Posted on Fri, Nov 16, 2012 @ 11:34 AM
Many truckers struggle to stay in shape because they don’t have access to exercise equipment and they work long driving hours. However, new programs for truck drivers aim to change all of that. Truck-stop fitness areas are opening up across the country, and these gyms will give truckers the opportunity to live healthier lifestyles. Hopefully the increasing access to these resources will allow for many to live with improved health.
Truck-stop Fitness Centers
Snap Fitness and Rolling Strong have announced a partnership that will bring truck-stop fitness centers to areas across the country. The centers will make it easier for trucking professionals to get exercise while working long hours on the road. Snap Fitness is a chain with over 1,300 fitness centers and they will have six new gyms at truck-stop locations by the end of this year. The gyms will be open 24 hours a day, and members will have access to all Snap Fitness Gym locations. The first Dallas fitness center opened up in August and includes weight machines, cardio machines, free weights, and more. Membership is cheap at only $20 a month, compared to other options which can run close to $60 a month.
TravelCenters of America also started a program recently which helps promote healthy lifestyles for drivers. The program called StayFit has added free gyms, healthy eating options, maps of walking routes, and basketball courts to truck-stops in different states. The hope is that these added amenities will encourage drivers to rethink how they approach eating and exercising on the road. Just one small change in a diet can go a long way in keeping drivers fit in the long run.
Healthy Lifestyles
The Rolling Strong organization will also be providing health evaluations that include body fat percentage measurements and blood pressure checks. These evaluations can help indicate if a driver should be making changes in their eating habits, and can also help in tracking and benchmarking dieting choices. In addition, Rolling Strong is coming out with equipment for in-truck workouts. This will help truckers get additional exercise when they are not at a truck-stop fitness center. Equipment such as resistance bands can be used at any truck-stop location to provide an additional workout.
Bob Perry is a former trucker who founded the Rolling Strong Company. He recognizes the importance of truck drivers in America, and stated "[truckers] deserve access to fitness centers and good food and healthier care like the rest of us." Perry has a vision to help promote good health and wellness across the country.
With all of these new programs starting across the U.S, it is clear that trucker health is becoming a top priority for many organizations. With the increasing amount of resources available, more truckers should take advantage of programs like truck-stop fitness centers in order to live a healthier life.
Posted on Thu, Oct 25, 2012 @ 10:15 AM
The road to wellness and living a more healthy active lifestyle has encouraged many to want to quit smoking. There is a plethora of material and resources available at national, state, county levels and within local communities. The American Cancer Society has set a date to encourage tobacco users to make a plan to quit smoking; November 15th. Below are some links to resources that provide statistics, resources, readiness quizzes, and more to help anyone motivated to quit.
Here are some alarming statistics for Porter County Indiana which is where most of our employees are located.
- The economic cost in Indiana due to smoking is $4.8 billion dollars ($740 per Indiana Citizen).
- Each year 300 births are affected by smoking, costing $518,518.
- 18.5% of pregnant women in Indiana smoke.
- The CDC recommends the Indiana government spend $78 million each year on tobacco prevention and control programs. Indiana only spends $10 million on these programs.
| |
U.S |
Indiana |
| Percent of adults who smoke |
17.9% |
21.2% |
| Lung cancer deaths per 100,000 residents |
52.5 |
67.2 |
| Cardiovascular disease deaths per 100,000 residents |
275.7 |
294.9 |
| Asthma related emergency room visits per 10,000 residents |
37.3 |
49.7 |
We hope this information is useful. Other suggestions for wellness resources and programs can be emailed to the HR department at humanresources@adslogistics.com.
Start with one healthy choice today!
Posted on Thu, Oct 18, 2012 @ 08:00 AM
Let’s start the fall on the right foot! We are kicking off our first walking program on Monday, September 24th. Take a few days to familiarize yourself with the pedometer and program—steps will start counting toward your incentive on October 1st. We believe this team challenge is an important step to continuing a healthier lifestyle as well as a good way to stay motivated!
WALKING CHALLENGE RULES:
- The deadline to upload your steps for the current month is the end of day on the 6th of the next month. For example: To log your steps for your October incentive, you must upload your steps by the end of the day on Nov. 6th.
- All employees are eligible to participate.
- All participants must read and agree to the Assumption of Personal Risk & Waiver of Liability before signing up for the program.
- Each participant will receive a pedometer along with a USB port. Participants are responsible for their own pedometer; replacement can be requested by emailing akhomutova@chcw.com at $40/pedometer.
- Each participant will be expected to download their steps at least once a month at the driver’s room computer (or your personal one).
HOW TO SIGN UP:
The online sign up deadline is Sunday, September 23rd. You must register over the phone after September 23rd.
1. Go to www.chcw.com
2. Click the ‘First time logging in?” link on the homepage and enter program code 1531ADS681.
3. Enter required information. Then select ‘Return to Homepage’.
4. Once you are in your personal profile page. Click on the ‘Follow-up Programs’ tab.
5. Click the ‘Path & Step Based Walking Program’.
6. Agree to the waiver of liability and click ‘Submit’. Click ‘Join Program’ in the top right. You will know that you have joined the program when a ‘Team Tracking’ tab appears. OR Call 847.380.1167 and sign up over the phone.
HOW TO TRACK YOUR PROGRESS:
When you login to your CHCW portal click follow-up programs on the left side of your screen then path& step-based walking—this allows you to see your steps and miles statistics throughout the walking program. To see your monthly incentive—click incentive tracking on the left side of your screen.
INCENTIVE:
- Each participant that walks an average of 6,000 steps per day each month will receive a $25 gift card. Gift cards will be distributed by the HR Dept.
- Each participant will receive a top of the line pedometer along with a USB port that will allow them to upload their steps with ease.
- Participants will be able to track their daily steps, aerobic steps and calories burned.
- Participants will also be able to set their own pace level within their CHC Wellness online profile and monitor their individual and team success throughout the challenge.
If you have any trouble signing up or additional questions contact Anna Khomutova
at 847.380.1167 or akhomutova@chcw.com
Posted on Fri, Oct 12, 2012 @ 10:55 AM
If you are worried about gaining weight as a truck driver, or just want to live a healthier lifestyle, you should learn a few ways to stay in shape. Consider some simple diet and exercise ideas any truck driver can try out.
Start Walking
You do not need to run a marathon to stay in shape, as you can walk regularly to reap similar benefits. Walking is a workout anyone of any weight can do, and you do not even need to wear workout clothes to do it. As long as you are wearing a good pair of walking shoes and have anything from ten minutes to an hour to spare each day, you can walk. There are many benefits to walking which include:
• You can reduce your blood pressure
• Your mood will be improved
• You can decrease your cholesterol
• Your risk of type 2 diabetes will be lower
In addition, try to stretch for 5 minutes before and after each walk, and then pick a spot where you can enjoy some scenery as you get in your workout. Though parks, beaches, and relaxing countryside roads may be ideal places to walk, they are not always available. Fortunately, you can still get in a great workout wherever you park your truck.
Do Some Trucker Workouts
In fact, there are some exercises that are perfect for truck drivers. For example, you can do pushups or crunches inside your truck. The seats are a good place for tricep dips, meaning you do not even have to leave your truck to get in a workout. You can also perform tricep dips outside the truck if you have room on top of your tires or any other raised surface. Bringing some dumbbells on the road with you is another way to work out your arms at each of your stops. You might enjoy these tips if you like to get a short break from your truck by going outside as often as time permits.
Eat Healthier on the Road
Of course, your diet also dictates how healthy you are. Fortunately, you have complete control of what you eat, even when you visit fast food restaurants. For example, a Pizza Hut thin crust cheese pizza or cup of soup may be healthier for you than the sandwiches there, which have about 680 calories each. You can also eat burgers and stay healthy, but be sure to watch the condiments. Burger King tends to put at least 160 calories of mayonnaise on burgers, chicken sandwiches, and more, so request that this be left off.
Paying attention to these healthy trucker tips can make a big difference on both your body and your state of mind on the road.
Posted on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 @ 10:00 AM
For the fourth consecutive year, the Healthy Trucking Summit will take place in an effort to improve the overall health of the trucking industry.
It will be held April 24-26, 2012 at Atlanta’s Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Centennial Olympic Park. As usual, the event will be hosted by the Healthy Trucking Association of America (HTAA).
According to TruckingInfo.com, this year the event will mostly focus on specific problems that face the trucking industry.
These problems include obesity, sleep disorders, diabetes, hypertension, breathing issues and heart problems.
Due to many of these issues, truck drivers are now known for having a life expectancy of about 60 years. The result is that drivers who continually choose to live in an unhealthy way are dying younger than they should. This not only affects them, but their families, and it can also give the trucking industry a negative reputation. The purpose of events like the Healthy Trucking Summit is to not only help drivers get healthier and live longer, but also improve the reputation of this field.
Along the same lines, this event will be the start of a new awareness campaign that spreads information about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is another health problem facing the industry. This medical condition makes it difficult to breathe, and is most often caused by smoking. Since the acronym for this disease is COPD, the campaign is fittingly referred to as the Drive4COPD. The campaign is a joint effort between the HTAA and the COPD Foundation
The main audience for the Healthy Trucking Summit may be truck drivers themselves, but many other people can benefit from attending. Some of the most frequently targeted audience members when it comes to this event are fleet manageers, HR management, recruiters, safety directors, and anyone interested in the health and safety of those in the trucking industry.
When you attend the summit, you will have an opportunity to choose the discussions you wish to listen to, depending on the medical issues that most concern you. These discussions will present updated facts on each medical condition, as well as how to reduce your risks of developing any of the issues presented. There is a social aspect of this event, too, allowing you to meet leaders in this industry as you come together for a common cause: your health.
The costs are $95 for members and $195 for non-members, which includes all meals, events, and the skybox event. You can register at the Healthy Trucking Summit 2012 website. If you wish to stay at the Omni Hotel, you can get a special reduced rate when you indicate your interest as you register online.
You are encouraged to not only sign up for the event today, but also share this information with coworkers, management, and anyone else who may be interested in improving the health of those in the trucking industry.