Back

Truck Driver Health Tips

Jul. 29 2021 Lifestyle By DeBary Truck Sales

Share

When you’re a truck driver, the long hours on the road can start to take a toll on your health. Due to the extended periods of sitting down, combined with fatigue from lack of sleep and a generally poor diet from eating fast food on the road, a trucker can become rather sickly if they’re not careful. This is why taking charge of your health as a truck driver is so important, because there are things to do to mitigate the effects of your job.

DeBary Truck Sales in Sanford is your Florida truck dealer, serving Atlanta. Here are some of our top tips for keeping yourself healthy on the road.

Eat & Drink Well

Sure, it’s very easy to pick up some fast food en route to your destination, but you know that french fries and giant sodas are not doing you any favors. Try to give yourself a more balanced diet on the road: 

  • Instead of fast food, stop at a convenience store or grocery store to pick up containers of cut fresh fruit, nuts, string cheese, crackers and granola to snack on. 
  • Make an effort to eat whole grains, lean meats and fresh vegetables for dinner. 
  • Eat a balanced breakfast that isn’t too heavy on fried foods or red meats. 
  • Instead of downing endless energy drinks, sodas and coffee, drink water, unsweetened iced tea and fresh juice.
  • Eat meals at regular intervals, rather than starving yourself all day and bingeing at night.

Sleep Well

Trying to get enough sleep on the road is going to be a challenge for any long-haul trucker. However, it’s crucial that you get sufficient rest, because studies have proven that driving while tired can be as bad or worse as driving while intoxicated. Make sure you’re getting your rest in:

  • Get a full night of sleep each night, whether it’s in your sleeper cab or a motel.
  • Create a restful environment by shutting off screens an hour before you go to bed, using a high-quality pillow, wearing an eye mask to shut out light and keeping the room cool.
  • Whenever you feel tired while driving, even if it’s mid-afternoon and you’re on a deadline, pull over to rest. It’s more important to get there alive than get there on time.
  • Maintain a consistent sleep schedule every night if you can.

Move Well

Sedentary jobs mean that you have to try to get in movement outside of working hours. This can also be harder to do when you’re a driver who spends most of your day behind the wheel. There are some things you can do to increase the amount you’re moving:

  • At any gas station or rest stop, take a few minutes to stretch and walk around.
  • Take a walk for twenty to thirty minutes every evening when you’ve stopped for the night, or make it a point to take a walk in the morning before you hop in your cab.
  • Take more frequent breaks if you feel your muscles tightening up.
  • Bring some hand weights with you so you can get in some weight-lifting at your hotel.

We hope these tips prove helpful to you in making you feel better on the road. Looking to purchase a new truck? Stop by our dealership in Sanford, FL, to check out our full stock of new and used trucks for sale. DeBary Truck Sales proudly serves the greater Atlanta, GA, metro region.