As the owner of a transportation business, you know that a good driver helps you build your business, and a bad driver costs you money, time, and reputation. You know that mistakes on the road don’t just cost money, they can cost lives, too.
Your drivers are your company’s biggest asset. Check out these tips to keep them happy, healthy, and alert while on the road – which is good for them and for you.
HEALTHY EATING
Healthy eating can go a long way to helping your drivers stay healthy, happy, and alert. They spend a lot of time on the road and the temptation to frequently eat fast food is real, but if they try a couple of these tips they’ll be healthier in no time.
- Buy healthier pre-packaged foods to make meal preparation easier – things like cut up vegetables and fruit, bagged lettuce, baby carrots, etc
- Eat smaller portions
- Don’t skip breakfast
- Choose healthy snacks – nuts, fruits, granola bars
- Drink more water
- Reduce sugar, soda, and excessive caffeine
Even small changes make a big difference!
EXERCISE
Getting fit and healthy may be a little bit more difficult when your drivers are on the road, but it’s not impossible.
- Take advantage of healthy living programs (As the owner, consider offering this as a benefit.)
- Stretch frequently
- Go for walks
- Bike or run for a more strenuous workout
- Do strength and resistance training – no equipment needed
- Join a gym or the YMCA
Strength training and a bit of walking just a few days a week can make a big difference. Remind your drivers they don’t need to spend a lot of time exercising, either. Thirty minutes a day, four days a week is enough to see a difference and become healthier.
SLEEP
Sleepy drivers are dangerous drivers. More than 100,000 accidents a year are caused by tired commercial truck drivers, resulting in 1,800 deaths – usually the driver’s. Getting enough sleep is crucial to their safety and for those who share the road with them.
- Go to sleep at about the same time each night.
- Try to get at least six hours of sleep a night, eight hours would be better.
- Use noise and light reducing items like ear plugs and eye masks to fall asleep.
- Spend the money on a good pillow and mattress.
- Don’t drink too much caffeine.
Changing their sleeping habits so that they’re rested is probably the most important thing that your drivers can do.
MENTAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH
Maybe your drivers are in great physical shape and get plenty of sleep. Well, let’s not neglect their minds and hearts. You know it isn’t easy being on the road for days and weeks at a time. Encourage them to do a few things to keep them going when they get lonely or bored.
- Stay in touch with friends and family at home.
- Find a hobby – a portable one that can come on the road with them.
- Listen to audio books – fiction or educational.
Whatever your drivers can do to improve their health will definitely help them be happier and more alert on the road. As the business owner, you’re not entirely off the hook, either. There are things that you can do to foster a healthier lifestyle for your employees – like having a great group health insurance policy in place so that they’re always able to get the medical attention that they need, when they need it.
Image courtesy of Flickr user Tricia.