Whether you drive a rideshare vehicle, long-haul truck, ambulance, or city bus, one of the last problems you want to deal with is a bed bug sighting or infestation. Unfortunately, any vehicle with frequent people coming and going is at risk. Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers, catching rides on bags, clothing, and personal items.
In this blog, we’ll cover:
- Bed Bug Hotspots
- Where bed bugs are most common
- How to identify them
- Steps you can take to protect yourself and your passengers
Is Your City a Bed Bug Hotspot?
Each year, Orkin releases a list of the U.S. cities most affected by bed bugs. The ranking is based on the number of treatments performed in homes, businesses—and yes, even vehicles.
Here are the Top 10 Bed Bug Cities in the U.S., according to the latest report:
- Chicago
- Cleveland (+2)
- Detroit (+3)
- Los Angeles (+1)
- Indianapolis (+3)
- Washington, D.C. (+1)
- Grand Rapids, MI (+7)
- Columbus, OH (+3)
- Champaign, IL (+1)
- Milwaukee (+15)
See Orkin’s full list. (Plus or minus shows movement in the standings since last year.)
If your city is on the list—or even nearby—it’s time to be extra cautious.
How Do Bed Bugs Get into Vehicles?
Bed bugs travel wherever people go. For drivers, the risks are higher in vehicles with lots of passenger turnover, luggage, or overnight stops.
Common ways they enter:
- Transferred through suitcases, purses, or backpacks
- Hitchhiking on clothing or uniforms
- Spread from high-traffic stops like bus stations, truck stops, or hotels
How to Identify Bed Bugs
Spotting bed bugs early is the key to stopping an infestation. Here’s what to look for:
Other signs include small reddish-brown stains, tiny shed skins, and bite marks in a run, half moon pattern (only 50% of the population is allergic to bed bugs and their bites will welt up).
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Vehicles
Once you’ve confirmed a problem, fast action is essential. Here are safe and effective strategies:
1. Use Heat to Your Advantage
- Bed bugs die at 111°F and eggs at 117°F.
- In summer, vehicle interiors can exceed 160°F in direct sunlight.
- Park your vehicle in the sun, windows up, and remove clutter for several hours as a natural heat treatment.
2. Try a Natural Bed Bug Spray
- Products like Lights Out Bed Bug Spray kill live bugs on contact and help deter future infestations.
- Spray does not kill eggs, so repeat treatments may be needed.
3. Heat Treatment will Kill All Stages of Bed Bugs
- Bed bug heaters can be purchased for heating inside a vehicle such as busses, ambulances, trucks, etc. These are effective ways to kill bed bugs and their eggs. Bed Bug Heat Doctor/Prevsol heaters heat the area to 140°F removing all lice, fleas, ticks, and roaches also.
Extra Tips for Truck Drivers
Truckers face unique risks because of their work environment:
- Slip-seat drivers (sharing a truck) are at higher risk if another driver had bed bugs.
- Always inspect hotel rooms before staying overnight. Use Lights Out around your suitcase and where you lay your suitcase in the hotel room.
- Use caution at rest stops which can be hotspots for bed bugs. Be careful carrying bags or purses into rest stops unless you spray them with Lights Out.
- If you are an overnight trucker, use light-colored sheets and a mattress encasement to be sure you can easily spot bed bugs and their fecal matter.
Stay Protected on the Road
Bed bugs can turn your workday into a nightmare—but with awareness, prevention, and fast treatment, you can keep your vehicle safe. Whether you’re a first responder, delivery driver, rideshare operator, or long-haul trucker, knowing what to look for makes all the difference.
