10-4 Magazine October 2022

The Veteran’s View: By Dennis Mitchell Let’s see, I gave up on that New Year’s resolution, the new look for spring didn’t happen, and so far my summer exercise program is a bust. Maybe I should just order tickets to next year’s Tim Horton’s coffee and pastry review! Sounds reasonable. What’s a few more inches around the middle, and besides, they have drive-ups now, so I don’t even have to get out of the vehicle. Maybe they will add big rig accessible windows soon, or maybe some car hop folks to bring me my morning goodies. If this sounds like you, then HELLO, here’s your sign! Heart attack and diabetes ahead, along with rolling curves and excess rolls from your neckline to your ankles, not to mention broken bones and loss of productivity due to illness. If this sounds harsh, then there is a good chance you are who I am targeting this article at. Some of you may have noticed I incorporate health issues into my Veteran’s View articles of late. There is a reason for that – I care about all our readers. Since the average age for truck drivers is above the “normal employee” age, I have been taking notes on some things that may help us live longer and enjoy our “not so normal” lifestyle longer. Before you panic and break out in the pre-workout sweats, let me assure you I’m not gonna do my Marine Corps drill instructor routine. I will save that for the advanced class. Besides, they don’t get coffee and cakes after class. Let me set the record straight, I’m an equal opportunity heckler. Bad health issues can strike even the most fit person. We often assume only overweight and under-active persons are the ones ill health is going to hit. Most illnesses and diseases have warning signs. Do you know what they are, and if so, are you doing anything about your personal health? Now, it stands to reason, an OTR driver can’t join any health club or attend the gym regularly, however that doesn’t exclude them from the benefits of a good exercise regimen and food choices more aligned with the lifestyle we live. The regular readers of this column know I am a common, ordinary, and sometimes ornery, old truck driver (not a doctor), who is always busy. Most of the time, I try to do the work of two people. That sums up many of the drivers on the road today. Between chasing the ELD and trying to find parking at a place with a restaurant, it’s a full-time struggle. What sets us apart is I have been forced to become food aware. For those who don’t understand that, let me explain. I too neglected signs of something wrong with my health, but true to my past, I thought, “I can beat this if only I work a little harder or maybe it’s just a phase of getting older.” Well, that didn’t work out well for me. I almost didn’t get older! As a result, I now have a restricted diet and can no longer enjoy many of the foods I love, with ice cream being the greatest loss of all. Do I have your attention yet? I’m not writing this to draw attention to myself, but to help others avoid the complications I have had to endure. Thanks to covid, many, if not most, of the mom-and-pop restaurants along the interstates have closed or restricted their hours. This translates to drivers eating out of the bunk or consuming fast food or low-quality junk food. That doesn’t mean you can’t still get a good meal on the road, but you will need to do a little planning, and then put in some personal effort to succeed. When I talk about planning ahead, I’m referring to when you are going to eat and where you will be at that time. This is where chasing the ELD goes off the rails. Stop thinking like your dispatcher or every broker who contracts a load for you – your health is more important than their load. Get out the trusty old Rand McNally atlas and see what town is running parallel to the highway. Then, call the local police station and ask where you can legally park an 18-wheeler that is within walking distance of a good restaurant. Almost every town has a local coffee shop or gathering place that will make you dinner. Not only will you get a great meal, but the walk can help you as much as the food. Remember, if you do find a place to stop, you are a guest in their town, so act accordingly. I hope I’m preaching to the choir here, but if not, then start by parking your truck as far away from the fuel island as possible. Walk as much as possible, a couple times a day, to stretch your legs. And don’t try to sell me on the story you never stop while the ELD is ticking. How many of you get cramps or Charlie Horses in your legs or forearms? Maybe you find yourself rubbing your hands together to stop the tingling feeling in your fingers. Go ahead and be honest here – it’s only you and me, and no one knows what’s in your mind. There is not a doctor in the world that can do a better assessment of your physical condition than you. We all 38 10-4 Magazine / October 2022 FOR YOUR HEALTH