proper sunglasses store, you can find an attractive pair of wrap-arounds that will not only keep you looking good, but will properly protect your eyes as well.
Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry across the UK and Europe. It provides services for matching return loads and to buy and sell road transport and delivery work in the domestic and international markets.