Beat Driver Fatigue and Take Care of Yourself on the Road

The Concern for Drivers During Coronavirus

As America slowly reopens and gears up for a summer of canceled events due to the spread of Coronavirus, many of its 3.5 million professional truck drivers continue to work long hours and long hauls. The nationwide dependency on truckers to keep hard-hit areas stocked with medical supplies, groceries, sanitation products, and more has been an increasingly relevant topic, but with some drivers working harder and driving longer than usual due to FMCSA exceptions to meet these demands, many drivers may not be taking care of themselves as they should.

While navigating the Hours of Service exceptions that are still in place until June 14^th or whenever President Trump lifts the state of emergency, coupled with National Safety Month, it's a good time to check in with your drivers and yourself to make sure you're doing all you can to stay safe.

Tips for Taking Care of Yourself on the Road

Articles about "tips for safe driving" are a dime a dozen, and any seasoned driver will probably tell you that they've got their job and their routine down to a science, but regardless of how long you've been driving, there are still little things you can do to not only take care of yourself but also be more mindful on the road with fellow motorists.

The life of a trucker is a hard-working one with beautiful views and terrible traffic, and while it may sometimes feel like you're stuck in the same routine during your routes and deliveries, it only takes small steps to increase your awareness on the road.

Find a Sleep Schedule that Works

It's easy to tell truckers that getting a full and restful eight hours of sleep will do the trick, but in this industry, miles equal money, and the luxury of a full night's sleep isn't always in the cards. But pushing yourself until you do have that opportunity to go to bed isn't always the best answer, either.

The key to feeling present and alert on the road is finding what sleep schedules for you — not only when you're able to catch a few Z's, but also for what length of time. Do short, 15-minute power naps help you feel refreshed or does it take closer to 40-minute naps to help you back into gear? Try out different intervals and find what works.

Now is the Time to Improve Your Eating

If you've been in this industry for some time, then there's nothing new about people telling you to eat better. It's hard enough to eat healthy on the road during normal circumstances for a trucker, but during Coronavirus when many truck stops, restaurants, and grab-and-go options are closed or limited? Forget it!

Hear us out — there are ways to eat a hot, satisfying meal without sacrificing the nutrition aspect of it.

In-Cab Slow Cooker recipes can help resolve the issue of where to find food while you're on the job, and who doesn't want to look forward to a hearty bowl of chili or a slow roasted chicken after driving all day?

Make and Take Meals. If you've got some home time before you're back on the road, there are a lot of easy, cost-effective meals you can make ahead of time and bring with you to warm up later. We've got a recipe for Meatloaf Muffins at the bottom of the page that you can pair with mashed potatoes or the side of your choice for an easy, hearty meal.

Hydrating Over Caffeinating

Another common piece of advice for truckers is to watch the caffeine. We all love a strong cup of coffee in the morning, but before you follow that up with a large fountain soda at your next fuel stop, it's a good idea to balance that out with at least a small bottle of water.

Once the stimulant effect of caffeine high starts to wear off and your blood pressure begins to slow, having water in your system can help keep you alert and focused while you're behind the wheel.

Find Ways to Move

This is another tip that can be laughable for truckers, seeing as how you're literally sitting behind a wheel for hours on end. But just like getting enough sleep doesn't look the same for truckers as it does for other people, the same is true for moving. It's rare for truckers to have the opportunity to go for a walk, but even just walking around your truck during stops or around a hotel if you have the opportunity to stay in one can help improve your circulation and heart health.

We know you're tired and sore after a long day behind the wheel, and when you get the opportunity to stop, you want to stop, but stretching your legs a little bit before you pack it in for the night can help you wake up feeling a little more refreshed.

Meatball Muffins Recipe

Ingredients:

1 Pound Ground Beef

1 Egg

3/4 Cup Milk

1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1/2 Cup Quick Oats

1 tsp. Salt

2 tsp. Garlic Powder

2 tsp. Onion Powder

2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce

1/4 Cup Crushed Club Crackers

Sauce Ingredients:

2/3 Cup Ketchup

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

2 tsp. Mustard

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
• Combine ketchup, brown sugar, mustard in a bowl and set aside.
• Combine all of the meatloaf ingredients and mix them thoroughly
• Grease muffin pan with a copious amount of non-stick spray
• Press mixture into a muffin pan, leaving some room at the top of each for the sauce
• Spread the sauce mixture over the top of each muffin
• Bake for 30-45 minutes until the muffins are browned throughout

Pack them up and reheat as necessary on the road.

Here to Keep Trucks Going

No matter what issues America's truckers have to navigate, we want you AND your truck to stay up. Stay safe out there and create an account with us today to shop our full haul of heavy-duty everything so we can be there for you when you need us.