driver well being

Holiday Road: 8 Tips for Staying Safe in a Shorter Season

Professional drivers, when it comes to the 2024 holiday season, the calendar is not on your side.

A late Thanksgiving has compressed the holiday rush, meaning more traffic, tighter schedules and heightened risks heading into Christmas Day. Plus, many parts of the country have already seen their first snowfalls, creating treacherous driving conditions.

The best way to stay safe amid the holiday hustle and bustle is to give yourself the gift of patience. Follow these eight tips:

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Breakdowns & Emergencies: Prepare for the Unexpected

At some point in your driving career, the unexpected may strike — whether it’s a breakdown, an accident or another emergency on the road. The question is: Are you prepared to respond when something unforeseen happens?

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7 Wellness Tips for Truck Drivers

Professional drivers, it’s time to put your health first. While it’s not always easy to eat right, exercise and sleep well on the road, you can improve your well-being by taking a few simple steps. If you’re ready to keep fit and embrace health, put these seven top truck driver wellness tips into motion now.

1. Stretch and move

Stay flexible by performing shoulder shrugs or arm stretches at stop lights. Ease back pain by adjusting your mirrors, keeping your arms comfortable and avoiding leaning over the wheel while driving. Get out and walk around your truck whenever you can. Do equipment-free exercises like pushups, lunges and squats. Or use inexpensive, portable equipment — like a jump rope, small dumbbells or resistance bands — and incorporate some cardio and strength training into your day.

2. Find the time

Take your 30-minute breaks, 10-hour breaks and 34-hour reset. Build fitness into your pre-trip or post-trip routine. Consider a short workout while you do laundry.

3. Pack healthy meals and snacks

Resist the urge to grab fast food and truck stop fare. Prepare your meals for the week at home, pack them in reusable containers, and put them in your truck’s fridge so they’re with you on the road. Swap out empty-calorie snack foods for healthier options like apple slices, nuts, fruits or veggies. Avoid sugary sodas and stay hydrated with low-calorie or zero-calorie electrolyte drinks or water.

4. Get more mindful

Improve your focus with activities like deep breathing and meditation. Keep in touch with family and friends. Listen to your favorite podcasts or music to boost your mood.

5. Make sleep a priority

Set the right mood for sleep. Use blackout curtains, an eye mask, a comfortable mattress, or earplugs. Keep the inside of the cab cool and quiet. Avoid electronic devices and heavy meals two hours before sleep. Aim for seven hours’ sleep a night whenever possible. Working out and doing physical activities an hour before you intend to sleep will help you fall asleep faster and get a better quality of sleep.

6. Keep a wellness log

You already keep a driving log, so why not keep a wellness log, too? Write down how much you exercise and sleep. Give yourself a star each time you choose a healthier snack or meal. When you track your progress, you’re more likely to keep making better choices.

7. See a doctor

Improve your long-term health by getting your annual physical. Avoid chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes by keeping track of your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.

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Find and Keep Drivers With the Right Equipment, Technology and Programs

Driver shortage issues have shifted as capacity has fluctuated. However, the fundamentals behind the driver shortage have not disappeared, and it remains a top industry concern. The right equipment and technology can appeal to drivers and give fleets a competitive advantage when building and retaining their pool of drivers.

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Marijuana: A Growing Risk to Truck Driver Safety

More than 40% of truck drivers now live in a state that has legalized the use of marijuana, according to an American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) report. However, federal law still prohibits the use of marijuana by CMV drivers who engage in interstate travel.

That means when it comes to the use of cannabis products, professional drivers must say no.

Unfortunately, not everyone is getting the message. The number of positive tests for recreational marijuana among truck drivers increased by 31% over the past year. That’s according to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol (D&A) Clearinghouse pulled by Fleet Owner in June.

Clearing the confusion

Make no mistake, marijuana is a serious safety threat. Cannabis products significantly impair a truck driver’s judgment, motor coordination and reaction time. Studies have found a direct relationship between the blood concentration of THC (the primary psychoactive component of marijuana) and impaired driving.

As a result, truck drivers must avoid all types of marijuana and CBD products for recreational or medical reasons.

Making roads safer

The FMCSA’s D&A Clearinghouse is designed to improve public safety on the roadway by helping to ensure any CDL drivers that violate the FMCSA D&A policy are kept off the road. The Clearinghouse is a secure online database that provides real-time, historical data of any FMCSA D&A policy violations.

Companies that employ CDL truck drivers must query the database at the time of employment and at least once every 12 months to see whether a driver’s status has changed. Drivers who test positive for alcohol, marijuana, amphetamines or other prohibited controlled substances without a proper medical prescription must complete the FMCSA’s Return-to-Duty process before returning to any safety-sensitive job functions. The process includes meeting with a Department of Transportation-approved substance abuse professional (SAP) and undergoing Return-to-Duty testing and subsequent follow-up drug tests as determined by the SAP.

CDL drivers who want to view their records must register and create an account with the Clearinghouse using the link below. Drivers must also use the Clearinghouse to give employers additional electronic consent to view any records found. Refusal to provide consent will prohibit the driver from performing any safety-sensitive functions. Employers, testing facilities and SAPs are required to report any FMCSA D&A policy violations to the FMCSA Clearinghouse. Drivers will receive notification by mail or email every time their record is modified.

To register, visit clearinghouse.fmsca.dot.gov/register. You’ll need your CDL number, birthdate, full name and Social Security number.

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Penske App Creates Convenience for Drivers

Penske’s free app for drivers, Penske Driver™, gives them tools to remain compliant with electronic logging device (ELD) mandates and complete their daily tasks, including submitting fuel receipts, requesting roadside assistance and more.

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5-Point Plan: Stress Relief for Truck Drivers

You’re due at your destination in an hour, but traffic has slowed to a crawl. You just got cut off — twice. You’re already feeling worn out. And now rain clouds are gathering overhead. As a truck driver, you face these types of situations all the time. The more prepared you are to handle them, the healthier you’ll be.

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5 Fast Ways to Eat Heart-Healthy Today!

Life on the road means lots of hours behind the wheel. It can also mean way too many high-fat, high-calorie truck stop and diner meals. And sadly, all those calories come at a cost. Studies show that 7 in 10 truck drivers are overweight, which raises their risk for serious heart disease.

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Cut Costs, Increase Driver Satisfaction With Auxiliary Power Units

Auxiliary power units (APUs) reduce the need for idling, allowing fleets to reduce fuel costs, increase engine life and improve driver comfort. APUs have traditionally been used in sleeper berths but are increasingly being used in day cabs.

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Focusing on Driver Lifestyle Helps Fleets Attract and Retain Drivers

As fleets work to attract and retain drivers, they are increasingly focused on improving drivers' lifestyles. These improvements can include increased home time, shorter lengths of haul, and late-model equipment with the latest comfort features.

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The Latest Model Year Equipment Brings Improved Fuel Economy, Driver Comfort

Manufacturers are working to improve fuel economy and lower emissions with their latest equipment releases.

"Most of this is being done with down-speeding the engine and newer engine hardware for efficiency gains, such as lower friction and less parasitic draw items. Also, software will play a big part, such as shifting with automated manuals, fuel maps, etc.," said Mike Hasinec, former vice president of maintenance for Penske Truck Leasing.

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