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March 9, 2017                                                                          Issue #148
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Carman O'Leary, Editor
Allen Lund Company
Marcom - Los Angeles Office
(800) 475-LUND (5863)
Stress and the Truck Driver
There are many stressful jobs out there but when you take into consideration the hours, work/life balance, health risks, and pay you may notice that the life of a truck driver is high stress. Having to wait for shippers and receivers, traffic, updating your dispatcher and/or broker, finding a safe place to park the rig, trying to get to your appointment on time, only being home every couple of weeks, and the list goes on. It is a wonder why we are not experiencing more of a driver shortage considering the conditions that drivers have to work in.

There isn't a lot a driver can do about changing his or her circumstances as far as the previous listed items go. However, I do believe that there are a few steps drivers can take to alleviate some of the stress that is involved.

Time management is a big one. If a driver is given the weekend to go 1100 miles then instead of taking it easy the first day or two get the majority of your driving finished and out of the way. That way once you get to your destination you can take it easy. In trucking we can almost guarantee that something isn't going to go according to plan so if you're able to stay ahead of your schedule as much as possible the hiccups you encounter along the way won't cause you extra stress.

Positive self talk may sound like a bunch of poppycock but it will do wonders for your mental health when you change the way you speak to yourself. Instead of focusing on the list of things that are going wrong focus on what has gone right. It may take some digging some days but making that simple change may save you some frustration. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. You can be in the best shape of your life but if you're battling negative emotions and thoughts you're still not "healthy."

Make your health a priority. I know I find it difficult to eat healthy when I'm on the go between work, extracurricular activities, and my social life, I can imagine the challenge of eating healthy while always being on the road. It is much more convenient to grab the hot dog(s) at the gas station or stop at the local fast food chain, however in order to combat the laundry list of health issues that come with sitting and eating poorly all day you must make an effort to make smart decisions. This may involve packing a cooler full of on the go healthy snacks, taking a walk around the parking lot you're stopped at, or even practicing some breathing exercises. It may be difficult to hit the weights or roll out the yoga mat on the road, but a 20-30 minute walk once a day would do your body wonders.

Get a dog. Dogs have been proven again and again to help reduce stress. There are so many wonderful dogs in shelters waiting for their forever home. Not only will it help you reduce your stress, it will give you a partner on those long, lonely drives.

These are just a few ideas to get you started in living with less stress and better health. There are a myriad of different ideas and techniques to reduce stress in your life. Take a deep breath, find what works for you and commit to making yourself a priority. You and your loved ones will be thankful. 

Safe travels out there!
 

Jenn Bays
Transportation Broker, Louisville
Jenn Bays  has been with the Allen Lund Company since July of 2004. Bays is currently a transportation broker in the Louisville office. 





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About Allen Lund Company :
Specializing as a national third-party transportation broker with nationwide offices and over 400 employees, the Allen Lund Company works with shippers and carriers across the nation to transport dry, refrigerated, and flatbed freight; additionally, the Allen Lund Company has an international division licensed by the FMC as an OTI-NVOCC (#019872NF), and a software and logistics division, ALC Logistics.
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