How has trucking effected your health?

Writing a press release for a health magazine on health, wellness and OTR Trucking. Looking for stories about how trucking has effected your health and your life.

 

I've had to turn down several Mr. Universe nominations, and I keep a mean dog with me to chase the supermodels off my steps when I stop anywhere. It's actually pretty tiring. I may end up retiring early because of it.

 

Physical health or mental health? Welcome to TTR. No recruiting please.

 

I had a Full Head of Hair and Very High IQ when I started Trucking 1 Month ago.. Now I'm a Bald idiot..

 

You'll get a dozen different answers, mostly ####y, but it depends greatly on what type of trucking. OTR or linehaul, like any sedentary job, is probably the most UNhealthiest, while a route job, where physical activity, is probably the best for you. I had friends that did OTR and were absolute marshmellows, where I did a route job, mostly, and remained trim. There are health problems that are universal to all trucking. Bad back, digestion problems, and a rift of mental problems affecting everyone you know, are some of the things driving any truck will generate. I treated it like a big joke, and it kept my sanity some, it's when someone gets too "serious" about trucking, is when the problems come in.

 

OTR, is Very bad for people that are overnight with low energy levels, like me. Almost all I do is sit and drive. It's about all I feel up to doing. That's an honest answer.

But there are many kinds of trucking and some of those are active and physical. Some physical to the point of deteriorating the body from wear and tare and injury.

 

I use to feel like that, we got a new pup and I started taking her with me. Now I HAD to stop and get her out. First I'd stand next to the truck and let her walk around, as she got older she wanted to roam so I started walking.
I them remembered how much I use to like walking, I use to hunt and fish a lot and I wasnt a tree stand hunter, I travelled. So I started finding spots that had a park or a walking trail to exercise "her" .
I lost 35 lbs, and fell better at 58 than I did at 48.
She's almost 10 now and likes the couch a lot more, hates rain, cold and long walks now... so I may be on the hunt for a new pup and the road dog will retire to the life of Riley on the couch.
In some ways I think she saved me. The wife is semi retired so she stays home to keep her company a lot now and when she doesnt come out with me now i slip into old habits and run all day, no real breaks and no walks. Miss her some days terribly out here.

 

Thanks for sharing this.

I'm a dog person and we haven't had one in ten years. I do miss their energy.

 

I have to ask, are you actually approaching this as a person with experience on the road or just picked a topic out of a hat to write?

because the reason I ask is you used the words “press release” which is what you write if it is news about a product, service or company/individual.

 

If you combine ALL of the work of owning and operating a flatbed and running the office side of things then I would say it has only made me better all around.

Being a employee for someone sounds so easy now.....unless of course your boss is a absolute Dbag.....which many many MANY are.

So I would say for me....throwing tarps and chains in blizzards and rain....driving I-80 in PA in the Winter.....becoming a master of my truck and all that goes with it....it has made me a better person physically and mentally.

I am only at around 600k lifetime miles though.....so these guys with 4x that probably have a different story!