To make it easier, drivers can focus on simple strategies and techniques that help them maintain the healthiest lifestyle possible. In many ways, being an otr overtheroad or cdl driver is more a lifestyle than a job. Salary estimates are based on 8 salaries submitted anonymously to glassdoor by truck drivertrainer employees. Apr 29, 2012 truck stop fitness centers help drivers stay in shape on the road driver wellness programs and an expanding number of truck stop gyms are helping truckers keep fitness from taking a backseat. With some trailers outfitted with gps, mini refrigerators, satellite radio and sometimes even wifi, drivers aren. Its demands, particularly upward of 300 days per year on the road, will certainly limit what time you spend at home, thus. Mar 21, 2017 overtheroad hauls are situations wherein drivers often see a great deal of time out on the road for a designated period. Husband going to be an otr truck driver i dont want. Driving a truck for weeks at a time takes its toll on a body. So, truck driving is pretty much in a league of its own as a career choice for a family man or woman.
Xpress is offering various signon bonuses for experienced otr drivers in select locations. Otr trucking jobs available, long haul truck drivers needed. Longhaul trucker josh giesbrecht lives a strange and solitary life, spending weeks on the road at a time while hauling cargo from point a to point b, covering vast distances on seemingly. Fast food is at every truck stop and more and more fast food restaurants are starting to provide truck parking just to make it a little more convenient for us to indulge in the cholesterol, fat laden, life. You want to be able to go home at night and see your family, cleo shares. Here are a few exercises and steps that truck drivers can take to stay in. Given how much you drive, it is amazing that there are not many more accidents.
Husband going to be an otr truck driver i dont want that life. From the mobile driver app and advanced truck technologies to resortstyle amenities prime provides fitness and nutrition programs, laundry and mailroom services, truck and trailer maintenance and more. Truck driver lifestyle how to be a healthy trucker esurance. Its not right for every family, but it was for ours. Baleka, once a trucker himself, saw a challenge in the growing. May 24, 2015 the cb can be useful, too, for finding out about bypass routes and for letting a driver know when somethings wrong with his truck, or to warn others about cops on the road.
The connection between driver health and the trucking industrys needs became clear. Wellness ambassador encourages truck drivers to remain fit. I was on the road for 93 days none stop back in the early seventies. Just as its name implies, the healthy truckers youtube channel is chock full of videos that highlight exercises that otr truck drivers can do utilizing their trucks. However, maintaining a healthy worklife balance as a truck driver is not totally impossible. Truck driving is one such occupation in many ways, being an otr over theroad or cdl driver is more a lifestyle than a job. He agreed to open up about what life is like on the road in the united states as part of a. Aug 23, 2011 lots of engine power and 15 speed trannies that shift as smooth as a slicing butter with a hot knife.
With some trailers outfitted with gps, mini refrigerators, satellite radio and sometimes even wifi, drivers. The truck driver just like every other professional must strike a healthy balance between work and life generally. While there are benefits that make this the ideal career and lifestyle for some, there are also challenges that need to be considered. Apply to truck driver, driver trainer, truck driver trainer and more. Just as its name implies, the healthy truckers youtube channel is chock full of videos that highlight exercises that otr truck drivers. At times, you may feel like youre missing out even though youre earning money to help support your family. Its important that new drivers are prepared for that change so they can have a longlasting, successful truck driving career. Unhealthy lifestyle due to the nature of living in a truck for extended time periods, eating restaurant food processed and highly salted, lack of exercise and relaxation time, the lifestyle of an otr trucker can lead to serious health issues. The fitness guru of the trucking industry with long hours behind the wheel and fastfood reststop meals, longhaul truck driving is one of the unhealthiest professions in the u. Does it really take a special breed to be a truck driving man. The longhaul truck driver lifestyle can be grueling at times. It is just a glimpse of a few days in the life of a truck driver. Online fitness coaching for over the road truckers.
A typical otr driver might spend three weeks out on the road at a time, or more if he wants to. This section of our truckers career guide explains what the lifestyle is like living on the road as an otr truck driver. How to stay healthy as a truck driver drive for highway. So you are a cdl driver and you are looking for a new job. Its demands, particularly upward of 300 days per year on the road, will certainly limit what time you spend at home, thus impacting relationships with those around you.
How to maintain a healthy lifestyle as an overtheroad truck driver duration. Deadlines will become a part of life, and youll find, after working for a few years, that. In fact, findings from the cdc show that nearly 9 out of every 10 longhaul drivers have at least one risk factor hypertension, obesity, or. Filter by location to see truck drivertrainer salaries in your area. He often drives all night or has erratic hours and finds himself with unhealthy food options like truck stop greasy spoon cafes, convenience stores, and fast food restaurants. Cleo says the workouts also mean he can spend more time with that family. A thread on the trucking forum recently discussed the physical strength required to be a truck driver, starting with the following question please dont laugh too hardbut as a 50 year old female, it must be asked. Your responsibilities go so much further than just holding the wheel and shifting gears and, especially for overtheroad drivers.
Clothes and personal items are a given, while most drivers will have some kind of refrigeration or cooler, microwave ovens, coffee makers, etc. Even though life as a trucker can be difficult with less family time, it can be a rewarding career pursuit. For many, its a tough job that leads to an unhealthy lifestyle. Online fitness coaching for truck driver exercise programs. Not only do drivers work from their truck, they sleep and eat there too. Your responsibilities go so much further than just holding the wheel and shifting gears and, especially for overtheroad drivers, trucking is not a switch that you just turn off at the end of the day. Are you a truck driver who is interested in an otr, fulltime position with great benefits where you can be home at least once per week most weeks we are currently hiring class a truck drivers. Jul 15, 2019 life as an otr truck driver can have its pros and cons.
Learn about truck driver health issues and we can do more to prioritize driver health. When you are on the road you might want to exercise and get into shape to maintain a healthy trucker lifestyle. The truck drivers worst enemy truth about trucking. As you start planning your truck driver schedule, you have to consider your family commitments and other obligations to your loved ones. He also was faced with the sad truth that driving is an unhealthy lifestyle. Some drivers could be fearful for themselves or for a highrisk family member. In a team, one driver sleeps while the other is behind the wheel. Fast food is at every truck stop and more and more fast food restaurants are starting to provide truck parking just to make it a little more convenient for us to indulge in the cholesterol, fat laden, life shortening, tasty, appetite busting menu. The fitness guru of the trucking industry the atlantic. There are select occupations you ought to first discuss with loved ones before even considering applying for a job in the field. For overtheroad otr truck drivers, being away from your kids can be tough. Driving a truck can be exhausting and the last thing a tired driver wants to do is exercise.
Prime works with families every step of the way to ensure our drivers are happy, healthy, and safe. Its so easy to make excuses to justify unhealthy choices. Trainerturnedtrucker david copelands patented portable bench is drawing attention. Driverinvented portable workout bench gets drivers moving when. The lifestyle of an otr truck driver trucking truth. Otr drivers are responsible for delivering any and every type of product you can imagine. Getting exercise as a truck driver getting your cdl. The good news is that there are hundreds of trucking companies that are looking for drivers to join their fleet. From finding the right truck driving job to getting the most out of life on the road, driver solutions is here to help.
Maybe truck drivers could cut down on allyoucaneat buffets, truck stop junk food, and long hours driving in a seat. Aside from the obvious health risk an otr driver takes on by driving on often dangerous roads with lesstrained car drivers, there are longterm health risks associated with longhaul drivers. Here are some of the downsides of working at an over the road truck driving job. Its a solitary life, and if youre not driving, youre probably sleeping. That is the trucking lifestyle in a nutshell, there is much more to being a truck driver than what i described and i could go on forever but i know this is already a long post.
But the one thing you cant replace is the amount of time youll spend away from your family and friends. Due to the time on the road and length of the routes, there is a great demand for otr drivers. Generally, if you are an otr driver, youll have your truck set up as a little version of your house. Mar 25, 2015 the fitness guru of the trucking industry with long hours behind the wheel and fastfood reststop meals, longhaul truck driving is one of the unhealthiest professions in the u. After cdl training continue with otr over the road. Because for most new drivers going overtheroad, doing the job safely and effectively is going to take up most of their time. J ack paulden is a commercial truck driver from ohio and a guardian reader.
Jan 19, 2016 for instance, over the road trucking jobs will keep you out on the road for days, and possibly weeks, at a time. Tips and advice for truck drivers looking for a new trucking company. It is important that you find out which career path is best for you. He often drives all night or has erratic hours and finds himself with unhealthy food options like truck. The impact of trucking on the family is not always a disaster. Feb 07, 2017 ga truck driver develops fitness app using tractor trailer as gym. There are plenty of good big truck drivers who have driven a lifetime with wife and kids at home doing just fine. Due to a sedentary lifestyle and poor nutritional habitsoften. For example, packing a simple exercise band opens up a plethora of. Tips and tricks to make life easier otr truckersreport.
Otr trucking jobs over the road driver pay, lifestyle, hours. Most of the time, youre too tired to shoot the breeze. A day in the life of a woman truck driver eliante and kayla. Tips and tricks to make life easier otr discussion in. With a constantly changing schedule and route, it can be difficult for otr drivers to find a diet and exercise plan that works and is easy to stick with. In addition, even though instructional learning via books, computer or the classroom environment is valuable, the benefit of otr. He says walking, or jogging about 30 laps around the truck equals one mile.
Life as an otr driver napier truck driver training. Truck driving is one such occupation in many ways, being an otr overtheroad or cdl driver is more a lifestyle. Tom also offers valuable tips for packing healthy foods for when youre out on the road. The company currently operates with 250 trucks nationwide with a sister company jim palmer trucking out of missoula, mt operating another 200 trucks.
Two years of verifiable driving experience and a clean mvr are required. It no doubt has come around due to the hardships of the trucking life. Anyone who has been in trucking for any length of time knows that trucking is a tough vocation. Impact of trucking on the family life as a trucker. Jan 21, 2020 but it was a brief encounter in 2008 that set bobs wheels turning. Employment of heavy and tractortrailer truck drivers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
One challenge he has is that hes an overtheroad truck driver and has a hard time finding healthy meal options on the road, especially for breakfast. Otr truck driver over the road truck driver current employee earth city, mo april 30, 2019 awesome company work as long as u want work one wk, 2wk, 3wk, 4wk etc, home time as long as u. Drivers must take into account how the profession they choose will affect their life. Longhaul truck driver health and injury, the study shows that truck drivers are twice as likely to be obese as the rest of. Life as an otr truck driver can have its pros and cons. Even though life as a trucker can be difficult with less family. But now the truck driver life is what you make of it. As the demand for goods increases, more truck drivers. Why is there so much turnover in the trucking industry. From the mobile driver app and advanced truck technologies to resortstyle amenities prime provides fitness and nutrition programs, laundry and mailroom services, truck. This channel is about more than trucking although driving a big truck is a. Sure most truck drivers worry about that dreaded dot physical.
A day in the life of a truck driver trucking career info. Luckily, you do not need to put in hours at a gym to improve your health profile. Truck driver and worklife balance haulage report now. The inability to participate in daily life and the solitude can take a toll on anyone. Lifestyle and trucker wellness on the whole, over the road otr and regional truckers maintain a remarkable record of traffic safety and prompt service. Otr trucking allows many, like my father, to provide for their family in ways that they otherwise wouldnt be able to. Truck driving and staying fit on the road loaddelivered. Now cleo has the iron trucker fitness app, and is sharing his. There are also truckstop gyms and incab workout systems cropping up. Your responsibilities go so much further than just holding the wheel and shifting gears and, especially for over theroad drivers, trucking is not a switch that you just turn off at the end of the day. The grueling life of a longhaul trucker popular mechanics. For trucker families being a truck driver with a family.
Feb 25, 2016 husbandwife team drivers for conway xpo truckload, andrea and jai steward, invite you to come along for the ride. He knew if he was going to create a program that worked, it had to fit a road warriors lifestyle. In this arrangement, freight moves faster because there is always one rested driver. Tmc driver bryan celestine and how it is possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle while being a professional commercial truck driver. Why is truck driving called a lifestyle, not just a job. Otr truck driving jobs what you should know before. Teams usually make more per mile than solo drivers.
Apr 30, 2014 truck driver health and mortality arent issues that we have historically paid much attention to, but if we are to achieve our potential as an industry, or as individual companies, we must start helping, enabling, and educating drivers to improve their health and prioritize wellness. According to the centers for disease control and prevention cdc the 2015 us fatality rate for truck drivers. In fact, findings from the cdc show that nearly 9 out of every 10 longhaul drivers. The cdl aspect of truck driving training is vital, but as outlined above, it alone doesnt prepare a new driver for the day in and day out experience of a professional truck driver. It is when an unhealthy relationship exists in these two fundamental areas that. However, regional trucking jobs can often have you back home every night or so. How to make a truck driver schedule work with a family.
These five healthy habits will help you exercise, eat healthily and get a good nights sleep. How to maintain a healthy lifestyle as an overtheroad. Ga truck driver develops fitness app using tractor trailer as. Trucks and technology have come a long way over the years, enabling drivers. As of 2012, around 92 percent of employers in the u. Most experienced drivers will refer to truck driving not as a job, but as a lifestyle. Otr versus regional which is better for your family. Leaving onroad mishaps aside, life and vitality are also precious cargo to be preserved.
The lifestyle of a truck driver in 2017 by jake tully. Otr trucking tends to pay better depending on how long the driver is on the road and the type of load. Does it really take a special breed to be a truck driving. Pressure to stay on schedule, isolation from family and friends, and scarce. One trucker who reversed his occupational decline in health and fitness.
Trucking life truck driver lifestyle truck driving life. The truck driving lifestyle can be challenging, but its also very rewarding. Ga truck driver develops fitness app using tractor trailer as gym. Truck driver lifestyle how to be a healthy trucker. Drivers with families and young children would be better suited to driving as a regional truck driver. What are the physical requirements to be a truck driver. It is up to each truck driver to turn the tide on otr health and dot physical health regulations. Driving trucks is more like a lifestyle choice than a regular job. This is not the kind of job where youll be home for dinner every night. Most truck drivers believe there s no time or space to fit fitness into their lifestyle but in reality, drivers do have the time and space to fit fitness in. If you are driving team, the sleeper is well insulated to cut out the road noise. Gold dusts brokerage, international express, is seeking experienced over the road otr truck drivers for our small trucking business. The company uses late model equipment and utilizes the latest in transportation technology to ensure the safest, most efficient, and most profitable trucks on the road.
Longdistance work does not always lead to healthy family life. Keep in mind, driving is a solitary job and it helps to enjoy driving long distances and not be bothered by the loneliness to have a successful driving career. Bob stood outside a georgia truck stop chatting with a couple of drivers. When you drive for prime, your wellbeing is primes top priority. Being a truck driver is a lot of work youll work long hours, sit most of the day and have little time to stretch your legs. Otr truck driver if you have a clean driving record and enjoy hauling for a living, we have the job for you. The extended solitude and unconventional schedule take their toll, sometimes leading to habits that hinder healthy living for truckers. The mortality age of an overtheroad driver should not be shorter than any. The 7 rules of ontheroad fitness of the two charts above, youll notice that the one on the top, which monitors the metabolism of a typical longhaul truck driver over a 24hour period, is. You stay out, driving shipments back and forth, for. Older drivers, who do not have those ties, may be more inclined to choose otr.
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