Month: September 2018

If you spend a lot of time alone on the open road there are some important ways to be aware of to keep healthy in body and mind. Being isolated could have a damaging effect on your health and well being. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recently interviewed nearly 1,700 truckers about their health and work—and the results were shocking.

69% were obese. 54% smoked. And 88% reported at least one risk factor for chronic disease. We’ve compiled a few recommendations so we all can be health conscious and proactive to take proper care!  Have a read below!  

• Join a wellness program

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will requires self discipline. It may involve  joining a program such as health coaching, nutritionists or tobacco counseling to develop new healthy habits or reduce chronic illnesses like depression, sleep apnea and obesity. Check with your insurance if a wellness program is available to join. Using a wellness program could greatly reduce stress and the risk of other health concerns.

• Explore fitness options

You need to commit to a consistent plan by giving you the time and the opportunity to eat healthier and to exercise more. You can also get your own bike and ride on the specific areas. If you want to get in shape, you can also download the Iron Trucker Fitness app to bring the gym to yourself. The app includes a database of exercises you can perform using your tractor-trailer.

• Increase mental stimulation

Keep constantly your brain in shape while driving. Listen to audiobooks, podcasts or lean a new language will keep your brain waves moving to maintain proper intellectual stimulation, boost your ability to multitask and think deeply. No matter how mentally fit you think you are, it is important to get additional exercise while you drive to stimulate your brain.

• Develop a stable sleep schedule

Sleep deprivation causes every year almost 100 000 vehicle accidents and 1550 fatalities a year. The human body needs 7-8 hours of rest a day. Sleeping is very important to your overall well-being. Fatigue is an important safety issue for truck drivers. To improve your sleep you need to create a relaxing and quiet bedtime routine along with a good sleep environment to improve your sleep. Close all curtains and truck shades or use an eye mask. Try also to sleep at the same time everyday.

• Socialize with family and friends

One of the main reason people get away from traffic is the relentless solitude; the isolation from their home and their family that can push truck drivers to drug use or accident. Maintain contact with family and friends to lessen the feelings of loneliness and isolation. Make a plan to stay in touch with loved ones at home and make the most of your time when you are with them.

One of the biggest challenges for drivers is to maintain a healthy diet while out on the road. It is common for those with an unhealthy diet to have health issues that will later affect their career, including not being qualified to drive

One of the reasons impeding drivers from having a healthy diet comes from the lack of accessible healthy food. Truck stops offer mega deals on supersized fast food meals, with extremely high calories. It is rare to find healthy food with the same deals.

According to studies conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, roughly 70% of drivers are overweight, which can lead to greater health risks, such as diabetes, sleep apnea and heart disease. Drivers may know that what they eat is bad for them, but they may not know how to make a change.

It is never too late to rediscover healthy eating habits. Here are 7 tips to help you improve your nutrition and healthy eating:

1. Aim to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily to balance calories and nutrients when meal choices are limited. Opt for salad instead of fries, or choose fresh fruit and nuts as a snack.
2. Decide to make healthier choices on your own and commit to them. Begin with small changes you can stick with, such as trading soda for water or green tea. Instead of putting cream and sugar in your coffee, opt for skim milk.
3. When you have some time at home, plan and prepare your meals in advance. Freeze them in portion-size containers and bring them with you in a portable cooler when you are on the road. You will save money and have access to better food.
4. Stock your cab’s refrigerator with healthy snacks so you are not starving when you stop for a meal break. Healthy snack options could be nuts, raisins, and naturally sweetened or low sugar protein bars.
5. Don’t try to save time by skipping breakfast or snack time. Start the day with good intentions with eggs and whole wheat toast, or Greek yoghurt with berries. Healthy snacking also prevents overeating later- precut veggies or natural cheese are good options.
6. Start by eating a large breakfast, in order to be less likely to snack and crave bigger meals throughout the day.
7. Figure out what obstacles are standing between you and a healthier way of eating and find solutions to overcome those obstacles.

By tackling these 7 tips, you will be able to take realistic steps toward becoming a healthier truck driver.

Van Kam is proud to announce the pre-order of 3 new Tesla Semi trucks to improve efficiency and to enhance the experience and safety for our drivers. The first delivery is expected in late 2019.

“We expect to reduce our costs, save more energy and maintain the safety of our drivers in the years ahead.”- Casey Henry, Controller of Van Kam.

The electric truck has remarkable features, including a capacity to travel 500 miles on a full charge, impact-resistant glass, an innovative cabin design and the ability to go from 0-60 mph in five seconds without any cargo, using a solar powered charging station.

Inside the truck, two touchscreen displays offer an easy access to navigation, blind-spot monitoring and electronic-data-logging capabilities. Built-in connectivity will allow direct communication with a fleet’s routing and scheduling system, which make it the safest, most comfortable truck ever.

With the buzz around autonomous vehicles, many find it interesting that Tesla paid so much attention to the driver experience.

Aside from safety gains, the redesigned cabin — which has enough space to stand up and move around — puts the driver at the center, allowing for optimal visibility and control.

Tesla says the semi-trucks will offer a better experience for truck drivers, increase safety and significantly reduce the cost of cargo transport.

At Van Kam, we like to encourage and aid the integration of women and promote their accomplishments working in the trucking industry.

Federal labor statistics demonstrates that the percentage of women representation is only of 27% in the transportation workforce, while only 3% of Canadian truck drivers are women. This lack of representation is due to a shortage of recruitment and retention of more women in key occupations.

At Van Kam, we want to help women continue to become a more integral part of the industry. This is not just as drivers filling a need, but as well qualified employees who bring a different perspective to the job.

Here are some helpful tips for what you can do to increase your chances to have an awesome experience and great career as a future professional truck driver.

• Believe in yourself

The thing you always need to remember with trucking and anything in life is to trust yourself and your capabilities. If you are considering becoming a professional truck driver, you need to remember that you can be just as qualified as the men who are taking advantage of the opportunities for careers in trucking. You should not feel like you have anything to prove and you should not be intimidated for any reason. Don’t get stuck on being a woman in a man’s world. It’s about you doing your job and going home.

• Learn about the industry

In the transportation industry, there are number of helpful resources and organizations, which are committed to supporting female truck drivers and that are available to teach the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in trucking. Be sure to reach out and use these resources to help achieve your goals.

• Get trained by women instructors

You can give a jump start to your career by getting the best possible training by seeking a CDL training program that includes female instructors as well. They will be able to provide you insights to operate the industry efficiently.

So if you are looking for a more driver-friendly environment, apply today!