Finally - Fitness Center @ Every Truck Stop(??)

I'll be honest with you from my expeience,
Well if you're used to having a gym at your disposal, entering the trucking world is going to put a damper on that for sure. I can't see how a driver can maintain a level of fitness on the road vs. being home all the time. There are many things you can do like bring dumbells on the truck, I like the adjustable kind. The rest is up to how ambitious the driver feels after driving their shift for 10 or 11 hours etc. A jumprope is also a good way to get some cardios and all the pushups,situps etc.. If you don't want to sacrifice your current level of fitness then stay away from over the road trucking, that's the bottom line. Sad reality of it..
Now I was over the road and have now found a job that get's me back home everyday and I can get to the gym, that's been a great thing but that's the way it has to be to maintain my physical fitness goals.
As you know being involved in physical training, those goals can not be compromised, not for the money these companys are paying these days. Many people do it but I felt like I was ruining my health for thousand bucks a week. What good is that if you're all broken down and can't get off the couch when you finally do get home?
In the end, it all depends on how committed th driver is and what type of driving you do, teaming will take a much harder toll than solo as solo drivers get to take their 10 hour break in a non moving truck.
Most team drivers must sleep while the truck is moving and for some people, that's not a very good night's sleep. After a couple weeks of that,the last thing on your mind will be doing pushups.
Best of luck what ever you decide.

 

Thanks Sarge for your response. It wont be until the beginning of the year that we start our schooling.We have a little time for me to come up with a routine.Its gonna have to be body weight stuff first, later after we understand what going on, we will grab some powerblocks to take with us. I do look forward to driving and hope we can find a balance between work and free time. It does sound like there some down time between loads sometime so we can take advantage of that time also( I think anyways). I look forward to talking to you more and hope that me and my wife can learn from some of the other experinced drivers.
Thanks again for your response!

 

To kschanaman,

I think it's a great idea because you're talking about the next generation of way station. I think the challenge will be in (1) convincing some truck drivers of the benefits, (2) adjusting your business model to the market, and (3) convincing those with money.

First off, I'm pursuing a second career as a truck driver and hope to get into a school in the next month or so. I am concerned about eating and exercising on the road. I walk my two dogs 3-5 miles per day and at 41 I'm in the best shape of my life. Never done much with weights though I do understand there are health benefits of weight training apart from the appearance aspects.

I would definitely utilize some sort of exercise facility out on the road.

(1) convincing some truck drivers of the benefits

I can see how, at the end of a long day, a workout may be the last thing on a driver's mind, especially if they've done any of the unloading. So perhaps part of your mission is to "educate" drivers on the non-aesthetic health benefits of regular, focused exercise like decreased fatigue, increased metabolism, increased flexibility and stamina (i.e. less sore and quicker recovery from those 14-hour days), and so on.

I tend to take a holistic approach so other parts of that "education" could be diet, stress management, etc.

(2) adjusting your business model to the market

Perhaps stretching programs with step-by-step posters on the wall, simple yoga and tai-chi, Pilates and exercise ball may be just as popular as cardio and weights. Having instructors to help during peak times would remove a lot of excuses. Heck, even a 1/16 mile walking track with TV monitors would be beneficial, especially in foul weather.

(3) convincing those with money

It seems to me that investors would be more risk tolerant than financial institutions. Perhaps you could also partner with a truck stop chain AND a gym chain on the prototype. Use your expertise to bridge the gap between two existing markets without re-inventing the wheel.

IMHO, a large part of the challenge lies in helping drivers understand the long-term life-enhancing benefits. Do that effectively and it will be much easier to sell the financiers.

 

Hello. I've searched on here and if its already here, im sorry. Has anyone ever tried putting gyms in truck stops? I know not everyone would take advantage of it but my husband started his job in January and would love to see gyms in truck stops. I'm sure there are others out there that would take advantage of this. Just wondering what the general consensus is. Thanks.

 

i don't know which one, i wasn't paying attention, but there's a stop here in vegas with a gym, i think it was petro. it's kinda run down though. and a lot of stops claim to have gyms, i'll find out as i get on the road more. i know i'd take advantage of it. but worst case scenario is to just fill a duffle bag or suitcase with rocks or clothing and lift that or jog around the truck a few times without goin' into the road and living out the life of Frogger.

 

I wish they had decent gym in or within walking distance of truckstops....But I haven't seen many.
But all a guy has to do is get his fat ### out of the truck and go for a walk instead of sitting there eating hot dogs and Cheetos and runnin' his neck on the CB and gettin' fatter by the day.

Few things are funnier than a 450 pounder complaining that he can't get decent food at truckstops and that's why he's so fat....Of course he's saying this to you as he orders two of those horrible bread covered sausages from the Flying J deli case and juggling his 4,000,000 oz. soda and the bag "O" donuts that was "on sale" that'll be empty and laying on the ground right outside his driver side window in 30 minutes because he's so lazy he won't even walk to the trash can 40 feet away!

GET SOME EXERSIZE DUMMY!

 

I don't know if having gyms would help. You have to really want it to work out. I've recently started up my workout routine again, getting ready for the Summer, lol.

I jog, hacky sack, lift hand weights, and do push ups. I try to do 40 minutes intense workout, 3 times a week. It's not always easy depending on where I'm parked or what my schedule is. It's a matter of will though. Yesterday I was tired after driving all day and just wanted to eat and sleep. But instead of eating, I got out and jogged for 40 minutes. Luckily I was in a spot where it was easy to jog. I was at the Limon, CO Flying J and there's a circular road around there without any traffic. Then I ate and went to sleep and felt much better for it. I had done weights, which I carry in my truck, a couple of days before. I should have done it again yesterday, but as tired as I was, I was satisfied with just getting the jogging in.

 

The Oasis truck stop in twin falls idaho has work out equipment down by the drivers lounge or did last i was there, the Oasis is at exit 182 i think off I 84, when its nice outside i like to walk.

 

When I ran full time in the summers, I would carry a 3 position bench and a set of the bowflex select tech dumbells. I strapped the bench to the frame and carried the dumbells in a tool box on the side. You can do about anything with enough imagination.

 

Here you go. Your hubby just needs a 1960 beat up day cab with a trailer full of BRUT. Funny thing about this is SLY can only workout the right arm. I don't see a setup for the left arm. That is the perfect arm wrestling workout / job.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdZVWeA7a-Q