What You Can Do to Stay Healthy on the Road
We’ve all seen the top news stories on how to protect yourself against Coronavirus. This isn’t the basic list of suggestions that blanket the whole United States populations on what to do to stay safe. Rather, this is a list specifically for drivers on proactive steps to take to minimize your risk. We will leave out the lecture on hand washing.
Simply put, drivers are already at a low risk due to the nature of their job. While in the truck for hours and days leaves minimal exposure to people. But over half of truck drivers have underlying conditions that make it even more important to be extra cautious. We see a lot of people relaxed about the situation, but going to the hospital isn’t fun. And paying for medical bills isn’t fun either. Follow our tips to keep the germs out and keep your wheels turning.
Fueling and Showering
Most drivers will fuel up at a TA or Love’s. Our drivers fuel up at Love’s all over the country, but primarily the western and midwestern states. Love’s has an app with features that may help limit your exposure to others. Love’s Mobile Pay allows you to activate the fuel pump from your cab. After you fuel and find parking, you can reserve a shower with the Mobile Shower Check.
CAT Scales
CAT Scale Company has had this app for a while, but it doesn’t hurt to mention the Weigh My Truck mobile app. It allows drivers to weigh their truck, pay for the transaction and get the weights displayed right on their smartphone and in an email without ever leaving the cab. You can still get a hard copy ticket at the fuel desk. Creating an account allows you to keep a record of all weight transactions.
Have Food and Medicine on Hand
In case you do get sick on the road with Coronavirus symptoms, self-quarantine is the protocol to avoid spreading the virus to others who lack the strength to fight it off. If you have to self-quarantine for 14 days or more, you’ll likely need a good amount of food. Make sure you have plenty of water and food in case of an emergency. Dry snacks like nuts, beef jerky, and breakfast or protein bars are good and won’t spoil.
Have a Plan
You’ll want to be prepared and have a plan of what you’ll do if you get sick. With the lack of testing sites across the country, and especially ones that will allow trucks, it’s important you have a plan in place. Most company-sponsored benefits have options for telemedicine. Instead of waiting to see your primary care physician at home, you can virtually visit the doctor through the internet. Dynamic Transit offers UnitedHealthCare plans, which includes virtual doctor visits for $50 or less on myuhc.com. Another option for over the road drivers would be SSM Health, which has virtual doctor visits for $25. If you don’t have a health insurance plan with your employer, at a minimum, ask your company what their plan is if you get sick.