At Spectra360 we understand the many stressors that truck drivers experience while on the road. For example, missing home and family, bad drivers, time delays, truck maintenance, inclement weather conditions, etc. As we get closer to the busy holiday season, here are three ways truck drivers can manage their stress!
1. Listen to Podcasts
While listening to your favorite music can be fun, podcasts are great for long-haulers to sit back and let the host do the talking. Although you may not be part of the conversation, podcasts create a social aspect that could potentially improve your mood!
Here are three of our favorite trucking podcasts:
The Lead Pedal Podcast for truck drivers talks all things trucking for people in the transportation industry, helping them improve their business and careers. Interviews, trucking information, and other features that are helpful for truck drivers and those in the transportation industry.
Hosted by father-son team Buck and Don Ballard, this entertaining take on the latest trends in trucking covers a wide range of topics. For example, recent episodes cover millennials in trucking and first time trucker stories. New episodes are released on a weekly basis.
Host Eric Harley goes the “Extra Mile” to share exclusively on “all things trucking”; from taking care of your rig and taking care of your health to new products and technology, new regulations, and new ways to stay focused on the road ahead.
2. Plan Rest Stops in Advance
For the safety of drivers on the road, new hours of service regulations have made it mandatory for truck drivers to take breaks. Make sure you know your route prior to getting on the road in order to meet your scheduled deliveries. While at the rest stop, try to get at least seven hours of solid, uninterrupted sleep. This can help you stay alert and feel rejuvenated for the long hours on the road. Another thing to think about is food, do your best to choose healthier options. Your body will thank you later!
3. Breathing Exercises
When you find yourself in a stressful situation on the road, relieve your frustration with some simple deep breaths.
Watch this video created by Eric Banter on different breathing techniques for truck drivers:
If you find yourself unhappy in your current role, our recruiters at Spectra360 are ready to introduce you to new opportunities! We offer personalized recruiting to find the best option for you and your career path. We pride ourselves in showing our truck drivers the highest level of care from the moment they contact us. To get started on working with a Spectra360 recruiter, visit our job board at jobs.spectra360.com.
