Preserving Your Body

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by ryan5464, Aug 3, 2014.

  1. ryan5464

    ryan5464 Light Load Member

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    Dec 9, 2013
    Conway, AR
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    Hi everyone. I work for a small cheap company delivering to convenience stores. I have a hand truck and a ramp. I do have a few stairs on my route as well. I do super stack my dolly and I do move very quickly. I know these are a terrible combination. However, I am not paid hourly so I will continue to work this way for the next year and 4 months at which point I will have my 2 years t/t experience.

    My question is what products are there to help me preserve my body as much as possible under these conditions? My biggest problem is my back. I'm only 24 and it has hurt every day for the past couple years. I've been hard on it most of my life so far, but a lot of it could be from the terrible mattress I sleep on (I'm replacing it this week). I saw an infomercial for Copperfit sleeves. As with most "as seen on tv" products, I'm sure it's crap. But are there some good products out there for my knees? I'm sure stretching wouldn't hurt either but how often and what kinds of stretches? There may be a thread for this already but I didn't find it in my search.

    Any advice/tips are welcomed except for telling me that I have to slow down and not stack my dolly so heavy and not use the ramp and all that because it's just not going to happen.
     
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  3. baby

    baby Light Load Member

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    Feb 27, 2014
    Charleston, WV
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    its okay to use the ramp but ONLY if you have a good quality dolly with handbrakes so that you are not overexerting by pulling backwards against the ramp momentum to slow your dolly down. otherwise..you WILL pull a muscle...i KNOW...because thats what i did once...cheap dolly and the freight on it outweighed me by 3 times...going downhill..mwity no hrakes...make sense??? get a dolly with handbrakes and use them instead of your back and you will be fine.
     
    ryan5464 Thanks this.
  4. morlandoemtp

    morlandoemtp Light Load Member

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    Jul 5, 2014
    New York
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    You could try a back brace(looks like a weight lifting belt but has Velcro and stretchy material), also just like with driving, develop good use of habits when lifting or stacking items, keep your back perpendicular with the ground if that makes sense basically always up and down when lifting items or pushing. Also therapy on your back at night(hot pads/cold packs, 15 min increments), could also try home electrode treatment. Also if your confident in your skills doesn't hurt to apply around other places(I recommend teamsters), your only gonna be able to lift so many things in your life/drive so many miles make it worth your wild and don't get taken advantage of. Good luck.
     
  5. Marksteven

    Marksteven Road Train Member

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    Bumble Fxxx
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    Get yourself a weight lifters belt, make it tight but loose enough to sllow
    normal breathing for supporting your lower back. Also get some cheap
    knee braces. A lot of ups drivers wear them.
     
    Shaggy and ryan5464 Thank this.
  6. Glp

    Glp Medium Load Member

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    Dec 23, 2012
    Oakland, CA
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    I didn't even know hand trucks had brakes, i do ltl p/d and i just wheel the pallets to the tail with my pallet jack or bump a dock. I rarely even take my hand truck with me anymore
     
  7. morlandoemtp

    morlandoemtp Light Load Member

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    Jul 5, 2014
    New York
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    You mustn't have done mall deliveries!
     
  8. bigNATURE

    bigNATURE Medium Load Member

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    May 5, 2013
    Texas city, tx
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    U might think this sounds crazy.

    But your diet is number one first and foremost.

    id say no sodas, no meat, no dairy, and start really balancing your nutrition with the proper omega 3 to 6 ration and vitamin b12. This goes a longgg way. Walnuts are great for omega 3 (especially organic or non-GMO) and organic moringa powder is great for B12 and the other essential amino acids. Any health food store should have high quality moringa powder, I use the organic india brand. And of course drink a lot of high quality water, I'm not going to say what brand, but naturally alkaline waters are the best cause they help maintain the body's natural pH of 7.1-7.3 or so. Therefore your BONES won't be robbed of vital nutrients, calcium etc to help stabilize the body's pH, which it will do if you don't keep a naturally alkaline enviornment inside the body.

    Last but not least, TAKE YOUR TIME. Never rush, and do everything carefully. Make to stretch throughout the day, every day.

    i deliver 3k pound alignment machines/systems straight into the garages at car dealerships nation wide with nothing more than a crane to lift of the trailer and a pallet jack to wheel inside, and along side a strong internal and external body/health I always suggest just taking your time and drinking about a gallon or so of naturally alkaline water or some type of good filtered water DAILY.

    Oh and to get protein and calcium on a vegan diet I suggest cooked lentils (taste great spicy) or walnuts, cashews, almonds, kale etc and for calcium there's a lot of plant based foods, but u could even get fortified calcium in the non-GMO silk milk which is Almond milk (no dairy) and tastes great, the chocolate flavor tastes great too and can be bought a walmart now a days. Just keep an eye on the ingredient list on everything you eat, research, educate oneself and your body and mind will REALLY REALLY benefit. Especially from eating a plant based diet, when eating dead foods such as meats and processed food u get dead results, if u eat live foods such as whole fruits and vegatables you get LIVE results :)

    hope this helps !
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2014
    ryan5464 Thanks this.
  9. Glp

    Glp Medium Load Member

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    Dec 23, 2012
    Oakland, CA
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    Ive done a ton of mall deliveries, just not on my current bid route lol. I run a route in a pup with no liftgate and mostly industrial... Gravy run
     
  10. Alaska76

    Alaska76 Road Train Member

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    Inland Empire, WA
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    A strong stomach makes for a strong back. Exercise regularly, and more important, stretch every single day. Maintain a healthy body weight and a senseble diet. Lift with the legs, not the back, and the suggestion of wearing a back brace is a good one.
     
    Big Don Thanks this.
  11. bigNATURE

    bigNATURE Medium Load Member

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    May 5, 2013
    Texas city, tx
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    I completely second this statement too!
     
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