Tag Archives: Gray Transportation

FAQ: How National Nutrition Month Impacts Truckers

With long stretches of highway and limited options, it can be easy to forget the importance that National Nutrition Month has on truckers. However, with obesity and heart disease rates at an all-time high for drivers, it has never been more important to consider reevaluating those quick diet decisions. To help you keep it healthy, Gray Transportation has the answers you need about achieving a beneficial lifestyle on the road.

What can I bring on the road that is healthy but won’t spoil?

As a truck driver, you will need to plan ahead. By packing meals and snacks that are better for you, you’ll be able to help maintain your weight. Bringing fruits as a snack is always a good idea, but if you’re afraid of them spoiling, you can bring canned fruits that are in their own natural juice with no added sugar. Anything whole grain is an important alternative to white breads, and tuna or sardines also come canned so they won’t spoil. You could also eat high fiber cereal. Make sure to drink more water and slow down on the sodas and energy drinks.

What are some appliances I can use to create my own healthy foods?

Try using appliances like portable coolers, lunchbox cookers, electric skillets, and mini slow cookers. While you drive, your dinner can be cooking so that it is ready for you when you have a break. Try using slow cooker liners to make cleanup easier. Electric pressure cookers are also a good utensil because you can cook potatoes, rice, oatmeal, and soups all in minutes.

How do I lose weight since I’m on the road all of the time?

Losing weight can be hard when you’re constantly driving. One way to help yourself with this issue is to count your calories. By limiting your intake, you can decrease snacking and allow your body to burn excess fat for energy. Additionally, try eating four to five smaller portioned meals per day instead of two or three main meals. This will help decrease extra calories and can give you the chance to plan healthier options instead of trying to find three big meals to fill you up. To combat inactivity, try exercising at pit stops by doing five to ten minutes of brisk walking to keep your body healthy.

How or where do I start when trying to become healthier?

When deciding to make a change, finding out where to start is always the hardest part. We recommend keeping it small. Switch out some unhealthy meals or snacks with healthier food groups and slowly try to eat smaller amounts at mealtimes. Don’t drink caffeine before going to bed and be sure to make time for a healthy breakfast. By incorporating these reasonable changes, you can make a big difference in your overall well-being.

At Gray Transportation, we put the health and safety of our drivers above the rest. Contact us with any questions or apply for one of our job positions today.

Why Truckers Are Winter Warriors

The arrival of winter can mean holidays, family fun, and warm fires, but it can also signify a potential increase for danger on the road. Ice, snow, sleet and low temperatures can cause complications for even the shortest of trips. The impact of the winter season is particularly evident for truck drivers, as the long days spent on the road can become increasingly difficult. At Gray Transportation, we understand the commitment that truckers make each day. To show our appreciation, we offer these key reasons you should thank a driver this winter:

Inclement Weather

The next time you are contemplating driving in the snow, remember that a trucker has to get their job done no matter the elements. With the arrival of snow and ice, big rigs are at an increased risk of losing control. This puts, not only the driver in danger, but raises the hazard for everyone else on the road. Drivers must have the smarts, control and foresight to securely maneuver on these slippery highways to safely deliver their goods.

Holiday Deliveries

Every year, millions of Americans search the stores for the best deals on the perfect gifts for friends and family. In order to make this possible, truckers work tirelessly to ensure that each store is stocked. Due to the traffic of the holiday season, this can often correlate with earlier hours and longer days. It is this commitment that helps make this time of year possible.

Keeping the World Digital

With the increase of technology, more people are relying on online shopping to provide groceries, gifts and more. This is especially prevalent in the winter, when harsh weather slows outdoor travel. However, online orders don’t arrive magically. Every time you shop, you are helping employ a trucker. With rates of online shopping expecting to skyrocket in the next five years, truckers will continue to be a vital part on the execution of the digital world.

Although winter brings an abundance of obstacles, truckers stay committed to keeping America rolling. It is a direct result of their hard work and dedication that we are able to access the vital items we need each and every day. If you have what it takes to help make a difference, Gray Transportation is now taking applications for drivers. Contact us for more information on the benefits of joining our team.

3 Tips to Avoid Road Fatigue this Holiday Season

graytransportation_blog_tireddriver

With the arrival of the holidays, truck drivers are faced with increased workloads and longer hours. Due to this, sleep can further fall to the back-burner. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the loss of sleep can contribute to 30 to 40 percent of all highway collisions. Sleep deprivation is constantly ranked as a top concern for both truck drivers and safety administrations. This holiday season, help keep the road safe with these important tips from Gray Transportation.

Treat Caffeine with Care

Although a day driving can seem impossible without assistance from caffeine, the stimulate is not a cure all. According to the Sleep Education foundation, caffeine not only makes it difficult to go to sleep but it delays your body’s internal timing. This reduces your total sleep time and limits the amount of deep sleep your body enjoys. To combat this, you don’t need to give up caffeine completely. Instead, try to practice moderation. Limit your intake to no more than 300 to 400 milligrams a day which equals about 3 to 4 cups of coffee (8 oz.).

Stop Smoking

Cigarettes contain the stimulus nicotine, which can disrupt your sleeping schedule. A study from the University of Florida found that for each cigarette a person smoked, they lost 1.2 minutes of sleep due to the nicotine’s stimulating withdrawal effects. Smokers also wake more frequently during the night and feel more restless in the morning. Even more alarmingly, smokers are 2.5 times more likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea as the act of inhaling smoke irritates the tissue in the nose and throat, causing swelling.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

About 65% of Americans are now overweight or obese and the condition is particularly damaging to truck drivers. As fast food restaurants and gas stations are often the only choice on long stretches of highway, it can be challenging to practice healthy eating habits. However, this can lead to complications. Not only does obesity lead to an increased risk of sleep apnea, but getting too little sleep actually helps cause weight gain as well. To fight this vicious cycle, make realistic changes to your diet. Switch from soda to water. To limit snacking during the day, avoid skipping breakfast. Even fast food restaurants now have healthier options, so trade in the bacon cheeseburger for a salad with grilled chicken. Also, don’t be wary of preparing your own food on the road. By using crock pots, you can control the ingredients you use, and have leftovers for the rest of the week.

The holidays mean increased time on the road which can come with potential risk of sleep deprivation. By using these tips, you can improve your sleep quality and increase road safety for yourself and your fellow drivers.

At Gray’s Transportation, our driver’s safety is always our number one concern. Find out more about joining our team today.

Winter Driving Tips for Truckers

It’s no secret that trucking in the Midwest through the winter can be dangerous because the weather is unpredictable. Gray Transportation cares about your safety with the winter weather, so we want to give you six tips for winter truck driving safety. Driving for Gray means you are in good hands if you ever deal with an accident on the roadways.

Winter Driving Tips:

Keep an eye on the temperature. This may seem obvious, but in the Midwest, temperatures can change quickly especially in the winter. The water on the road will freeze at 32 degrees, but sometimes the roadways are slightly warmer than the air. None the less, be wary of changing temperatures.

Communicate with other drivers. If you are new to trucking, get on the CB radio and find an experienced driver and ask for advice. Experienced or not, we are all a little nervous when it comes to driving in the winter conditions.

Pull over if you have to. Don’t be afraid to pull into a truck stop to wait for the storm to pass or roads to clear. If the closest truck stop is full, find an off ramp or rest stop. Don’t stop on an incline, so you don’t have trouble with getting stuck.

There’s no load worth your life. Even if you are close to deadline or only have 50 miles to go, that load isn’t worth it if the roads are terrible. If you are on dangerous roadways, your best bet is to get off of the road.

Don’t follow too closely. It is most people’s instinct to drive close together during bad weather. We don’t suggest following others too closely, especially cars because they typically think the roads are safer than they really are.

Gray Transportation wishes you well this winter season. We want you to be as safe as possible while driving for Gray.