Perspective Archives

South Carolina driver makes fitness a priority, takes first place in women’s division in push-up contest

Dwain Hebda - October 9, 2020

CONWAY, S.C. — Hannah Oldham hasn’t been in the trucking business very long, but she’s already figured out the importance of maintaining health and wellness on the road. The 23-year-old from Conway, South Carolina, won the Fit to Pass Fittest Driver Push-up Contest that wrapped up Sept. 12. Oldham, who drives for Prime Inc., posted a video during the final week of the contest showing her completing 47 push-ups to take home the championship belt buckle and a Bluetooth Hyperice Hypervolt. She bested second-place finisher, Nicole Patterson of Pomona, California, by just one push-up. “I’ve always been pretty fit, and I’ve always been kind of competitive,” said Oldham, a native of Bedford, Pennsylvania. “Growing up and in high school, I always went to the gym, trying to watch my weight. With getting into driving and coming to Prime, they’re very particular on trying to keep their drivers fit. They have a lot of health classes that they take us through.” Oldham, who has only been driving for two years, found out immediately how easy it was to gain weight while on the road. “The first year I probably gained 20 pounds, and I was like, ‘This can’t keep happening,’” she said. Determined to make a change and get back to her ideal weight, Oldham took a serious inventory of what she was eating, cutting back on fast food in favor of cooking healthier meals in the truck. “Cooking in the truck definitely makes things a lot easier,” she said. “Anything you cook, just about, is better than eating at a fast-food restaurant. Now I have a refrigerator on the truck and mainly do a lot of cooking on the truck versus a burger and fries.” Oldham also committed to a workout regimen. She and her driving partner, Craig Skiba, stopped off regularly at local gyms along a route — or lacking that, parked the truck and exercised on the pavement when necessary. “We try to go to Planet Fitness a lot. I give them a lot of credit; that’s what helped me lose weight and gain muscle,” she said. “But when we can’t get to the gym, we do push-ups and sit-ups outside the truck.” Oldham said Skiba was an essential part of her success, providing accountability for when her motivation was running low. “I consider [an accountability partner] really important,” she said. “Some days we’ll stop at the gym and I’m like, ‘Man, I really don’t feel like going!’ and he’s like ‘No, we need to go.’ It helps boost me. It gives me what I need to get up and go in.” Given the diet changes and fitness routine she was already doing, Oldham might have had a slight overall head start on other competitors in the Fittest Driver competition. But, she said, she had a lot of work to do to build the upper body strength needed to complete push-ups. “When the contest started, I could do like, five push-ups,” she said. “I started out with the five; and then I would do what I consider ‘girl push-ups,’ where you’re on your knees. I would do as many as I could with that, up to like 25 or 30. “Then I’d go back and restart and do the five regular push-ups again and then do the 25 or 30 girl push-ups. I think just doing that in repetition built my muscles up in my arms a lot. I did that every day,” she concluded. Oldham initially posted a video during the competition phase of the six-week Fit to Pass program in which she completed 30 push-ups. She thought that was good enough to win until a challenger stepped up late in the contest. “I held the lead up until two days before the end,” she said. “Then another girl jumped in with 45 and I was at 30. I was like, ‘No, I’ve held the lead this long!’ So, I pushed myself until I was able to get to 47, and I came out first.” Since the contest wrapped up, Oldham has kept push-ups as a part of her workout regimen. She says that beyond the usual health benefits, eating right and being fit has also made her a better, more engaged driver. “It definitely does affect me. If I don’t go to the gym a day or I skip a week or so, I just feel groggy,” she said. “You don’t feel good about yourself — at least I don’t. Especially with what you eat; going to a fast-food restaurant and getting something, I feel like I’m bloated. I feel horrible after I eat that versus eating healthy.” As the duo have continued their winning routines — Skiba placed fourth in the competition with 77 push-ups — they’ve found they sometimes have to be creative to get in a good workout during the age of the coronavirus. “COVID definitely changed things, because the gyms shut down for a while. It was really depressing, because it’s nice to go into the gym. The gym environment just makes you want to work out more,” Oldham said. “That’s when we really got into working out outside the truck. We had to figure out things to do, and that’s where the push-ups, sit-ups and (bringing) little dumbbell weights on the truck came in.” As for her fellow drivers, Oldham said there’s no excuse not to get some exercise in, whether it’s on the road or between hauls: All it takes is some commitment and imagination. “We’re all busy,” she said. “We hardly ever stop because it’s a team truck, but when we switch out, we try to switch out at a gym every other time. We’ll just stop and go in for an hour or so for a break. Or, just get outside the truck; like, in 15 minutes you’re done.” Other winners in the women’s division of the contest include: Second place: Nicole Patterson of Pomona, California, 46 reps Prize: Yeti cooler provided by Michelin Third place: Allison Golany of Didsbury, Alberta, Canada 30 reps Prize: One month of CDL meals by Fresh n’ Lean Fourth place: Genevieve Erasmus of San Antonio, 28 reps Prize: Road Pro cooler and water bottle Fifth place: Amanda Christy of Jackson, Missouri, 27 reps Prize: Solar charged battery backup by Transflo To read more about the winner in the men’s division, click here. The Fittest Driver Push-up Contest, presented by Fit to Pass and The Trucker, was designed to test the strength and conditioning of professional drivers and get them on the road to better health. The virtual online event challenged drivers to perform as many push-ups as they could in one uninterrupted set. There were separate divisions for men and women, and prizes were awarded to the top five finishers in each division. To read a note from Bob Perry, The Trucker Trainer, click here.

Congratulations to the winners of the Fit to Pass Fittest Driver Push-up Contest

Bob Perry - October 9, 2020

The Fittest Driver Push-up Contest, presented by Fit to Pass and The Trucker, was designed to test the strength and conditioning of professional drivers and get them on the road to better health. The virtual online event challenged drivers to perform as many push-ups as they could in one uninterrupted set. There were separate divisions for men and women, and prizes were awarded to the top five finishers in each division. The contest gave us so many great pleasures during the six-week competition, showing us a real “day in the life” of a professional driver who is making time to work out. Drivers demonstrated their extraordinary commitment to staying fit on the road no matter the time of day (or night) or place — wherever and whenever they could get their workouts in. We saw clips of push-ups done at truck stops, terminals, home and just about everywhere in between. Some drivers even ventured off the road for scenic videos in the desert and — my personal favorite — inside their trailers. One of the goals of the contest was to demonstrate to drivers who are not engaged in an exercise program how simple it can be to start one by finding an exercise anyone can perform with some effort and commitment. Traditional push-ups are the perfect exercise to do — there’s no equipment needed, and push-ups are beneficial for building upper body strength. They work the triceps, chest muscles and shoulders, and when performed using good form, they can strengthen your lower back and core by engaging the abdominal muscles. Push-ups can also be an effective exercise for building overall strength. We heard from drivers who started out only able to do 10 push-ups — and in the last week of the contest they could do more than 30. Another goal was to help drivers discover the benefits of exercising on a regularly bases. That was evident from the responses we received from drivers when asked, “How did you benefit from the contest?” Answers included: 1) Increased strength; 2) Stress relief; and 3) Enjoyed the competition. The most common response to us about the contest from drivers was, “When is the next one?” Well, as they say, be careful what you wish for. I’m pleased to say that more competitions are coming. Drivers, you should be very proud of yourselves. I know all of us here at Fit To Pass are, as well as all of our corporate sponsors. Our mission at Fit To Pass is to support all drivers in living healthy on the road and protecting their livelihoods. It is professional drivers like you that help set the bar in health and well-being for your fellow drivers to follow. Thanks again for competing, and I hope you join us in future events. Be sure to download our app for Apple or Android, and stay tuned to TheTrucker.com for more information on upcoming events. To read more about the first place winner in the women’s division, Hannah Oldham, click here. To read more about the first place winner in the men’s division, Lonad Westmoreland, click here. Thanks again, Bob “The Trucker Trainer” Perry

Veteran, former boxer focused on staying fit, takes first place in push-up contest in men’s division

Cliff Abbott - October 9, 2020

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — How does a 36-year-old former Golden Gloves boxer stay in shape when on the road? “I try to work out when I get the chance,” said Lanod Westmoreland. “I carry a 55-pound dumbbell and some rubber ropes (for resistance training) and a dip bar. I run sometimes around the truck stop, far enough to get the heartbeat raised.” Westmoreland isn’t boxing anymore, but he still trains for the ring, and the results are obvious. He’s the first-place winner in the men’s division of the Fit to Pass Fittest Driver Push-up Challenge, having racked up an incredible 125 pushups in a single set during the contest. Physical fitness was instilled in Westmoreland by his father, a career military man who brought his family along to multiple assignments. “I’ve always been into sports and athletics. I boxed in high school and college as an amateur, and Golden Gloves in Hawaii,” he said, adding that he even considered a shot at the Olympics, but other plans took precedence. Westmoreland started driving trucks in 2018 after his own stint in the military. “After I got my associate degree, I joined the Air Force as an intelligence analyst,” he said. “We dealt with drones overseas, but they were controlled from here in the U.S.” Following four years in the Air Force, Westmoreland’s employer changed but his efforts to support the military didn’t. “After the Air Force, I worked for a civilian contractor. I went to Afghanistan as a tactical controller,” he said, noting that he worked overseas for four years. Needing a break from military matters after eight years, Westmoreland found warehouse work — but it was the trucks and drivers coming to the warehouse that caught his attention. “I kept seeing these trucks come in and out,” he explained. “I thought, ‘I can do that.’” Currently employed by J&R Schugel Trucking, based in New Ulm, Minnesota, Westmoreland hauls refrigerated and dry loads. “Reefer is kind of laid back, but appointment times are important,” he said. Westmoreland generally stays on the road two weeks to a month at a time. “We haul all 48, but most of the time I run Florida, East Coast to Midwest,” he said. While working in the Air Force, Westmoreland continued his education, earning a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in digital cinematography and computer networking from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. He then founded JusNod Productions, where he could combine his talents and education to produce music and videos. “Music has always been a hobby,” he said. “My brother plays trumpet, and we performed together at some events.” Westmoreland plays keyboard instruments, including piano, and sings — a little, he said. “I carry a microphone and keyboard in the truck and work with them sometimes, writing songs or creating beats in R&B and Hip Hop,” he explained. I’m very creative.” His production company has been on hold for a few years, but Westmoreland said he plans to get it going again. “I’d like to start it back up,” he said. It’s kind of a dream I have.” While he enjoys creating music, he said, “My real interest is in using my cinematography education to produce short stories and films. That’s what I’d like to do.” Producing videos isn’t Westmoreland’s only dream. “I’ve been thinking about starting something fitness-related, specifically for drivers,” he explained. “Maybe some tips every week on how to eat right on the road. It’s so hard to eat healthy with the choices at truck stops.” To help keep his own diet healthy, Westmoreland said he depends on stops at Walmart to obtain fresh foods and ingredients for balanced meals. He also takes a daily protein supplement. Another dream involves physical fitness and helping younger people. “I’d like to open up a boxing gym and work with youth as a coach or mentor,” he said. Trucking is a way to earn a living while he works toward his longer-term goals. “Trucking is something to keep in my back pocket,” he said. “It’s like insurance when I need it.” Westmoreland credits his faith as an anchor for both his driving and his dreams. “First and foremost, I thank God for keeping me safe and getting me home to my family,” he said. His advice to fellow drivers? “Take it one day at a time so you’ll finish the race.” Wherever the road takes Lanod Westmoreland, you can be sure he’s staying in shape — and bringing his dreams along for the ride. Other winners in the men’s division of the contest include: Second place: Kenneth Johnson of Tampa, Florida, 81 reps Prize: Yeti cooler provided by Michelin Third place: Oleg Poleacovschi of Citrus Heights, California, 78 reps Prize: One month of CDL meals by Fresh n’ Lean Fourth place: Craig Skiba of Houston Texas, 77 reps Prize: Road Pro cooler and water bottle Fifth place: Igor Pavlyukh of Houston, Texas, 71 reps Prize: Solar charged battery backup by Transflo To read more about the winner in the women’s division, click here. The Fittest Driver Push-up Contest, presented by Fit to Pass and The Trucker, was designed to test the strength and conditioning of professional drivers and get them on the road to better health. The virtual online event challenged drivers to perform as many push-ups as they could in one uninterrupted set. There were separate divisions for men and women, and prizes were awarded to the top five finishers in each division. To read a note from Bob Perry, The Trucker Trainer, click here.

Work missed due to lower back pain can result in a big pain in the wallet

Bob Perry - October 1, 2020

Back pain not only discomforting; it’s costly, too. Lower back pain is one of the most common complaints we hear from drivers — and it’s one of the biggest culprits when it comes to missed days. It hurts during the day, and can keep you awake throughout the night. Over-the-road drivers are especially susceptible to lower back pain. The job requires long periods of inactivity in the same position, which causes stiffness — then throw in lack of exercise and plenty of stress, both mental and physical. According to a Canadian study, published in the December 2018 edition of the Journal of Transport & Health, almost 60% of truck drivers report experiencing musculoskeletal (MSD) pain and discomfort on the job. “Given the fact that MSDs account for nearly one-half of all work-related illnesses and the transportation sector makes up a significant portion of that, understanding the risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders is important,” said lead author Sonja Senthanar, a doctoral candidate in the School of Public Health and Health Systems. If you’re overweight, it will only make matters worse. It’s not like you can add an extra axle under your belly, so all that extra weight piles the stress on your back. What can you do? Lose the extra load. Here are a few tips to get you started. Remember, these are just guidelines. Before you start an exercise regimen, consult a medical professional. Core strength and flexibility is vital. Muscles support and control the bones in your spine; it’s that simple. The areas that most often need improvement are weak abdominal muscles and tight hamstrings. Walk it out. Before and after you walk, gently stretch your hamstrings. When you walk, stand up straight and concentrate on keeping your stomach muscles (core) active. By engaging your core muscles, you can transfer much of the weight of your upper body to your abs. Not only will you have less pressure and stress on your lower back, but it burns more calories, too. Don’t get too comfortable. Leaning back and relaxing in the driver seat (or any seat, for that matter) puts a lot of pressure on your lower back. Use your core muscles whenever you can to support your torso and build muscle strength. Changes won’t happen overnight, but incorporating a walk into your daily routine and remembering to sit up straight can really help.

Hey, if he wants 40 acres to turn his rig around then do as the song says…

Kris Rutherford - September 28, 2020

Winter had set in over Maine, and in late March 1983, it showed no sign of “heading out to sea” as the locals often said. Seven-foot snow drifts lined both sides of the two-lane highways. The temperature topped out at 14 degrees – downright balmy. I was a 16-year-old volunteer fire-boy (some might say “firefighter,” but I never earned such a distinction). We’d been called to a car accident south of town, one I never got close enough to see. My orders? Walk the line of vehicles rapidly stacking up and tell the drivers to find a different route. The road would be closed three or four hours. That’s all I knew, and it’s all I said. The first half dozen cars pulled three-point turns and headed northward. Next, I approached an 18-wheeler loaded down with pulp wood. I climbed to the window of the truck like I knew what I was doing and told the driver my now well-rehearsed line, “Might as well turn around.” He looked at me like the brain lobe supplying “good sense” had liquified and poured from my left ear. The driver wasn’t particularly fond of a half-wit kid wearing a fire helmet (and to think I thought it was a sign of authority) telling him to reverse course in the confines of a 22-foot wide two-lane highway probably narrowed to 18 feet with the snow drifts. He responded with a few choice words – “ignorant” and “stupid” made his list as did some expletives and a brief commentary on the failures of public education. Holy–! I forgot! I climbed down from the cab and shied away. I didn’t know squat about trucks, but I did know trucker music. But for those few moments, I failed to heed what I’d learned. * * * The Willis Brothers recorded several albums of trucking-themed songs during the 1960s, three decades after getting their start on an Oklahoma farm. Two of the brothers and a friend formed a band in the early 1930s, performing as “The Oklahoma Wranglers.” One brother and the friend left before the end of the decade. By 1939, The Oklahoma Wranglers consisted of three Willises. Before the brothers caught a break in music, World War II arrived. The trio enlisted and served the duration of the war. In 1945, The Oklahoma Wranglers returned home and picked up where they left off. Within a year, the group performed on Ryman Hall’s Grand Ole Opry stage, and in their spare time they played backup on early recordings of Hank Williams, Sr. The road Hank Sr. followed is well-documented, and The Oklahoma Wranglers chose not to follow. Eddy Arnold came calling in 1949, and the band toured with him for 8 years. The exposure was great, but in 1957, the “Wranglers” decided to strike out on their own. To avoid confusion, they adopted a new name truly reflecting who they were – “The Willis Brothers.” The brothers first two albums (1962 and 1963) barely registered a blip on clear-channel AM radio, and another in 1965 gave no indication stardom rest on the horizon. With the release of a second 1965 album, “Give Me 40 Acres,” The Willis Brothers fortunes changed. The title song soared up the country charts, hitting No.9 in the U.S. and No.1 in Canada (it always seems Canadiens and Europeans appreciate the best U.S. country music has to offer faster – and longer – than Americans). The tunes bluegrass influence and lyrics painted a picture of a rural southern truck driver overwhelmed by the congestion of New England – specifically Boston, just 90 minutes south of my adopted hometown. Taking the lyrics another step, on the other hand, “Give me 40 acres and I’ll turn this rig around; it’s the easiest way that I’ve found…” connected with not only truckers but with most anyone who didn’t like crowds. The Willis Brothers never had a bigger hit song, and they stuck with the trucking-theme for another 1965 album and three in 1966. * * * Fortunately, no one died in the 1983 car accident I worked as a fire-boy, but I was adequately humiliated (I mean, it has been 36 years, and it’s burned in my brain so I can write about it in detail). That truck driver who so eloquently defamed me didn’t get his 40 acres, but he lucked out and didn’t need to turn his rig around anyway. After about 15 minutes, the road cleared, and The Willis Brothers lyrics no longer mattered – especially when the trucker offered me his humble grin. As he shifted into gear, I’m pretty sure I heard him sing ever so faintly, “Give us 15 seconds, and I’ll bury him in the snow…” Until next time, stay with the rhythm.

Fit to Pass Push-Up Challenge Winners

The Trucker News Staff - September 28, 2020

Meet the Top 5 winners from the Fit to Pass Push-Up Challenge sponsored by The Trucker and presented by The Trucker Trainer, Bob Perry.

Staying Healthy on the Road, Part 4: Keep it clean with good personal hygiene

Bob Perry - September 15, 2020

In the past three articles on TheTrucker.com, we talked about the first three steps to staying healthy on the road — quality sleep, proper nutrition and exercise. Next up is personal hygiene, possibly the most important element because of this new environment we are all learning to live in. The first step is to protect your personal “engine” from freezing up, locking up and shutting you down in the current dangerous landscape the coronavirus has created. And now the dreaded cold-and-flu season is upon us. Your job as a driver is tough enough without adding more challenges; it’s all about prevention. Just as you have to get your rig winter-ready, you have to get your body ready, not just for winter but every day year-round. Professional CDL drivers are often at a high risk for flu and other illnesses, mainly due to personal health levels as well as the environment in which you work. The constant contact with fellow drivers, going in and out of terminals and travel centers, heightens your risk. The life of a driver means using multiple public restrooms, standing in fuel lines as others cough and sneeze around you, and using public showers on a regular basis. The first basic steps for staying safe and healthy: Mask up, stay hydrated and wash your hands (a lot). Next, take steps to ramp up your immune system and keep it running strong to help fight off germs and viruses. Here’s a list of suggested proactive measures we’ve put together, but remember, it’s always safe to consult your doctor. Take a good multivitamin. It may improve your overall well-being. Vitamins are essential for professional truck drivers due to the difficulty in finding proper nutrition from foods on the road. When taking any form of vitamins, it’s a good idea to consume them right after you eat. Many professionals recommend zinc supplements, as they may help stimulate the immune system. Take extra vitamin C. It will support your immune system and could reduce the severity of a cold. Utilize garlic, my favorite natural immune booster. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and one of the best forms of supporting your immune system. Don’t worry about offending others with the odor; in this case, keeping everyone at a safe distance is a blessing. Garlic is available in pill form, but I believe pure garlic is most effective. Slice the cloves into small pill-size pieces and swallow them whole as you would a vitamin; this will not give you the aftertaste or odor that chewing will. Be sure to eat in the mornings, and include a good lean protein source. During the winter months, oatmeal is a great-tasting, high-protein breakfast. Don’t go long periods without eating. Your system will become weak, and the immune system will lower its protection. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 30 seconds multiple times a day, and wear gloves when you can. Carry (and use) hand sanitizer. Wipe down your steering wheel and door handles daily. Always carry a clean handkerchief. Exercise regularly, and keep your circulation running strong. Walking is a good choice. Always cover your hand with a paper towel before touching the bathroom door when exiting. Also, when possible, use your knuckles, not the palm of your hand, to push open ANY door. Use the crook of your arm (the inside of your elbow) to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. For more nutrition ideas, download our Fit to Pass App (available for both Apple and Android products), or visit us at www.fittopass.com.

Staying Healthy on the Road, Part 3: Exercise plays vital role in overall health

Bob Perry - September 1, 2020

In previous posts on TheTrucker.com, we covered Parts 1 and 2 (getting good quality of sleep and ensuring proper nutrition) in a four-part series on staying healthy as an over-the-road driver. The next step to staying healthy on the road — and at home — is exercise. Exercise is essential not only to maintaining a healthy weight, but exercise also supports the body’s biometric levels — blood pressure, blood glucose (or blood sugar), body mass index (BMI) and LDL cholesterol. You don’t have to be a triathlete or a marathon runner to make a difference in your body’s health. Small steps can equal big results. Take into consideration your personal fitness condition; then figure out what exercise you WILL do (not necessarily the one you SHOULD do). Walking even 1 mile each day, at a steady pace, can burn about 110 calories, lower stress and increase your energy level. Here are four steps to help you get started. Make a plan. Sit down and write down exactly what goals you want to achieve. These goals can range from weight loss to building strength and endurance, or even relieving depression. Set a goal. Set realistic goals based on your environment and daily tasks. Start out with something simple and manageable. Depending on your current health condition, play it safe and make your workout times short in the beginning; always put safety first to avoid injuries. Now that you’ve set your goal, write down how you plan to get there. It’s impossible to reach goal without a roadmap. This is no different then what you do naturally every day as a driver — you map out your route and know where you are headed to pick up or deliver that next load. Get started. Begin your workout routine slowly; two to three times a week is great. To maximize your time, your workouts should consist of a combination of strength training and cardiovascular exercise. Stay motivated. The key to long-term success, being healthy and staying the course is knowing how to motivate yourself on a daily basis. If you do the same thing every day, you will quickly reach a plateau in results. Adding new movements to your workout routine is important. Change your exercises every four to six weeks; otherwise your muscles will adapt to a certain repetitive motion and will become slow to change, whether your goal is growth, weight loss, strength or endurance. Not only do your muscles need to be “shocked” every now and then, but learning new exercises also helps prevent boredom from setting in. Don’t think of exercise as a chore; it’s an opportunity to change your life for the better. Don’t be hard on yourself if you hit a plateau, because you probably will. Instead, use that plateau to motivate you more to get past it. Exercise doesn’t have to be grueling — it’s okay to have fun while doing it. Adding a buddy to your fitness schedule will help. Last but not least, never beat yourself up if you can’t work out a day, or even for a week. Whatever you can do, or have time to do, is better than nothing, so don’t stress out about it. And remember, staying fit isn’t necessarily about the exercise you SHOULD do; it’s more important to find the one you WILL do — and then stick with it. For more workout programs, visit TheTrucker.com or download Fit To Pass App at www.fittopass.com.

Healthy on the road, Part 2: Provide your body with quality ‘fuel’ for proper nutrition

Bob Perry - August 15, 2020

In a previous post on TheTrucker.com, we began a four-part series about staying healthy while working as an over-the-road driver. In that column, we explored Step 1 on the road to better health: Getting good-quality sleep. This week, we’ll take a look at Step 2, proper nutrition. Good nutrition is the No. 1 key to maintaining your health, both on the road and at home. Ensuring you provide your body with proper nutrition is just like making sure you are taking all the correct steps in technology and aerodynamics to improve your truck’s fuel economy. Shouldn’t we apply that same principle to our own body engines? It’s time to start putting better “fuel” into our bodies in an effort to produce better health outcomes, such as better “mileage” and a longer, healthier life. Look, we know certain foods are bad for us. These foods produce unwanted weight gain and create health issues, which equals extra stress, especially when you as a professional driver start to prepare for upcoming DOT recertification exams. So, why do we put bad “fuel” in our body’s engine? We wouldn’t run bad fuel in our trucks. Well, there are several factors that impact our food choices, and that’s a whole topic to discuss another time. For now, here are the top reasons I hear from drivers: Fast food is convenient and cheap. It relieves the stress of finding something to eat. As a driver, I feel deprived because I’m away from home, so I feel entitled to finding something easy and tasty to eat, even if it’s not that healthy. When I coach drivers, I ask them to make good nutritional decisions at least 50% of the time. It’s about taking small steps to equal big results. Try these simple steps to improve nutritional input. Eliminate one bottle of soda per day; most have about 240 calories with 65 grams sugar. Eliminate one high-sodium food each day. This will reduce your sodium intake by about 800 mg, which adds up to 292,000 mg a year. This drastically reduces your risk for high blood pressure and heart disease. Examples of high-sodium foods include soups and gravies, soy sauce and other sauces, salad dressings, salami, bacon and other cured meats, pretzels, cheese puffs, popcorn, chips and other snacks, pickled foods, fast foods, table salt, etc. Add one high-fiber food per day. This will reduce your risk of diabetes, help control blood sugar, assist in weight control, clean out your digestive tract, reduce your risk of stroke, help prevent IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) issues and heal skin problems. Here are a few high-fiber options: Beans, peas and legumes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, 100% whole-grain products, apples and pears, and berries. Try to include a good source of protein in your morning meal. This will help “fill” you up while providing you good fuel to start the day. For more nutrition ideas, download the Fit to Pass App in the Apple Store or Google Play, or visit www.fittopass.com.

Poor word choice blocks highway to song’s status as anthem for lonely drivers

Kris Rutherford - August 1, 2020

The “Country Gold” era (early 1950s to mid-1970s) gave rise to a few real-life truck drivers who took shots at making their names in the music business, either in Nashville, Tennessee, or on the west coast in Bakersfield, California. None rose higher than Elvis Presley, a performer who erased the boundaries of musical genres worldwide. In high school, “The King” drove a truck for an electric company — but he knew his future awaited him behind a microphone, not a steering wheel. He must have been a pretty good driver. After all, when Presley met with Eddie Bond, a Memphis band leader who was looking for a vocalist, Bond told him to stick to driving trucks. Shortly thereafter, Presley recorded “That’s Alright (Mama).” Eddie Bond ate the crow Presley left in the lunch pail in the seat of his electric-company truck. Ferlin Husky was another truck-driver-turned-musician, first appearing on the charts about a decade before Presley. Born in 1925 in Cantwell, Missouri, Husky began a seven-decade career in St. Louis in the early 1940s. Over the years, he performed a variety of country music styles including honky-tonk, ballads, recited songs and even the occasional rockabilly tune. He never joined the early 1960s fray of artists performing truck-driving songs, but Husky did have a road song or two in him. “I Hear Little Rock Calling,” a 1966 road song penned by Dallas Frazier, gave Husky a No. 17 hit. But in hindsight, with the change of a single word, Husky and Frazier might have recorded a trucker’s anthem to put all other anthems to shame. Fortunately, more than 50 years later, we have the hindsight the singer-songwriter combo lacked. Today, we can make the change, and we don’t even have to worry about infringing on a copyright. Before Husky found stardom — or maybe before stardom found him — he paid his dues, working in a steel mill and as a truck driver while playing St. Louis honky-tonks at night. Then he served a stint in World War II as a merchant marine, entertaining soldiers who were headed to the battlefronts of Europe on transport ships, including at least one shipload filled with young men destined to invade Normandy on D-Day. After the war, Husky took a job as a disc jockey, a job that gave him access to record executives and promoters. He recorded a few albums — but they weren’t under his given name. A record promoter decided the words “Ferlin Husky” wouldn’t be an appealing site on a venue’s marquee. Instead, he convinced Husky to adopt a stage name, “Terry Preston.” The name brought no success, and when Husky signed with Capitol Records in 1953, he drove Terry Preston and the promoter to a bus headed to music’s hall of shame. The two were last seen bordering the bus, right behind Elvis Presley’s detractor, Eddie Bond. It’s a fine line between fame and infamy. Husky’s first two singles, both duets with Jean Shepard, screamed to the top of the charts. The first, “A Dear John Letter,” gave Husky a No. 1 record with his first single. The second single, “Forgive Me John,” hit No. 4. Over the next couple of years, Husky charted a few more songs, including the No. 1 “Gone” in 1957, a song that crossed over to the pop charts. But it wasn’t until 1960 that Husky achieved country superstar status with his signature hit “On the Wings of a Dove.” The song held the No. 1 spot on country charts for 10 weeks. Husky never recorded a bigger hit, and “On the Wings of a Dove,” is frequently noted as an all-time top country hit. With notoriety on his side, Huskey had arrived. A popular performer on radio and stage, he made the transition to television, appearing with Ed Sullivan and Merv Griffin, and on at least three episodes of “Hee-Haw.” In the middle of it all, he recorded “I Hear Little Rock Calling,” until now just one in a chain of road songs in the vein of Roger Miller’s “King of the Road” and Charley Pride’s “Is Anybody Going to San Antone?” While not as popular as many other road songs, Husky’s recording is pure country, flawlessly expressing the feelings of young men who lament leaving home before they are ready. In fact, the lonesome road and regret of ignoring his parents’ advice and pleas to remain at home are evident in Husky’s opening lines: “I hear Little Rock calling, homesick tears a falling, “I’ve been away from Little Rock way too long… “…they said, Son, don’t go away. Now I wished I would’ve listened to their call….” The song goes on to sum up life on the road in a few well-chosen words. Husky misses “Mom and Dad and the many good friends he had,” but he misses his “hometown sweetheart most of all.” Likewise, the lyrics reveal that the “thrill of traveling this old world is gone,” as well as the heart of the matter: “I’m troubled in my soul.” In the song, Husky decides to jump the next train home. As he heads toward Little Rock, excitement builds — after all, “I’m gonna have a worried mind ’til I cross that Arkansas line.” Little Rock continues to call. So, exactly how did Frazier and Husky miss out on scoring a timeless trucker’s anthem? In a song with otherwise flawless lyrics, they chose just one word incorrectly: “train.” Had Husky jumped a “truck” instead of a “train,” he might have recorded a nearly perfect trucking song. And with highways filled with drivers substituting their own hometowns for “Little Rock,” truckers alone might have carried the song to legendary status. Then again, hindsight always serves us well. Until next time, stay off those trains and just follow Ferlin Husky’s voice back home. Those tears will wash away with every passing mile.

Quality sleep is the first of four key steps to staying healthy on the road

Bob Perry - August 1, 2020

Driving a truck is a demanding, stressful job, and we all know it is more essential now than ever for drivers to be on the road delivering goods. In my next few articles, I am going to cover key steps on how to stay healthy while on the road. Quality sleep, proper nutrition, exercise and personal hygiene make up the all-important combination that will give you the fuel to conquer the day ahead. Getting quality, restful sleep is a challenge for us all, and especially for professional drivers. As you get later into your workday, steer clear of coffee, which can cause sleep disturbances. I enjoy coffee too — but remember that it can affect your body for five hours or longer after consumption. Plan your coffee intake so that it does not prevent you from getting good sleep. As your shift is coming to an end, make sure to prepare your mind and body for a good night’s sleep. For two to three hours before bedtime, avoid heavy or spicy meals, and halt your intake of caffeine drinks. In addition, avoid nicotine and other stimulants. Prolonged exposure to light from electronics and television just before bedtime may also disturb your sleep. Now you need to find a safe spot, without constant disturbances, to park your rig. With your rig settled in, make sure your sleeper is “Bunk Ready Fit.” Close all curtains and truck shades. Use eye masks and ear plugs, if needed. Block out any unavoidable disturbances by using a fan or “white noise” machine. Silence your phone. Assign a unique, audible ringtone to important contacts to minimize unwanted distractions. This will help throughout the day, too. Studies have shown that a cooler bedroom temperature is more conducive to a good night’s sleep. Find your room-temperature “sweet spot.” We spend about a third of our life in bed, and you need to make sure you get the same quality of rest when you are on the road as you do at home. Make sure you are placing your most valuable assets — your head and body — on premium products. Find the pillow that is best for you, and stick with it. You might also consider replacing and upgrading that mattress that came with your rig. I would suggest checking out www.thebigrig mattress.com. The Big Rig Mattress is designed for the road by a mattress engineer who has been behind the wheel. These are all key points for the first stage in getting healthy and staying healthy on the road. Our environment has changed. Now, more than ever, we must make adjustments to maintain our livelihood by taking care of our health. Step 1 is getting the best, restful, restorative sleep possible. Be on the lookout for a discussion about Step 2 — exercise — next time. We all need exercise, and we all benefit from it.

Fittest Driver Contest: Push Up Challenge Video

The Trucker News Staff - July 31, 2020

ATLANTA — Espyr’s Fit to Pass, a customized coaching program designed to improve the health of professional drivers and help them meet the physical requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recertification exam, has announced a six-week Fittest Driver contest. The competition, which begins Aug. 3 and ends Sept. 12, is designed to test the strength and conditioning of drivers and help get them on the road to better health. There is no cost or purchase required to enter the contest. During the virtual online event, drivers will compete by performing as many push-ups as they can in one uninterrupted set. To register, click here. Drivers will then submit video clips to The Trucker website to verify their push-up count by clicking here. There are separate divisions for men and women, and prizes will be awarded to the top five finishers in each division. First place: Custom-made silver “Fittest Driver” champion belt buckle Second place: YETI cooler by Michelin Third place: One month’s worth of CDL Meals by Fresh N Lean Fourth place: ROADPRO cooler and water bottle Fifth place: Solar-charged battery backup by Transflo To find out more about the competition, visit the Fit to Pass website. Also on the Fit to Pass website, drivers can access The Trucker Trainer, Bob Perry’s, six-week strength training program.

Drivers should conduct pre-trip safety checks on fridges as they do trucks

Bob Perry - July 15, 2020

One of the most basic things in trucking is the pre-trip walk-around. Drivers are trained intensely on pre-trip safety checks — to walk around the truck to see if anything looks wrong, just as a precaution. You should also do a pre-trip refrigerator or cooler check. That way, you can make sure you have healthy choices to reach for while on the road. It all comes down to training. When you’re a professional driver you’re going to get stuck someplace, and there is going to be traffic, breakdowns, bad weather, construction and other delays. If it’s not easy for you to make the healthy choice, you’re going to make the bad one. Drivers, learn to stock your in-cab refrigerators or coolers with healthy foods and snacks, such as almonds, tuna packets and fresh fruit. Potato chips, corn chips and cheese puffs are full of oil, saturated fat and sodium. The next time you get hungry on the road, try some nutritious, protein-filled nuts, perhaps almonds, pecans, cashews or pistachios. Professional over-the-road driving can be both physically and mentally demanding. If you are a flat-bed driver, you frequently climb up and onto your truck, pull tarps and toss straps; however, there are also long periods of inactivity on the road. And for drivers who are not called on to perform these tasks, your activity level may be less. You might not realize how to balance your activity level with the number of calories you consume. I have found that many drivers are fans of sports teams, NASCAR drivers and other athletes. Look at it this way: You are a road athlete, but your body is unable to burn up high calories from power drinks or those unhealthy snacks I mentioned. You may see high-calorie power drinks and high-sugar snacks as a way provide a surge of energy to keep going, but that’s all they do. After that “surge,” you feel a let-down and experience more fatigue then before you consumed them. So, the next time you stop for your break and perform your “safety check,” also do a cooler or refrigerator check and make sure you have good choices to reach for. While you’re at it, try to work in a brisk walk. Walking will give you a boost of energy and relieve some stress. These two steps — movement and food consumption — will serve you well and make sure you are “Fit to Pass.”

Another ‘Red’ rides white line and love-hate relationship to trucking music glory

Kris Rutherford - July 15, 2020

Country music has offered its share of memorable opening lines over the years. With “It’s a Bloody Mary morning,” Willie Nelson jolted radio listeners out of bed. “Busted flat in Baton Rouge…,” a “semi” trucking (pardon the pun) song brought Kris Kristofferson fame — and a lot of royalty checks. And truck drivers alone carried Ed Bruce’s “After All” to the top of the charts with a rewrite of the lyrics following the song’s opening line, “There’s a parking lot….” But when it comes to profound opening lines that offer listeners an indication of what’s to follow, it’s hard to beat Red Simpson’s 1971 hit song’s introduction: “Hello. I’m a truck.” Joe Cecil “Red” Simpson was born in 1934 in Arizona, but like so many others during the Great Depression, his parents and 11 siblings soon relocated to Bakersfield, California. His family’s passion for music lit a spark in Simpson at an early age when daily gatherings featured his father on the banjo and sisters singing in harmony. Simpson became a master at the piano and on the fiddle and guitar. He wrote his first song at age 14 but earned his “teenage living” shining shoes and mowing yards in the early ’50s prior to graduating from Bakersfield High School. A sheet-metal worker by trade, Simpson joined the Navy but found himself assigned to a hospital ship during the Korean War. While onboard, he and a few other musicians formed a band. Upon Simpson’s return to Bakersfield, Merle Haggard and Buck Owens were busy pioneering the “Bakersfield Sound.” This hard-driving form of country music, strongly influenced by rock ’n’ roll, featured electric instruments, an element that, to that point, had been left out of most country recordings. With tele chord guitars awaiting his arrival, Simpson entered the fray by the mid-60s, playing early honky-tonks in Southern California. Simpson never received the notoriety of Haggard or Owens, but then, he was more of a songwriter than a singer. In fact, Simpson wrote or co-wrote several songs for Owens, who between 1963 and 1967 recorded 15 consecutive chart-topping songs. If Simpson was going to ride anyone’s coattails, he couldn’t have found any better to climb aboard than Buck Owens’. Between 1964 and 1970, Simpson wrote 25 songs with fellow Bakersfield performers like Owens, Haggard and Don Rich. Only one of those songs hit the top spot on the charts — Buck Owens “Sam’s Place” in 1967. Early in his career, Simpson became a leader in the writing and recording of truck-driving songs. Growing up close to Highway 99, he became familiar with the trucks and drivers hauling citrus and other bulk crops, but Simpson never drove a truck, aside from a stint at the wheel of an ice-cream truck. Always the good guy, Simpson gave away lots of ice cream to kids who were living in poverty, and the company soon fired him. As a musician, Simpson found a niche and became a pioneer of the truck-driving music that bridged the ’60s and ’70s. Unfortunately, even when the public built truck drivers into cultural icons based on songs like the ones Simpson wrote and performed, he saw little success on the country charts. Of the eight albums he released between 1966 and 1973, only two achieved Billboard Top 10 status. Five never even reached the charts. Simpson didn’t fare much better with his single releases, with only eight of 25 singles reaching Billboard’s Top 100. “I’m a Truck” was by far his highest-charting song at No. 4, and none of his other singles ever reached higher than No. 34. For trucking-music followers, however, Simpson remains a pioneer who recorded more songs targeting drivers than any other performer of note. Even truck-driver favorites like Red Sovine and Dave Dudley couldn’t hold a candle to Red Simpson. At least nine of Simpson’s singles, and several of his albums, specifically refer to trucks in their titles, and a number of others focus on truck-driving themes. As a singer-songwriter, Simpson will always be remembered for “I’m a Truck.” While the song is found on countless online sites offering opinions of history’s top trucking songs, to most, the song is a novelty. Within the genre, however, its staying power places it a cut above many other recordings. Simpson performed “I’m a Truck” from the perspective of a truck that has a love-hate (mostly hate) relationship with its driver. The truck’s dislike for its driver shows in lyrics like, “When we’re on time, he gets the credit. When we’re late, I take the blame.” The truck also tells of the time it saved the driver by clinging to the shoulder of the road when its driver took a curve on Route 66 too fast, and another time when the driver missed a gear and a “Volkswagen bus full of hippies” passed him. “I’m a Truck” is humorous throughout, but one of its best lines comes when the driver parks his unappreciated truck next to a cattle hauler. “Why couldn’t he have parked me next to that little pink Mack over there?” the truck asks. “Gosh, she’s got pretty mud flaps.” As the song fades, Simpson gets in a jab at his buddy Owens with the complaint, he’ll “take out that Buck Owens tape and play it again. I don’t know why he doesn’t buy a Merle Haggard tape.” Despite a career spent largely in the shadows of Owens and Haggard, Simpson made a name for himself on the streets and in the clubs in Southern California, where he was referred to as the “Bard of Bakersfield.” If you’re into truck-driving music, you’ll be pressed to find a discography as full of trucking-themed songs as Simpson’s. Chances are it will take some digging to gather the full compilation, but YouTube is a wonderful source. Until next time, keep in mind that first impressions live on with people you meet. If you’re at a loss for words, just fall back on, “Hello. I’m a truck.” After all, it served Red Simpson well. Stay safe.

Garlic can be a tool used to help with social distancing and boosting health

Bob Perry - July 1, 2020

In these times, more than ever, we must protect our immune systems. With today’s new standard of social distancing, garlic is the answer. Garlic offers health benefits — and people will keep their distance from you. Making good nutritional choices and exercising will go a long way on many levels of prevention, and garlic offers many benefits in addition to protecting your immune system. The list goes on: Garlic helps with managing blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. But let’s start with protecting your immune system. Did you know garlic is a natural antibiotic? The health benefits are plentiful, including alleviating fatigue, according to Richard S. Rivlin, who wrote in the Journal of Nutrition that Hippocrates prescribed garlic to treat fatigue. In the life of a professional truck driver, fighting fatigue is constant. Long hours, poor nutrition, lack of exercise and an unrestful night’s sleep is a clear path to fatigue. Unfortunately, drivers’ most common go-to for fatigue is caffeine, power drinks and high-sugar drinks, all of which provide only a temporary boost of energy and then leave you feeling “drained” even worse than before. And that’s not to mention the expense of those assorted beverages. The original Olympic athletes in ancient Greece were given garlic to enhance their performance. If it’s good enough for Olympic athletes, just imagine what garlic can do for you, the true road athlete! Taking garlic in its natural form is best, but if chewing garlic and dealing with the pungent odor and aftertaste is not convenient for you, make garlic “pills.” Simply cut a clove of garlic into small pieces, each the size of vitamin tablet. Then, after eating a meal, take a small handful the same way you would a pill. Another option, if you are one of the lucky drivers who is able to cook in your truck, is to add a clove of chopped garlic to the food you are cooking. Small daily doses of garlic will equal big health benefits, all while practicing safe social-distancing guidelines.

‘Rubber Duck’ has a sentimental side, and it’s only a flip side away

Kris Rutherford - July 1, 2020

Among truck drivers, particularly those who drove during the 1970s and ’80s, C.W. McCall and his CB handle, “Rubber Duck,” point directly toward the No. 1 Billboard country hit of America’s Bicentennial year — the 1976 megahit, “Convoy.” On the surface, many music historians might describe “Convoy” as a novelty song. But few novelty songs sell two million copies, reach the top of the charts in four countries, cross over to secure No. 1 status on pop charts or serve as inspiration for big-screen spin-offs. “Convoy” took the 1970s trucking world by storm and helped build truck drivers into cultural icons. Little did it matter that C.W. McCall was a fictional character created and portrayed by Omaha advertising executive Bill Fries; McCall still holds a special spot in 1970s nostalgia. His hit song’s continued airplay over four decades later cements his place in the annals of trucking songs. One could write several articles on the story behind and meanings within “Convoy.” The satire and indirect references to politics, particularly how the government impacted truck drivers at the time, are many. For now, rather than dwelling on C.W. McCall’s biggest hit, let’s take a look at the song on the flip side of the 45 rpm record that producers never released as a single. You might call this song “C.W. McCall’s sentimental side.” When we finally ran a needle through our copies of “Convoy” that helped fill our Christmas stockings in 1975, a few of us decided to check out the song on “Side B,” as it was labeled. That’s where we found a far less humorous — and far more reflective — song, “Long, Lonesome Road.” Many artists in many genres of music have recorded songs titled “Long, Lonesome Road” or some variation of the words. I’ve never found another version of McCall’s tune, but some struggling musician may have recorded one. When considering the song’s lyrics, it’s a wonder more performers didn’t give it a shot. “Long, Lonesome Road” could mean different things to different people — truck driver or not. From “Six Days on the Road” to “18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses,” trucking songs are almost never written or recorded strictly for truck drivers. Superficially, listeners may consider a trucking song to be “just” a trucking song. But if you take the wrap off the truck, you’ll almost find something deeper inside. “Long, Lonesome Road” is no exception. On its surface, “Long, Lonesome Road” is the story of a truck driver facing life’s challenges in the company of what he refers to as his best friend — his truck. The phrases suggesting a friendship-like bond — “me and my good old friend,” “me and this good old truck,” and “me and this here old truck” — make it clear the truck means more to the driver than simply a tool that makes his life’s work easier. Symbolically speaking, the lyrics transform an inanimate object into a living being. Over time, the truck and driver have become so intertwined that one can’t be recognized without the other. The combination of truck and driver in “Long, Lonesome Road” have traveled countless miles and overcome more than their share of adversity along the way. The lyrics tell us the driver expects the relationship to last forever — the two will travel “through the wind, rain and thunder, ’til the stormy skies are blue … ’til the sunrise lights the highway — headed home.” And we might assume the truck shares the sentiment. “Long, Lonesome Road” could be interpreted as a song about a guy who really liked his truck. But I think we need credit Bill Fries and his alter-ego, C.W. McCall, for their ability to play the part of “Rubber Duck” on Side A before maturing on the flip side. We also have to give due credit to Fries for writing and recording a trucking song that anyone can relate to. What — or who — has helped you along life’s journey? Maybe it’s your driving partner, your carrier or your clients. Maybe it’s the friends, or the countless strangers you encounter ever so briefly when traveling across the country. The “truck” could be seen as a euphemism for a spouse or partner, family, friends, a job or anything and anyone else that’s kept you encouraged. But the truck in “Long, Lonesome Road” doesn’t have to symbolize something so tangible. It might be a stand-in for intrinsic motivators, such as “never-say-die” attitudes or optimism. It might stand for a goal — the pursuit of fame, fortune or whatever else the listener seeks. The possibilities are endless — but I have an interpretation that others may or may not have considered. I suspect that when Bill Fries wrote “Long, Lonesome Road” he had something spiritual in mind. Again, consider the lyrics. Spiritual themes can be found in phrases like “the load of life is heavy,” “the miles of life are many” and “the road ahead is troubled.” Likewise, the journey through life, the challenges overcome and the sunrise on the horizon can also be interpreted as spiritual thoughts. One can visualize the “big old rig” as the driver’s spiritual guide, one that stands looking over his shoulder as the stormy skies miraculously give way to sunshine. Considering the public’s infatuation with truck drivers in the mid-1970s, it’s reasonable to suspect that iconic status offered Fries inspiration. After all, in 1976, it seemed everyone wanted to be a truck driver. Songs are important in culture and in history. One song can capture a snapshot in time or fill a scrapbook that endures time. Those like “Long, Lonesome Road” invite the general population to rub elbows with what they wish, if only briefly, they might experience. These types of songs are the type that becomes hits. “Long, Lonesome Road” never had the chance, as it was relegated to Side B of a megahit that continues to receive airplay. But if released as a single, the song might have captured the public’s attention— at least for the two minutes and 15 seconds into which Bill Fries packed enough sentiment to keep some people intrigued for 40-plus years. The moral here, as it often is in music, is that no more than a painter “simply” paints a picture does a songwriter “just” write a song. Next time you’re experiencing tough times and need inspiration, take a cue from C.W. McCall. Change your perspective, and check out what “Side B” has to offer. It might be just what you need. Until next time, keep the bugs off your glass and the bears off your… tail. This is Rubber Duck on the side. We gone. Bye-bye!

Dan Seals’ trucking song teaches us to avoid regret and follow our dream

Kris Rutherford - June 15, 2020

We could spend a week talking about the qualities of classic country music. Whether it’s momma, trucks, trains, prison or what have you, classic country is pure American music. It tells stories of real situations and real people. What’s more, no matter the story behind the lyrics, classic country allows listeners to relate a song to their own lives, problems, situations and dreams. When I was a kid growing up in Maine, we counted snowfall by the foot. After three decades in the South, I’ve found it easier to measure in millimeters. Maybe because of this shift from New England southward during my college years, I’ve held on to a dream — probably longer than I should. I was always fascinated with snowplows. I don’t mean a four-wheel-drive pickup with a blade attached. I’m talking about one of these big ol’ orange plows, complete with a salt spreader, two blades and enough firepower to bury a subcompact car until July. I’d been offered the chance to drive one of those for a couple of winters after high school, but I turned it down, using college as an excuse. I’ve regretted it ever since. While that dream may be about a different kind of truck than the one Dan Seals sang of in his 1988 hit “Big Wheels in the Moonlight,” the point behind this late-blooming trucking song is that we all have regrets about something. You may or may not regret that you chose truck driving as a profession, but somewhere along the way, you probably dreamed of the open road. Imagine life today if you had never pursued the dream. As we get older, regrets get stronger. When it comes to 1980s country, few artists could better transcend all walks of life than Dan Seals. Artists like Seals remind us we aren’t alone. Seals were no stranger to regrets. In fact, many of his 20 charting country singles deal directly with where he came from and the direction life took him. For four decades, he was a presence on the American music scene, and not just in country-music circles. Dan and his brother, Jim, were born in Texas, where country music influences most future performers. But Jim turned to soft rock and made his name as the “Seals” of Seals and Crofts, a duo that recorded off and on for 35 years. As for Dan, he originally planned to ride his brother’s coattails. Instead, he took a risk and adopted the name “England Dan,” a nickname Jim gave him as a child. England Dan joined forces with classmate John Ford Coley, and the duo recorded during the1970s and into the 1980s with modest success. The hit song most folks remember is “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight.” But Seals became tired of the soft rock/pop scene. In 1983, he moved to Nashville, changed his stage name to Dan Seals and embarked on a country music career. Early songs included “God Must Be a Cowboy,” “Meet Me in Montana” (with Marie Osmond) and “My Old Yellow Car.” Still, it wasn’t until he released the album Rage On in 1988 that he became widely popular on the country scene. Seals reached No. 1 on the country charts with the trucking song “Big Wheels in the Moonlight.” No matter your profession or your lot in life, you can identify with “Big Wheels in the Moonlight.” It is a song about dreams we don’t follow and the regret we eventually feel. In “Big Wheels in the Moonlight,” Seals first recalls growing up in a tiny town with few opportunities for escape. Every night he’d make his way to the intersection of the town’s only caution light and watch tractor-trailers speed through on their way to “who knows where.” When he got home, he’d lie awake and listen to the diesel engines on the distant highway, falling asleep and “dreaming of big wheels in the moonlight.” In the next verse, Seals is no longer a kid. He has a wife, children and a good job — but something is missing. Even after all those years, he hasn’t lost the dream. But it’s not to be. Two lines of “Big Wheels in the Moonlight” put listeners in Seals’ chair, whether they dream of trucks or Pulitzer Prizes: “I know that there’s a peace I’ll never find … ’cause those big wheels keep rolling through my mind.” Whatever your job or your situation, you surely have some dream you never pursued. All you have to do is slip that dream in place of Dan Seals’ description of his “wanderlust” to hear “some big old diesel whine.” Chances are, you’ll find yourself regretting some dream you left behind — one that, somewhere along the way, you’ve realized would never come true. Until next time, if your dream is to drive a snowplow, either migrate northward, or, if you’re already there, don’t leave. Otherwise, you’ll be like me and use a radio-controlled bulldozer to clean the three millimeters of “heavy snow” your local meteorologist offers once or twice a year. I’ve tried, but operating my little tracks in the moonlight just isn’t fulfilling, and the thrill of stranding some poor fellow and his Yugo for four or five months seems to be lost.

Stabilizer muscles can easily be compared to a truck’s stabilizer bars

Bob Perry - June 15, 2020

First, I want to thank all the drivers who reached out to me to say how much they enjoyed the article titled “Truckers can get on the road to healthy lifestyles with slight adjustments” that ran earlier this year in The Trucker. I’m pleased to hear so many of you found the information useful as a way to work out every day. A question I am commonly asked is about strengthening one’s stabilizer muscles. Truck drivers can compare stabilizer muscles to their truck’s stabilizer bars. Let’s look at the comparison. The muscles of the body act to stabilize a joint so that a particular movement can be performed at another joint. These “stabilizing” muscles usually aren’t directly involved in the movement; instead, they provide support and keep you steady so that the primary muscles can do their job. For example, if you are doing a chest press on an exercise ball, the primary muscles working include the ones in your chest and arms, but the muscles in your abs, back and legs work isometrically to stabilize your body. Stabilizer bars in a truck distribute weight evenly and improve the vehicle’s movement and cornering traction. Starting to see the comparison? As a fitness professional I have heard debates about whether it’s necessary to concentrate on strengthening stabilizer muscles or if free-weight training provides all the necessary benefits in strengthening the stabilizer muscles. For example, when walking up steps, your body is working by using your legs to move you upward with force to the next step. If you are focusing on keeping your shoulders back and your abs tight, logic would say, “I’m using my quads and at the same time strengthening my stabilizer muscles” By the definition above, your stabilizer muscles are supporting the movement while not necessarily conducting the movement. In my opinion, if you are practicing good techniques and, as in the example of walking up steps, keeping your abs and back engaged in the movement, you are, in fact, strengthening those stabilizer muscles. In the example of performing the bench press on the ball as your abs, back and legs keep your body stable, the same principle could be applied to pressing a barbell overhead. Those same three body parts are involved to keep your body balanced. The message here is this: If you are going to take the time to exercise, make the effort to use all the resources you have to reach the full benefit of exercising. Another example is when you are preparing to pull your fifth-wheel pin, lower your landing gear, or pull your hood up. The next time you perform any of these actions, think about the movement first. Most drivers do not engage supporting muscle to perform these movements, which means that over time you could be causing small muscle tears. If a muscle is unable to adequately respond to or meet the demands of a task, it can become overloaded and tear under strain. This happens when we perform quick movements without allowing those muscle time to recruit other supporting muscles to help. Using these stabilizing muscles can be viewed as another set of hands, so to speak. Before you pull the hood next time, make sure first that your shoulders are warmed up. Second, make sure your abdominal muscles are contracted and ready to help out with the task at hand. Third, use your legs. Also, you should always make sure to take necessary measures to prevent injury. Be sure to warm up your muscles before performing any exercise movement, especially those that involve your shoulder or rotator cuff. Here’s a quick rotator-cuff warm-up: Start by holding an exercise band or even a bottle of water in one hand. Hold your arm at a 90-degree angle, making sure the elbow touches on your side at all times. Slowly rotate your arm outward (while keeping your elbow at your side); then, move your arm back across your stomach. Repeat for 10 reps and then change arms. Once you can perform a set of 20 reps without strain, move up to two sets.

Setting small, achievable goals is the key to creating a consistent, healthy routine

Bob Perry - June 1, 2020

It’s common knowledge that exercising and eating healthy is beneficial to your health. In some cases, it can even be lifesaving. So why isn’t everyone living the healthy lifestyle? While reasons for not attempting an exercise and healthy-eating program (or failing at one) vary from person to person, many Americans simply lack the “know-how” to begin and stick to a healthy lifestyle. Here are some steps to help you mentally, physically and nutritionally on the road to better health. Set a goal. Sit down and write out exactly what it is you want to achieve. The goal could range from weight loss to building strength and endurance, or even to relieving depression. Be honest with yourself, and make your goals realistic. Everyone is made differently. Never compare yourself to someone else; it is genetically impossible. Make a plan. Once you have a goal, write down the steps you are going to take to get there. It is impossible to reach a higher level without taking one step at a time. Picture your goal as a flight of stairs. Without steps, it is impossible to reach the top. Your small goals could range from losing 1 pound a week to increasing your cardiovascular exercise a few minutes each week — or your plan can be even easier. Keep it basic and simple by planning out steps that are accomplishable. Start it up. Begin your workout routine slowly; two to three times a week is great. Your workout should consist of both strength training and cardiovascular exercise. Start your strength training by doing one set of 12 to 15 reps per body part. If you do not have weights in your truck cab, carry a couple of extra 1-gallon water jugs (this investment will cost less than $3). For a water-jug workout program, email me. Never work the same set of muscles on consecutive days. Start your cardiovascular exercise at five to 10 minutes and build up to 30 to 45 minutes. You could also start off by simply walking from the back of the parking lot or taking the stairs instead of the elevator — anything that gets your heart rate up. Starting off slowly will help you from burning yourself out before you really get started. Stay motivated. Consistency is the key to long-term success, but you also have to know how to motivate yourself over time. Adding some spice to your routine is essential to change. Change up your exercise routine every four to six weeks. Your muscles will adapt to a certain repetitive motion and will not progress. Not only do your muscles need to be “shocked” again but learning new exercises will also help prevent boredom. That applies for cardiovascular exercise, too. Here are a few additional tips to get started on the road to a healthier lifestyle. Drink some water the next time you are feeling run down. Chances are that you are dehydrated. Protein is the building block of every cell in your body and should be the foundation of every meal. Apples offer vitamins and minerals that are vital to a healthy vascular system. The next time you get hungry on the road, try some nutritious, protein-filled nuts. Almonds, pecans and cashews are good options.

Kathy Mattea finds a diamond in the rough with 18 wheels, a dozen roses

Kris Rutherford - June 1, 2020

Contrary to popular belief perpetuated by her late 1980s country music video, Kathy Mattea never met a soon-to-be-retired truck driver named Charlie at a truck stop, and she never autographed a photo for Charlie to give to his wife (we’ll refer to her as June) upon arriving home. Likewise, Mattea didn’t write a song inspired by this chance meeting — because the meeting never happened. All this may be hard to digest for those who are familiar with the popular and lasting music video that accompanied the release of Mattea’s award-winning “18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses” on country radio in 1988. Perhaps no song in country music history better highlights the gap between interpreting the lyricist’s meaning in a song and watching someone else’s interpretation play out on the screen. What a songwriter has in mind when composing may or may not be what the music-video producers have in mind when setting a song to film. In addition, what listeners interpret may be much more than the songwriter ever intended. Kathy Mattea grew up in West Virginia, but music did not run in her bloodline. It wasn’t until college that she joined her first bluegrass band. After two years at the University of West Virginia, Mattea took what she’d learned from her campus band and headed for Nashville where, like so many others, her dreams of stardom turned into a journey of odd jobs. But unlike so many others, Mattea eventually received the opportunity to record demo tapes for other artists to consider when planning upcoming albums. After recording enough demos, Mattea’s voice caught the ear of a record executive. By 1983, she’d signed a contract with Mercury Records, and her first two albums enjoyed moderate success. But her 1986 album “Walk the Way the Wind Blows” brought the stardom Mattea had left college to find. A single from the album, “Love at the Five and Dime,” scored a Grammy nomination, and in the meantime, Mattea picked up a number of country music awards. While the story of “18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses” may not have risen from a chance meeting with a truck driver seeking an autograph, it did follow the route many songs take toward “hit” status. The song was a product of demo tapes like those Kathy Mattea recorded before landing her own contract. While preparing to record her fifth Mercury album, “Untasted Honey,” Mattea picked up a stack of demo tapes her producer had selected. Some songs fit her style; others were thrown in to help her focus on the songs she liked best. The process was likely straightforward, and the songs the producer expected Mattea to choose rose to the top. But, on occasion one of the demo tapes that’s “thrown in” becomes a diamond in the rough. Such was the case with “18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses.” Mattea liked the trucking song as written by Paul and Gene Nelson, but she knew she had slim chances of recording it. Female artists didn’t record trucking songs, and songwriters didn’t write them with female artists in mind. For whatever reason, Mattea overcame the odds with “18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses.” The songwriters granted her the rights to record their song, and likely unbeknownst to them, they also struck a chord of marketing genius. After all, when a female gains admittance into a male-dominated genre, the audience for a song basically doubles. In the case of “18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses,” the audience received an extra boost. Mattea’s voice allowed a theme hidden in the song to shine through — one the songwriters may not have considered when penning the lyrics. The result was a “throw in” demo tape of a trucking song riding an unlikely superhighway to country gold. The character of Charlie, as both the song and music video suggests, is a truck driver on the last leg of a 30-year career on the road. The gold watch his carrier presented as a retirement gift hardly compares with the untold number of miles Charlie has driven. The watch is deemed even more insignificant when the discerning listener realizes Charlie’s career kept him from spending time with his devoted wife (June, as we named her at the outset of this column). Like the gold watch, the dozen roses Charlie gives June after parking his truck for the last time cannot possibly repay her for the years she spent standing behind Charlie, counting the days until his return. At this point in the song, just before the first chorus, the impact of Kathy Mattea’s voice in a truck-driving song is fully realized. The words to “18 wheels and a Dozen Roses” do tell a story of Charlie and his retirement, but with Mattea’s voice, the meaning expands. The song isn’t just about Charlie after all. Instead, it is about Charlie, June, and their relationship. The phrase, “She’ll no longer be counting the days” is the turning point. For the remainder of the song, June, even if unnamed, is what keeps the story alive. Without her, Charlie’s retirement means little and the lyrics no longer have a purpose. One would think Charlie would like to settle down and spend some time at home after a lifetime on the road, but when considering June’s life, the second half of the song reinforces that we’re listening to a story of a relationship. “They’ll buy a Winnebago, Set out to find America, Do a lot of catching up A little at a time. With pieces of the old dream, They’re gonna light the old flame, Doing what they please Leaving every other reason behind.” Charlie has seen the sights of America. Now it’s time to see them again — but this time with June, as a couple. Charlie’s retirement is not an end; rather, it’s the beginning of what Charlie and June have waited for their entire adult lives. With Mattea’s voice, what may have been intended as a simple trucking song becomes much more. The theme of relationships, which possibly never crossed the songwriters’ minds, overrides any intent they may have had of the song becoming a sentimental favorite of lonely drivers on the interstates, dreaming of the day when they, like Charlie, could climb out of the cab a final time. “18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses” could have been just another song “on the all-night radio” of which Kathy Mattea sings, but thanks to her voice, the song became arguably the most popular female-recorded trucking song in history — and it is undoubtedly among the best trucking songs of the past 40 years. Until next time, try listening to a few of your country classic favorites while blocking images of the music video from your consciousness. You may find that what you thought was merely a good story set to music is really a diamond in the rough, if only in your own mind.