Trucking takes a toll on the body

you simply have no idea. you think it's all over-weight issues?

let us know in say, oh about 10 years, how much energy you have............

you'll be singing and dancing to a different tune, i guarantee it.

 

Top of left hand rotting off , from sun thru window.

 

Op, I respect the work you did over the years and advice. Now, trucking isn’t all to blame. No matter the industry you may have chronic occupational injuries. Infantry, farming, police officer, oil patch, etc. I came into trucking impart due to occupational injuries from a hard line of work. Trucking is one of the easiest lines of work I have ever done and easiest on my body. Yes, I have done open deck as well and am not a newbie. Trucking beats kicking a shovel 50 hours a week on an impact area in the desert or in a Minnesota winter.

 

Would you care to share what employer you work where you work 7:00am-3:30pm (with one 30 minute break I'm assuming), Monday - Friday and gross $3500 per week?

I'm thinking that was a typo and you meant to type $3500 a month instead of $3500 per week, right?

Even so, who are you working for or what sector of trucking is it in at least that you work those kind of hours? You said barn so I'm assuming LTL?

 

Get out twice a day and walk. I don’t mean inside the truckstop to buy fried chicken and back out, I mean walk laps around the truckstop. Do a mile and a half halfway through your day and a mile and a half at the end of your shift.

while driving you can do kind of mini crunches and side to side crunches that will work your midsection and tighten your abs. This will help prevent your lower back from getting problems. Stretch while driving, hard stretches and press your legs, this forces circulation.

And if you’re really brave, get a set of adjustable dumbbells in a fold up bench it doesn’t take up much room at all. No it’s not as good as going to the gym but if you can drag it out even 2 to 3 days a week and do some weight training it will do miracles for your longevity.

And last but not least, buy your own food and make your own meals. Stay out of the truck stops and stop eating 5000 cal meals. While you’re driving if you feel like snacking, get some sunflower seeds or carrot sticks or something like that to munch on.

 

sorry man for not specifying. not many people know me on here. only a few in a the maintence section. im an owner opertaor in the triaxle dump trucking world in the northeast. There saturday and sunday work and nights if people want the extra hours. Not hard on fuel in this line of work. I fill on average once every 3 days. No leaving state, so 2 million insurance and 1 mill umbrella costs 5800 a year.

 

Truck driving was the last thing I wanted to do. I thrived on physical activity. But... 20 years ago almost died from diabetes causing weight loss. It did stop. But left me a basket case. I rehabilitated. Ran the third marathon in my life. It was mainly to use the training to re-train my endocrine system. Everywhere I went. They were fighting at work. No idea to them what cooperation and constructive was. I went to work driving a trash truck in rear load dumpsters. Stayed there 9 years. During that. I got a lower back injury falling on ice. I have since found out it actually separated my spine. I found out carrying a heavy weight one day. It was soothing. Otherwise had constant pain. Found out the definition of debilitating pain was. Have done different things trying to recover. Since then my trash company was sold. I was laid off. Only thing I could think to do was drive a truck. I had car and house payments to make. I got unemployment and a grant to upgrade my license.
I have done a lot. Switched ways etc. Found the schedule of dry van OTR works best for me. All the lower back etc. I got to where I was down to 160 pounds at one point. Had all sorts of problems. I put on weight on purpose. Trying to put some pressure back on my spine. It’s working ok. But have developed circulation problems. I could go on and on. Right now. I eat good. I’m about to bear down on getting healthier. Lift my dumbbells in the truck much more. Put on muscle, lose fat. Concentrate more on walking. Even if just around the truck every couple hours. Short walks work for me right now.
I think health wise it will work out. But had to figure things out for myself. I only need to work another 8 1/2 years for max SS.
I would advise any young starters. Find what works. Don’t keep beating your head against the wall with what you’re experiencing not working. Like reefer was for me. They loved me. But I was killing myself.
Do want to say I love OTR dry van. The best job I have had. Because of social distancing. Just leave me alone to do my job. Wished I did this a long time ago. Believe me... I was making six figures in 98. Walked away from it. I was miserable.

 

My newest doctor told me to never drive more than 3 hours without getting out of the truck. Also, he said loosen your belt and your shoe laces while driving. I don't always follow, but I'm trying.

 

Yep, got to make time by not stopping..