otrdriverhealth

[otrdriverhealth]

Reflections of a Rested Human

So, I need to conclude my journey with a post! Maaaan was I exhausted last night. I have no shame in saying that I had a big fat kale salad and a big glass of gin+soda+lime. So, from where we left off - we drove through the rest of Mississippi and through Alabama, stopping at the Home Depot distribution center in Birmingham. It was such a beautiful day! While we waited, I got to take little Maggie May for a walk.

We drove another couple of bumpy hours through Alabama - our trailer apparently had some not-so-awesome tires. We dropped our trailer off at the Home Depot and had to pick up one of the empties on the lot… sooo we didn’t really have much say in what we got.

Oh! Before I forget…we stopped at a McDonald’s for lunch, actually the one that we stopped on the very first day. We wanted to get some more of those delicious signature chicken sandwiches! In my quest for something green, I opted to ask for them to put the chicken and cheese and guac on a piece of lettuce. Woooo, I swear, that request was like asking for a million dollars! Never have I ever felt like I had asked for something so outlandish! I literally felt like I put these people out sooo drastically - it was like I was taking their firstborn.

Of course, at that moment, I was a little cranky… My sleep hadn’t been necessarily up to snuff, and I am very well known to get “hangry.” Yaknow, hungry-angry? Yes, I am a very serious offender. Obviously I don’t like to get like that, of course, because I don’t want my friends and family to be miserable around me when I feel a little less than fed. Cindy asked me why I carried so much snack material with me at all times… That’s really why! I like to be nice, I like to be pleasant, I like to be liked. When I get like that, I know I’m not nice, pleasant to be around, or (sometimes) even tolerable. That being said, I may or may not have found myself to be a little hangry when I got to McDonald’s. As evidenced by my “firstborn” reference.

We somehow struggled through at the McDonald’s endeavor - I got my chicken and cheese on a bed of lettuce, as well as a big delicious side salad. I hadn’t realized, though, that I had completely lost count of my remaining Pamplemousse Lacroix. So, in all seriousness, I was very much taken aback to discover that I was dry. Dear me, regular bottled water was my alternative.

I say that Lacroix quip with a lot of humor and over-dramatic flair, probably 75% of it, but, of course there’s that 25% where I was actually a little sad still.

Nevertheless, I persisted.

Anyway, my brain is still a little squishy from the entire endeavor. We got back to Tunnel Hill around 6pm and we said our goodbyes. Hugs, excitement to carry on our friendship, and promises to be in touch soon. The perfect conclusion to a challenging week.

It’s Saturday morning and now I’m more rested. I definitely have walked the pup (twice), have endlessly cuddled my bird and my human, did some yoga on the side porch, and now I’m cooking breakfast for Jake and I. Life, as dramatically as it was interrupted, is now dramatically back to normal.

You had better believe, though, I will be continuing this blog and my never ending quest to help drivers become their best selves. Notice again, I didn’t say “healthy.” Of course, that is the goal, but there are so many varying definitions of healthy, as previously discussed, I just want to blanket statement say that “one’s best self” will be the goal.

Thanks so much to Cindy, of course. For not only driving me around and showing me the ropes, but being open to my questions, my curiosities, and even my methods and purpose at US Xpress. She was very inquisitive, very curious and helpful, and always willing to give me her perspective from the driver's POV. I also greatly thank Nate, the fleet manager and Jeremy, his boss. I have to get huge mad props to my boss, and my boss’s boss. Letting me go on this trip and this adventure was incredibly fruitful and definitely worth it, but I could also see how people could question whether it would be a wise use of my time to take four days and traverse the country with one of our drivers. Trust me, it certainly was. In considering the adage "you get out what you put in," I believe I put in a lot of myself to this experience...and I reaped major amounts of gold .

All in all, many of my questions have been answered, and I have great new ideas as to how I will start tackling this wonderful challenge. This challenge will take time to solve - not only on Monday morning, but also throughout the rest of my time as US Xpress, my time in the Wellness and health space, and frankly, throughout the rest of my career. The lessons were lifelong, the gratitude I feel is deep, and the pursuit will be never-ending.

[otrdriverhealth]

Georgia on my Mind

Guys!!!! We’re in ALABAMA!!!

Last night, we ended up landing in Jackson, MS - our sister company, Total Transportation has their HQ in Jackson, so we slept at another terminal. I definitely feel safer being in the confines of a terminal. Especially because I don’t have to inconvenience Cindy with my need for coffee in the AM.

Even with having the top bunk experience for three whole nights, I was still struggling with the vibration and the noise of the cab as it was idling. Also, the spa music is beautiful to fall asleep to, but when 4am rolls around, it sounds more like my alarm clock. I can DEFINITELY say that I’m looking forward to being back in my bed. With my boys. Eating nothing but green veggies. For a week.

I’m so so grateful to be coming home to three Hello Fresh meals and a crap ton of Zoe’s. That’s another thing Chatt could use - a good Zoe’s! I get to sample their cauliflower rice and all sorts of new yummy foods!

Side bar - Hello Fresh is amazing, you guys. Especially with Jake living in Nashville - I cook dinner at night and eat half of one of my 3 dinners I’ve selected. I take the second portion for lunch the next day. I can be an exotic and competent chef a few days per week without fussing with the grocery store! I have my grocery staples and can rely that HF will provide me with some awesome and gourmet-type meals at comparably the same amount of $$ I would spend anyway at the store. If you want a free box, lemme know - I have tons available!

So, back to the AM. We got on the road fairly early so we can drop our toilets in Birmingham and get back on to Tunnel Hill!

As we traverse the highways through Alabama, I find that I’m trying to grasp my final conclusions that will adequately sum up my road trip. I’ve learned a lot! I’ve eaten way more fast food than I would have liked. I worked out about as much as I had expected, although I’d love to still get a quick flow in today. If we get delayed at the Distribution Center, I’m whipping out my mat!

I can definitely say that communication is our biggest pain point with drivers. I cannot wait to strategize getting more information out to drivers! Next quarter, starting July, we will have our “mouth” theme - aka nutrition! How do I get drivers engaged? We shall see.

The Communications group at USX has been building and strategizing a Wellness Landing Page. A non-intranet (meaning you don’t have to have an Active Directory account), open platform to house all of my information and message boards digitally. I envision having a driver health forum, a shop health forum and an office health forum. Perhaps a terminal-based forum, even. I could see myself saying “Hey Irving - when you’re looking for healthy options in your vending machines - opt for those Nature Valley granola bars, sunflower seeds, and that Chef Salad!” I would also love to be out in the terminals more. I’d love to be out with drivers more. That one-on-one trust building is so crucial in behavior change. Ideas to toss around!

Okay. So we’re going back to McDonald’s for our lunch. Cindy wants to go with that pico/guac chicken sandwich one more time. I’m going to see if they give it to me on a bed of lettuce….wish me luck!

[otrdriverhealth]

Ketchup is the Devil

I MISS GREEN VEGETABLES. Whaaaaat a day! We started out a little bit after 930am this morning. We had an empty trailer and took it to a fancy toilet maker (not kidding). We had to drop it and then skedaddle, as we weren't allowed to hang out. Thus, my first experience at a QuikTrips. Y'all. If I took up this profession full time, I'd do nothing but stop at QT. They had some pretty delicious foods made to order, as well as a variety of pre-made salads, sandwiches, and even some delectable breakfast items. I bought tomorrow's protein shake, a big fat water, and a Granny Smith apple. Then, something amazing happened!! CINDY ACTUALLY OFFERED TO WORK OUT WITH MEEEE! I showed her my Mind, Mouth, Muscle, Movement flipbook - I developed this little steno notebook full of quick movement and nutrition tips for professional drivers while I was at Pilot. It was developed with the help of a FitDeck, my fabulous models (Keith and Misty), an iPhone, seriously awesome advice from Dave Parmly, and some major graphic designing. The premise is simple: movements you can do from beginner to advanced, focusing on your ABCs: Above the Waist, Below the Waist, Cardio, and Stretching. Get it? ABCs. Cindy and I warmed up by doing quick feet on a curb (fast switching taps to get our heart rate up) and some baby curb squats (one foot up on the curb, the other on the concrete, 10 and switch sides.) We then did As: push ups on the step, triceps dips on the step. Bs: lunges facing the step, squats holding one of the bars on the back. Cs: mountain climbers with hands on the step and stepping jacks (jumping jacks without the hop, alternating feet). We did approximately 10 of each, 5 each if we had to switch arms or legs. We did Cs for 30 seconds apiece. We repeated ABC 2x. We then stretched: wrists, neck, shoulders, chest, upper back, quads, hamstrings. Y'all, SHE DID SO WELL! I kept asking her through the movements whether she felt discomfort or pain, and it should never be pain. I asked her where she felt the movement. We talked about open and closed hips with squats. Knees never traveling over toes in lunges. Elbows pressing together with dips. Elbows grazing ribs on push ups. Small, easy, straightforward adjustments. You'd better believe I'll be recreating this thing with a USX flare. Unless Pilot is still distributing them! Cindy was so pleased with the size, the ease of direction! I talked briefly with the Georges about biking - it's given me such great ideas and thoughts to ponder! How can we get fold up bikes in our drivers' hands?! They suggested I do some research - we may be able to partner with some of the fold-up bike manufacturers to get a discount. Once we get that, we'll have to put together a list of trails, best practices, etc. BASICALLY, a BIG heck yes!! Foodie confession: today has been a struuuugggggle. I started my day with my muscle milk, had some of my mandarins and cashews...and then had Popeyes. Three hundred ten (310, yes, ugh) calories of spicy chicken tenders. And 40 calories of green beans. Y'all, but the most ridiculous piece of intel I've gathered: THE BISCUIT. Its TWO HUNDRED SIXTY CALORIES. A BISCUIT. I was much happier with 350 calories. I peeled the top layer off the biscuit to try it...sooo salty. Don't even. Not worth it. After my Popeyes, I casually snacked on my ghost pepper jerky, ate my apple, and drank water and my pamplemousse lacroix. I mentioned to Cindy that I had never had a jalapeño cheese hot dog from Pilot, so lo and behold, we had Pilot for dinner. I don't love mystery meat, but made the decision that a hot dog would be acceptable. DELICIOUS. I loaded it up with mustard, sauerkraut, and more jalapeños (duh). Two hundred ten calories per. Ugh. Shoulda opted for the damn Subway. Before you ask, no, it wasn't a PJ Fresh, or I would've opted for some delicious salad with avocados and chicken. Mmmmmmmm, goodness that sounds good. But who am I kidding, I really loved the hot dog. Cindy and I chatted more about the ultimate desire to find health. My theory is that people need a variety of things to make a health change in their life. I'll tell you about a few: - Education: if you don't know that fruits and veggies are carbs or how to distinguish between sugar and fiber, we need to make sure we fill those knowledge gaps. Just in case you were wondering, Cindy knew both! - Resources: just because you know the basics, doesn't mean you have the ability to enact. Think things like food logs, grocery lists, recipe suggestions, or little fitness flip books :) - Motivation: just because I know what a triglyceride is and how to eat well (better), doesn't mean that I want to put the energy into it. Or maybe I do, but I totally give into my apathy. Anticipating my barriers could fit into this category (or others). - Confidence / Self-Efficacy: this is the "hell yes I've got this!" muscle. If you don't believe you're able to stick with it or do it "right", you're less apt to even try. Hint: YOU CAN DO THIS. And lastly, - Support + accountability: someone else that gives a crap, basically. Someone to support you when you're feeling less than motivated. Someone to hug you or encourage you or pat you on the back. SUPER NECESSARY. People have varying levels of all of the above. Maybe today, I have less motivation but I still know I can do it. So, just because I knooowwww I should've opted in for that grilled chicken, it doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to make that choice. The term "balance" can be achieved nutritionally by making better-for-you choices MORE OFTEN than you make the less-better-for-you choices. As Parmly always put it: you have 3 meals per day (give or take), 7 days per week. Choose better-for-you choices more. Notice I didn't say HEALTHY choices: people have varying definitions of healthy and I do not feel like my definition should necessarily be yours. For example, for myself, I'd 100% choose mayonnaise over ketchup because I believe that sugar in ketchup is simply the devil. To go into my definition just a bit: I believe that we can exist on vegetables, fruit (NOT JUICE), protein, and fats like nuts and fish and other omegas. I will always choose to opt for something with fat versus sugar. Donut or croissant versus cake or cupcake. Ice cream is in the middle. I opt for water and black coffee and would rather not ever drink my calories or anything artificially sweetened (except for the occasional Diet Coke). I don't mess with sugary mixers in my alcohol - vodka or gin and soda water...or wine. For the most part, I don't care about cookies or crackers or pretzels (unless they're fresh and soft) or pasta or cereal or bread or cheese or milk. I will, however, eat the hell out of a sourdough and havarti sandwich. Its not right or wrong per se, and I'm not saying that I'd counsel you to eat the way I eat. Its just what works for me. Find YOUR system. Make small changes. Take that bottom bun off if it doesn't bring you joy. Have half of that cupcake or cookie; the other half isn't going anywhere. Eat what brings you pure, unadulterated joy and happiness. Everyone has occasions to indulge: celebrations, special trips to places that you don't get to eat often. For example, Cindy LOVES the ribs from Duke's. She chose that meal yesterday because she truly loves it and doesn't get to eat it often. Her eyes literally had a twinkle in them when she was talking about those ribs - even before we left GA. When this affinity happens, ITS OKAY. When it's not okay is when you allow this every day...or every week, for that matter. Keep special occasions special. OKAY. Let me get off my soapbox. I just get passionate, I guess. In this moment, it feels really good that this stuff is my profession. At the end of the day, my personal mission is to help one person say "Heck, I can do this." Or, "Hey, this isn't as hard as I thought." Keeping my fingers crossed!

[otrdriverhealth]

Janu B, Chipotle, Maggie May, and Duke's!

[otrdriverhealth]

Ghost Peppers and Hollerin' at HR

OK, so we’re on DAYY 3!

Chipotle last night, in case you were curious, was nothing short of phenomenal! It’s always nice to have something consistent when you’re surrounded by nothing but inconsistency.

I showered in the drivers lounge last night, which was not at all a terrible experience. The rooms are huge, it felt very private and safe. Everything was on the damp side, which is to be expected. But, all in all, not terrible!

As I crawled into my bunk last night, I actually pondered the experience in the context of camping. All in all, this really does beat the pants off camping! there are no bugs, no latrines with holes dug in the ground for your toilet, you feel like you’re pretty safe when you go to brush your teeth… I even had running water for my toothbrush experience both yesterday and this morning, so no awkward water bottle Crest face.

I woke up to the loving sounds of spa music from the XM radio this morning. Although it was 4 AM, it still was incredibly thoughtful that Cindy went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable. This girl is straight up extra, and I’m so so thankful for that!

So, this morning, I started with my muscle milk, brewed some coffee in the drivers lounge, and now I’m just pacing the lot (up to 2500 steps!) as we wait. We will be driving about 30 minutes with an empty trailer to go pick up a load. Ah and then, we start our journey back to hopefully at least Shreveport.

I visited Miss Bev, one of the HR business partners, this morning, as well. I don’t know if you know this, but HR business partners are absolutely critical to the entire operation! I was fortunate to talk with the whole HRBP group a few weeks ago. We discussed the need for CPR certified individuals and AED machines onsite at each location. Not only is it important to have AED machines onsite, but having people trained to use AEDs in the First Responder context is a big piece of the puzzle. My biggest challenge is that every single facility outside of Chattanooga looks incredibly different. For example, the Irving terminal has four different buildings for four different operations. Would we need an AED machine in each one of these buildings? Probably not. But, what do best practices dictate?

I’m a huge fan of the emergency preparedness task force. I get to collaborate with safety, continuing improvement, and facilities to develop a really great, quality product that keeps everybody safe.

So, in a nutshell, I’m clean, caffeinated, a little sore from my fitness endeavors yesterday, and most importantly, safe. A little sleepy (Fitbit says I got 6 hours), but that was to be expected.

I forgot to tell you about my super clutch ghost pepper beef jerky purchase at Duke’s yesterday. For those of you who knock jerky, I totally challenge you to re-evaluate! It’s got a negligible amount of sugar, a little bit of fat, tons of protein, and yes, is a little salt heavy, but in moderation, it’s not so bad!

I may be an incredibly biased researcher, but Thrillist published an article called “Your Hot Sauce Obsession is Extremely Good for your Health.” The full article can be found here: https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/hot-sauce-could-be-extremely-good-for-your-health – my favorite excerpt, “As reported by TIME, two of the world’s top pepper experts have suggested that dousing your food with hot sauce can easily (and deliciously) improve your diet and overall health. In particular, scientists point to the active ingredient in peppers, capsaicin, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cancer-fighting properties.” Selection bias? Absolutely. Okay with it? Absolutely.

We’re about to roll, so, onward and upward!

[otrdriverhealth]

Chipotle is what dreams are made of

Day two is winding down. We are in Irving, at the US Xpress terminal. We’re just kind of hanging out here, waiting for instructions to do what we need to do tomorrow. Sounds like we will be getting some freight from a local business and bringing it back at least as far as Birmingham, Alabama. So, we retrace our steps beginning tomorrow morning and will be hopefully getting to Tunnel Hill by Friday afternoon.

The only real trucking terminal I’ve ever been to is Tunnel Hill…this location in Irving is huge! Acres and acres of concrete and trucks and trailers and shipping bays. I met the terminal manager, Marqus, who is doing the waking challenge too! I am so happy that some of the field people are doing the walking challenge, as most initiatives are usually thought of as being just for the corporate office.

So, we dropped the heavy load that we had been hauling and now we play the waiting game.

The good thing is, I’ve had plenty of time on my hands this evening to do what I do best! Well, I was going to take an Uber at chipotle…but that turned very quickly into a $40 endeavor. A $10 Uber ride there, a $10 Uber ride back.

My usual chipotle order is light white rice, no beans, in a bowl. Double chicken please, extra spicy salsa, extra fajita peppers please. A small little bit of sour cream, and of course guacamole…yes, I know it’s extra.

To be honest, rehashing my order sounds so stinking appealing and appetizing…I may yet pull that trigger. Ever since I moved to Chattanooga, which does not have a chipotle, it’s been a very highly sought-after delicacy in our household. Jake’s not even allowed in the house after he returns from Nashville unless he has a bowl (perfectly described above) and a bag of extra salty tortilla chips. Screw the fancy wine, screw the hot chicken, all I want is chipotle!

Before I go on my journey (I’m practically drooling over my chipotle order, and after describing it, I’ve decided that I have to do this),I want to tell you about my workout!

I did parts 2 and 3 of my circuit!

Part 2 is another 3 RFT: RFT = rounds for time

- “beach babe” push ups (5 each leg) I’ll totally explain this below - knee to opposite elbow mountain climbers (10 ea arm, 20 total) - Bulgarian split squats on the step of the cab (10 each leg).

The second and third movement are pretty self-explanatory, but the first movement is basically a knee push up with an added movement. When you bend your elbows to the down position, straighten one leg behind you and extend it. Then return your knee to the ground. Do the same movement with your arms but switch your leg.

Part 3!

3RFT: - 10 superman push ups (exactly how it sounds) lower all the way down like a hand release push up and then squeeze your lower back to do a super man - 15 butterfly crunches - just like a regular crunch with feet in a butterfly. Hands overhead and touch the ground. When you crunch up, lift your feet to meet your hands. Maybe I should call this a frog crunch. - 20 marching bridges - basically, lay on your back - knees bent, feet driven into the ground. Lift your butt up into a bridge. Lift one knee up towards your chest and lower it down. Repeat back and forth.

And THEN!! I did half primary series of ashtanga. For those of you that don’t know about ashtanga yoga, I could tell you tooonnssss about it. Tons! But now is not the time for it.

So, I got a 45 minute practice AND 20 minutes of a circuit in tonight!

AND GUYS OMG WE ARE HEADING TO CHIPOTLE AND MY LIFE IS COMPLETE. Cindy and I are stealing the terminal shuttle and hightailing it outta here!

To be determined this evening - my impending shower experience. I had a really drastic and stirring preview earlier…jk jk they actually look like the showers in Pilots. Really super nice - big, spa quality shower space, spacious rooms with big locks on the doors.

Okay, that’s enough. BRB EATING CHIPOTLE. Eeeeee life is compete! Yaknow, except for my family, friends…a clean space to yog' on the regular...princess things. And my animals. I really miss my animals. Kbye!

[otrdriverhealth]

Duke's Travel Center and Downward Dogs

Whaaaaat a day so far! We’ve made it to Canton, TX. We’re sitting outside of Duke’s Travel Center, hanging out In the Texas heat, digesting our massive amounts of BBQ and other delicious food. I had pulled pork and sausage with sides of green beans and button mushrooms. Everything was obvious drowned in butter and hot BBQ sauce, so to minimize metabolic disaster, I took half of it with me to save for later. Maggie May (the fluff pup) is certainly interested in my food endeavors; from that protein shake this morning, I’ve had a 100 calorie pack of cashews, a tuna pack, and now BBQ. What I wouldn’t give for some Chipotle right now! Or maybe Dead End BBQ. Well, maybe after I digest.

Cindy and I had a great talk about what I do for US Xpress. We haven’t solved the biggest piece of the problem, though - communication channels. Cindy likes the idea of using the USX driver app to convey nutritional / activity / stress mgmt/ sleep health messaging, which seems like the most intuitive place for it to live until drivers have company email addresses. We talked about the big impacts of small dietary changes (like unsweet tea + lemonade vs sweet tea + lemonade) and we talked about the importance of preventive screenings and getting in to get a well check every year.

So, communicating with drivers. They have a few methods of communication now, but they’re bombarded with so many things, it’s hard to get that audience captive! Cindy knows a lot about nutrition, too - she can talk intelligently about carbs and healthy fats and sugar, it’s quite impressive! I will definitely take her thoughts about wanting to join Planet Fitness back with me. I was talking to Anytime Fitness about a corporate discount…that may be where we start since PFs are all franchised out…but who says we can’t be innovative?

We stopped at a truck stop outside of Shreveport and I did my very first “10 minute trucker tune-up” body weight exercise sequence.

It looks like: 3 RFT (rounds for time): - 20 air squats with alternating lateral leg lifts (10 each side) - 20 downward dog abs (start with one leg extended as in 3 legged dog, bring knee in to touch right tricep, extend leg and bring knee in to touch left tricep back and forth 10x total, switch legs and do 10 on the other side) - 10 knee push ups to side planks (5 each side, alternating sides)

Quick, easy, effective with all of the different muscle groups, and, juuuust a bit of cardio. All you need is a mat. Danny George taught me that, once your mat touches the parking lot or drive area of a Travel Center, be sure to pick it up by the middle and keep the surface exposed to the ground touching each other, not the outside world. Boys and girls, the ground at a truck stop or rest area has most likely been urinated on.

Dear professional drivers, please stop using the world as your urinal.

So we’ve been chatting and driving and noticing the sights. Texas is getting flatter and flatter and less colorful as we traverse the highway and head further into the desert. We are slated to go to Irving, which indeed is not Laredo. It’s Lorraine’s (Jake’s mama’s) birthday this weekend and I need to be back by Friday to go visit her on Saturday! So, we’re dropping our puppy chow in Irving, right outside of Dallas. Not Laredo. Kinda disappointed, but kinda relieved. Laredo, or so I’m told, is like a whooole other country.

PSA to the infrastructure people of Louisiana: GET YOUR ROADS FIXED YALL. Goodness gracious we were shaken completely the heck up by those bumps!

Secretly, I worry Cindy thinks I’m a crazy person. With my nutritional intensity, absolute affinity for super spicy things, and my unyielding energy, I seriously wonder what she’s thinking about this whole ride-along. I feel like we’re strange bedfellows, but we’re making it work! I’m learning tons, too.

Twooooo more days!

[otrdriverhealth]

Rompe

Starting the day out with some gas station coffee and a banana cream Muscle Milk. A few quick observations: I suck at brushing with a water bottle - do I paste my brush and then put water on the brush or in my mouth? Things I have yet to master. Both last night and this AM I've ended up a foamy Crest disaster. Skull leggings are a good choice for today, I believe. So far, leggings and sweatshirts are my favorite pieces of attire - never let anyone tell you that trucks are hot and sticky places - the a/c is fully functional in ours . Sun flaps, yaknow the ones that keep the heat out of your car on a warm day, make excellent sun shields for the pm hours. I slept all night in a surprisingly comfortable twin bed. I got to hang in the top bunk, like the cool kids did on a sleepover (ahem Lisa and Jamie Peterson!). But, there was one oddity. You know... in old 80s movies... the novelty that existed in old flea bitten motels...those vibrating beds that cost a quarter to activate? Thaaaaat was what this bed felt like. I'm grateful for the air conditioning though, as the truck was idling all night. Alas, my workout plans weren't realized. I just couldn't figure out how to not disturb Cindy so.... no workout outside. I did have a great 20 minute stretching routine in my bunk, though! It's amazing to me that it's almost an insult to call diesel or fuel "gas." I know it's not gas, but I try to be ironic and quirky and called it "gasolinaa." As a tribute to Daddy Yankee, of course. Everyone in our industry and out of our industry needs to know that it's noooot gas. It's fuel. Hours of service. Do you guys know what HOS regulations look like? Preliminarily, I want to say - Hunter, I'm sorry - I'm probably going to butcher it, I know. Ah okay, a driver can drive 11 hours (with a 30 minute break every 8 hours) and then said driver has to take a 10 hour break. You can be "on duty" for 14 hours consecutively - that can be on-loading, offloading, pre-trip, post-trip and the 11 hour drive time. Meals are usually "off duty" or "sleeper berth" time. The 10 hour "reset" resets both the 11 hour drive time clock and 14 hour "on duty" clock. There's also a 34 hour restart after 70 hours or 8 days. This one seriously confuses the heck out of me. If you run your days a little bit shorter, you can "get hours back" somehow...basically, if you run yourself tooooo hard, you'll eventually have to take 34 hours to "restart" your hours. Yeah, I butchered that. Onward through LA. Texas, here we come!

[otrdriverhealth]

The Road is MY Office

Thinking about the way the traditional office environment operates seems so simple now that I’m a forever changed, totally seasoned OTR riding companion. A mighty 8 hours, y'all.

The road is Cindy’s office. When we need to use the copier and someone is standing in the way, we can simply and politely ask said person to move. In truck speak, we use air horns.

Four wheelers are, seemingly, the bane of most professional drivers’ existences. I’ve been fondly referring to us fourbies as “Four wheels of terror.” Never did I realize that the courtesy of the four wheeler is basically non-existent. Being in the transportation industry, I feel like I’ve attempted to be a steward of good behavior when it comes to semi trucks. Signaling, showing courtesy when passing, and ensuring I’m not sitting in blind spots are three behaviors I’ve been trying to practice. Seeing it from the other side….woooof, we kinda suck, you guys.

So, my Day 1 is wrapping up. I’ve ended up with 7,000 steps and have kept within 26 calories of my 1600 kcal goal. Not bad, considering I’ve snacked on cashews and mandarin oranges (good), and have eaten lunch at McDonald’s and dinner at Wendy’s (not so good). Lunch, though, was absurdly delicious! I had a Signature Sandwich: the pico/guac grilled chicken sandwich on an artisan bun. It was MONEY. I’d totally eat that thing again! It was 520 kcal, which is acceptable. Dinner was a little more lackluster, with part of a grilled chicken go-wrap and a bunless jr cheeseburger deluxe. I could’ve just eaten my lemon pepper tuna….perhaps tomorrow.

Distance-wise, we made it all the way to Louisiana! I never realized, as I now sit and ponder my newly found excitement, how absolutely fascinating and intriguing Louisiana culture happens to be!

Even as a young child, something about the occult has constantly grabbed my attention. Growing up, my friend Meredith and I would play with a Ouija board (sorry mom!), read and reread Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Goosebumps, and Bone Chillers, watch Are You Afraid of the Dark at Grandma’s, and, as we grew older, we became enthralled with awfully twisted horror movies. I remember being haunted by Stephen King’s It and Children of the Corn back in 4th grade. I watched both movies by myself while I was stuck at home with the flu and, perhaps, it changed my brain chemistry a bit.

My unrealized obsession with LA doesn’t stop at the whole weirdness with the supernatural, naturally extending to voodoo and obeia and terrifyingly gory horror (ahem, American Horror Story: Witches, anyone?). I am a mild connoisseur of spicy Cajun/creole cuisine. Jambalaya and andouille sausage-loaded Gumbo (just hold the shrimp, please) are way up there in my list of favorite dishes. Just don’t ask Jake about my experience with Jambalaya at The Hangout a few years ago. It’s embarrassing, okay?

I also took four glorious years of French back in high school and still fight with Duolingo to keep some semblance of francophone in my repertoire. It truly is a beautiful language and I happen to loooove croissants and macarons and French wine (and poutine although that’s more French Canadian). One day, I’ll make it to Paris and just be entirely too absorbed in the culture to ever return.

And, last but not least, my favorite fictional FBI Special Agent, Aloysius Pendergast, is from New Orleans and speaks with the most mellifluous accent in the numerous Audible novels I consume. If you ever need a good book series, look up the Douglas Preston / Lincoln Child books starting with “Relic.”

Okay, now I’m just rambling. Bringing it back in.

We’re here in Talulah, LA, barely over the Mississippi River. Bayou country is faaaaacinating. We have been making excellent time and I’m really looking forward to Day 2! The biggest dilemma I’m facing right now is my choice of AM workout: Ashtanga yoga vs body weight circuit.

I’m a little bit embarrassed to admit that some of my favorite body weight circuits come from Popsugar. Less than serious name, great resources! I kicked my own butt last weekend with a 9-round burner authored by PS. I may do it again tomorrow, actually!

I should really compile a list of my favorite online resources - from Real Food with Dana to Greatist to Authority Nutrition, I feel like we could really get a comprehensive library up and running!

Final thought for the evening: SHOCKS. They are shockingly important. And they’re very hard to ignore when they’re old and in need of replacing! As evident by the AL/MS/LA roads….

Night y'all!

[otrdriverhealth]

The truck, Cindy and the Big Nasty, Maggie May and the poodle collection, and ....my totally inappropriate footwear.

[otrdriverhealth]

Kindergarteners or Nosy Neighbors

So, I’ve been on the road for a few hours now. Cindy is pretty darn awesome, by the way. The dog’s name is Maggie May (yes like the Rod Stewart song), so my theory about it being M&M vs Eminem has been debunked.

We started our encounter by loading my four bags (a backpack full of food, clothing duffle, blanket bag, laptop bag) into the truck. We met with Nate, her awesome Fleet Manager, and chatted a little. I revealed my intentions and some of my goals / objectives for the ride. He told me I should go with Cindy to visit Gino’s food truck to get “The Big Nasty.” Gino’s food truck hits Tunnel Hill, the USX terminal, 4x throughout the day and has about forty different breakfast options. “The Big Nasty” has potatoes, ham, eggs, and hash browns on a tortilla. I politely declined, of course :) I got a delicious low carb bowl with eggs, sausage, and some wicked hot sauce for $2.

Anyway, so another Fleet Manager is going out today too and I got a chance to chat with his driver. He was hilarious, told me that I wasn’t eating enough, and then told me that “drivers are either kindergarteners or nosy neighbors.” I take that to mean that drivers can come in many personalities, but oftentimes are very involved in each others’ lives :)

I get cozy in my seat as Cindy opens her Big Nasty. I look back and have a little private chuckle as I see Maggie May asleep on her bolster that sits atop Cindy’s bottom bunk. I think about how Chance would be - he’d be going absolutely buck wild! Cindy feeds her, too, of course. I can tell this dog is immensely well taken care of - she’s sporting a really adorable fluff ball haircut.

Cindy and I have wonderful and interesting conversation. I find out about her preliminary interest in my profession - she actually is really interested in alkaline water (if you haven’t seen the big water ph test on Facebook, you must find it!) and oftentimes has a bike on her cab. She talks about her intention to join Planet Fitness.

Cindy, I won’t reveal too much personal stuff about her of course, started driving in 1983. That’s right kids, NINETEEN EIGHTY THREE. She has insane experience, and I’m immediately grateful that I’ve been paired with such an experienced and wise woman!

She attaches her cab to our trailer and she takes me on her pre-check. That’s where you go around and check everything on the truck. This can last from 15 to 30 minutes. You go around and wipe your reflectors, make sure your light bulbs are all working, your trailer is attached correctly, and check your tires. Lo and behold, we had an oddly worn tire - which, gave us our first hour-long delay.

Luckily, Nate needed a quick ride along policy filled out, so I was able to get some steps. Ah, I forgot to tell you, we at US Xpress have begun a month-long step challenge. I get to experience the numerous challenges associated with drivers getting involved in step challenges, as well. This week, we’re supposed to get 3,000 steps per day. I’m at 4191, so we’re okay. We get the paperwork completed and the tire all taken care of, and we get ready to leave the lot.

We get information about what we’re hauling at the gate. We’re bringing dog food to Mexico-ish, apparently!

I found out that weighing heavy as a tractor+trailer is a paaaaain. We go to weigh, and Cindy explains that we cannot weigh more than 34,000 lbs. That’s so much weight…and we need fuel. I’ve learned that there is a procedure called “stretching out the tandems,” which redistributes weight so the weight is legally drivable. We get the weight to 33,500 and take off. Ps, we can hold tons of gallons of fuel, and 1 gallon of fuel is 8lbs.

For those of you not in the “biz,” the type of truck you get is extremely important. I hear Volvos have tons of head room. Freightliners are pretty standard. You definitely have some Peterbilt fans that are incredibly loyal, as well. Cindy is in a Freightliner.

Immediately, I began peppering her with questions. Mostly about safety and her history as a driver. I found out that US Xpress employs approximately 1700 woman drivers. Out of about 7000. She tells me she doesn’t sleep at travel centers, as safety and hygiene aren’t quite up to snuff for her liking. We chat about her health journey and some things that I could do as the Wellness Manager to help her out. She tells me about the DriverTech, the in-cab communication device that gives her route info…that conversation was quite useful. She also likes Sirius XM. Gives me ideas.

We’re halfway through Alabama and my ladies room concern is starting to come into fruition, which is making it incredibly hard to concentrate. Luckily we’re at 1/8 of a tank and heading towards our first Love’s!

It’s almost 1pm CT - I’ve eaten two homemade egg cups (before the day started), my low carb bowl from Gino’s, and one of my Nature Valley granola bars. These ones are pretty good - they’re the Roasted Nut Crunch bars - 7g sugar, 6g protein - almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, etc. Not my first choice, but not yet a Snickers. All in all, the consensus is that I’m not starving :)

[otrdriverhealth]

Take a really warm shower.

I feel like such a weirdo for admitting this, but I don’t really love to shower. Don’t get me wrong, I really love having clean skin and clean hair. But, the whole act of getting my hair wet is just appalling to me. Water in my face, too. One of the biggest pieces of advice I’ve heard is, “Take that warm shower…” as I’ll be showering in travel centers the next couple of days.

It’s so great to hear all of the different pieces of advice that so many different people have for me as I jump into this endeavor. Take that hot shower, be sure to bring shower shoes. What are you going to eat? I know we talked a little bit about that, but I’ll kind of rehash what I’ve packed. I don’t want to forget to come back to my overall purpose: what am I supposed to get out of four days on the road with a driver? The name of the game is driver health and wellness. I know I’m about to get so much more than I bargained for!

So, T -2 hours before I jump onto the truck. What are some things that I’m prepared with? I have Nature Valley granola bars, sugar-free mandarin oranges, tuna packs for days, some cashews, and a couple of protein shakes. And, of course, a case of my favorite Lacroix! Pamplemousse FTW. When I’m distinctly missing are fresh fruits, vegetables. Oh, and caffeine! I hear from Cindy that we will be stopping every once in a while and she really favors McDonald’s. I can totally eat out of McDonald’s, with their chicken breast, sometimes their salads… we will definitely make this happen.

What do I wear? I literally unpacked and repacked at least three times this morning! I’m just really glad that Jake was in Nashville so he wouldn’t have to witness this embarrassing ritual. I have yoga clothes for days, tank tops, shorts, T-shirts, sweatshirts. I also have a full set of sheets and pillows and blanket and what else… can I even wear Lululemon on a truck? How about flip-flops? I’m not a huge fan of having to wear shoes that require socks. So, let’s see what the ballet flats and the flip-flops do for me over the next few days. Of course I have tennis shoes - I’m supposed to be running, right?

Back to my purpose. I did bring a yoga mat, a resistance band or two, and running shoes. Cindy and Danny George are two of our most fit drivers at US Xpress. They make the whole trucking running thing look easy! I think that if they can do it, I may be able to do it too. My desire is to really understand when people have time for health, the cadence of the job, how to really eat at a travel center. Fortunately for me, my experience as the wellness coordinator at Pilot Flying J will very much come in handy over these next few days! Unfortunately for me, USX drivers mostly use Love’s. So, I’m not quite sure how they compare, but I will definitely do a little rundown. I know Pilot has fruit cups, tuna packets, Kind bars, almonds, and plenty of coffee to boot. I know Love’s has really delicious beef jerky.

So what are my fears? I only have one…and it’s not very rational, either. I have a fear of finding a good cadence for using the ladies room. I don’t want to slow this lady down, because money comes from mileage. But, I know her dog will have to use the restroom so hopefully my needs will be assured that way. What else…I guess I wouldn’t call it a fear, but I’m curious to hear how a woman makes it in this industry. The world is a scary place. Safety is sometimes an issue. I just hope it won’t be one for Cindy and I this week!

[otrdriverhealth]

My home for the next 4 days!

[otrdriverhealth]

Glamping on an 18-Wheeler

I’m not much of a camper. What am I saying - I’m not even much of a glamper (for those of you who aren’t familiar with the term - “glam”ping is basically fancy camping - nothing rustic about it)! I don’t really like bugs or sleeping bags or having to use the restroom with spiders… and I really like a warm, clean shower. I wouldn’t call myself a homebody by any means – I just really like amenities! 

Ask my friend, Katie. She has been with me the only couple of times that I’ve officially “camped” (aside from a Dave Matthews’ concert, but that’s an entirely different story). In my experience, camping hasn’t necessarily been the most positive endeavor! Oh, and, oftentimes, I end up sleeping in the trunk of an SUV versus in an actual tent. On the ground. 

So, when I was asked about this whole idea of a “ride along” with a professional driver, I was told that it’s “a lot like camping.” Admittedly, I was pretty hesitant, yet… intrigued. Now, less than 24 hours from beginning my new adventure, I’m asking myself, with quite a bit of trepidation, what I have gotten myself into.

Let me start by saying that I’m not special, nor is the experience on which I am about to embark. I work for US Xpress, one of the largest transportation companies in the United States. Our entire company and the entire transportation industry for that matter, revolves around professional drivers doing exactly what I’m about to be doing. These men and women go across the country every single day hauling freight in their huge 18-wheeler trucks and live every moment of their life on the road! Many of them are very very proud of their profession, as they should be! 

But for me, it feels a little out of my comfort zone! I very much value and appreciate and respect drivers, as they have a really difficult job! I couldn’t imagine having to go from Tennessee to Texas to California to Nebraska to the East Coast and then who knows where in the course of a week. There are tons of regulations (hours, speed, other DOT things) that drivers have to deal with, and, of course, there are tons of other (non-professional) drivers out on the roads…and they’re not always the most courteous.

With that all being said, here I am, facing my very first ride-along. We are going from Tunnel Hill, Georgia to Laredo, Texas and back within the span of a couple of days. We will be eating on the road, sleeping on the road, showering on the road, and living 100% at the mercy of our Fleet Manager.

I’m about to get a crash course in the world of professional driving! 

I have to admit, I am incredibly nervous. More than I’d like to admit. But, a lot of things are pretty mysterious to me about this way of life. I mean, I like fresh vegetables and I routinely work out and I oftentimes take for granted that I have a really warm shower and comfy bed at my disposal basically 24/7. 

So, how did I get here? I am not only an employee of US Xpress, but I’m also the Wellness Manager. Which means… I get to use my fancy pants education to advise people on how to live a healthy lifestyle. From nutrition advice, to physical activity recommendations, to even things like sleep health and mental health and really just anything that you can think of in terms of health and well-being. That stuff is my wheelhouse. 

So, when I get to talk to drivers, (USX employs about 7,000 of them give or take), it’s really important for me to understand their lifestyle. After all, just because I think eating healthy and staying active on the road is priority doesn’t mean that it is easy. Do you think it’s easy to get the same type of movement and nutrition that you can get at home? Probably not.

Basically, I don’t feel that I have the ability to make healthy eating or movement recommendations to people and lifestyles with which I have no knowledge or experience. Basically, I have no "street cred”. So, going on this ride-along …it’s just the right thing to do. I genuinely want to help drivers…so speaking their language and experiencing their lifestyles…I’m hoping this is the first step to greatness. 

Many of you may be asking many questions at this moment. I know the first question I had for myself was, “What are you supposed to bring on a ride along?” Well, I’ve been asking anyone and everyone that has ever done one of these things. Luckily, our Fleet Managers are required now to go on ride-alongs, so a handful of my friends and colleagues have experienced the life. 

Also, I spoke with my driver today (her name is Cindy and her poodle’s name is M&M…or Eminem? We’ll find out soon!) and I got a little bit more information about the cab environment. Some drivers and some cabs are equipped with things like microwaves, refrigerators, even crock pots! But, our cab is not going to be decked out with grocery storage or prep appliances. Basically, I will have a small cooler to keep my stuff in. Which is fine!

So. I have one question partially answered. 

My list thus far includes: 

sheets, blankets, a pillow

shower shoes and toiletries, 

baby wipes (for those between-shower moments), 

non-perishable food (jerky, tuna packets, kind bars, fruit cups, prepackaged protein drinks). 

So, I’ll be blogging / vlogging my experience. I just want you to know…this is way out of my comfort zone. But. We will persevere! And we’ll have some reeeeeeally epic stories coming out of this week! 

Bring on the bunk beds!