Truck drivers endure long hours on the road and can suffer from fatigue if they are not careful. The following components can help drivers stay alert, healthy, and safe when driving long distances or even during their daily shorter regional runs.
1. Sleep
One of the most important factors in battling fatigue is to get enough quality sleep when off the clock. Lack of sleep can lead to inattention and cause a driver to lose focus. To be in compliance with the FMCSA Hours of Service rules, a truck driver can drive a maximum of 11 hours per day giving them ample time for rest and sleep. According to the CDC, adults ages 18-60 need seven or more hours of sleep each night.
2. Healthy Diet
Staying healthy is another key component to staying alert on the road. Junk food is cheap and convenient but putting a little more time, effort and money into your meal decisions when on the road can be beneficial to your health.The easiest and cheapest way to do that is to pack enough food (fruits, vegetables and whole grains) for your trip before you hit the road. Planning ahead can help you avoid choosing overly processed and high calorie food on the road.
3. Hydration
Hydration is also important when you are driving. Water is the best and recommended liquid for hydration. If you want to add variety, there are many choices such as sports drinks (in moderation) and flavored and carbonated water. It is best to avoid sugar-filled, high calorie and caffeine soda.
4. Exercise
If you are driving a truck all day, it's important to get out and move around whenever possible. Here is a great guide for a 15 minute workout for drivers to follow when driving long distances. Road workout
At Carleton Transport, safety is one of our top priorities and we encourage our drivers to stay well rested and healthy, so they will be more efficient, more successful and overall safer when out on the road.
At Carleton Transport, our goal is to create calm in the chaos of the trucking industry through offering drivers more flexibility. If you’re interested in hearing more about our current driving opportunities, call 402-332-0260 to speak with our recruiter. Or, visit our driving jobs page at carletontransport.com/driving-jobs today.