10-4 Mid-October Safety Brief
Driver Fitness
Driving a truck can be a very lucrative career option with many great benefits like creating your own schedule and seeing the wonderful landscapes that most will likely never see. One of the downsides is the sedentary lifestyle that comes with sitting behind the wheel up to 11 hours a day. When we add in truck stop food and minimal physical activity, it becomes very difficult to live a healthy lifestyle. Staying in shape on the road can be hard but not impossible. All you need to do some simple exercises is a pair of tennis shoes, a good attitude and a well-lit, safe area. Below I will outline some activities you can do that will certainly jump-start your on-the-road fitness lifestyle.
Go For A Walk
It is estimated that a 30-minute walk will burn 300-400 calories. The benefits of taking a walk include improved sleep patterns, increased muscle strength, improved circulation, better breathing and countless others. It is estimated that 32 laps around your truck and trailer is equal to 1 mile. The benefits of doing this 3-4 times a week are almost countless.
Grab That Kettlebell
One of the most portable and versatile pieces of exercise equipment is the kettlebell. The kettlebell has been growing in popularity amongst people looking for a quick workout for some time now. One of the full body workouts you can do using a kettlebell is the swing. This video has a very simple explanation of how to perform this exercise. It is great for most beginners and the overall benefits are impossible to ignore.
Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are basically just rubber or elastic bands that can be hooked to a stationary object or you can hold them with your feet. You then work your muscles by stretching the bands. These bands are very affordable and compact in size making them ideal for bringing along with you in the truck. In this video you can see a 15 minute exercise routine that incorporates resistance bands and will do wonders for your fitness journey.
Back To Basic
There are some very basic things you can do to jumpstart your physical activity that only involve your body weight. Push-ups, sit-ups, planks, body weight squats and dips are some very basic things you can do using only yourself that will also have a tremendous impact on your life. Remember to go slow and focus on doing these actions properly. Working out is something where quality vastly outweighs quantity. There are countless other things you can do to maintain a healthy lifestyle while on the road. If you have a routine that works for you and you would like to share it with other drivers, email us at info@10-4risk.com and let us know.
