Managing Truck Driver Health and Wellbeing
Truck driver health should be one of the most important considerations for employers when evaluating the employee experience. Long haul truckers spend the bulk of their time sitting behind the wheel in traffic, so managing a healthy lifestyle and getting the right amount of movement can often be difficult.
Truck driver exercise is often difficult aside from a short walk around the truck stop, while getting gas or stopping for a meal. Long haul truck drivers have other ways to incorporate exercise into the daily routine, without ever leaving the cab of their truck.
Five exercises for truck drivers that you can easily do in your cabin
cab exercise icon
For your back
1 - Sit up with your back straight, place your hands on the steering wheel and your feet flat on the floor, parallel and slightly apart.
As you raise your legs towards your chest, lean your torso forward slightly.
Repeat this exercise 10 times in a row. Then put your feet back on the floor and breathe deeply for about a minute.
Start again and do another three series.
For your neck
2 – In your semi-truck cab, sit with your back straight, feet flat on the floor, parallel and slightly apart.
Look straight ahead. Slowly tilt your head to the left. Using your left hand for resistance, use your neck muscles to press against it. Hold the position for five seconds, then return to your initial position. Slowly tilt your head to the other side. Hold for five seconds. Return to your initial position.
Repeat the exercise 10 times.
cab exercise icon
For your trapezius muscles
3 - Sit with your back straight, feet flat on the floor, parallel and slightly apart.
Very gently bring your right ear down to your right shoulder. Then bring your chin towards your chest. Do the same thing on the left side, taking your time to avoiding doing more harm than good.
For your abs
4 - Contract your abdominal muscles in time with your favorite song.
Raise your legs and your buttocks from the seat for about 10 seconds, bearing your weight on your hands.
To relax
5 - Place a hand on your stomach.
Breathe slowly and deeply through your nose and feel your stomach swell.
Breathe out through your mouth or your nose, without pushing with your stomach. For deeper relaxation, breathe out for longer than you breathe in.
Repeat the exercise at least 10 times.
Download and print the exercise sheet below to keep in your cab for reference on the exercises.