Essential Truck Drivers Under More Stress With Coronavirus Pressures

As the world continues to stand still, held captive by the largely unknown and mysterious Coronavirus pandemic, essential workers like truck drivers continue to work overtime. Deliveries of food, water, and medical supplies need to keep moving around the country. Thanks to these dedicated drivers, our stores, and even hospitals are staying stocked up on product and essential equipment.

Truck driving is already a stressful career, given the long hours and pressure of being on the roads full-time. Add to that the immense responsibility of getting life-saving supplies with the potential for catching and spreading COVID-19 can easily overwhelm even the most seasoned truckers.

Not only do many drivers have to worry about whether they will be getting paid on time but, they are also worried about their mental and physical wellbeing during this unprecedented time. Along with working with companies that use freight broker factoring to guarantee quick payment, drivers can use some of these tips to help them cope with the pressure of being frontline workers during this pandemic.

Trust Your Broker

A trusting relationship between drivers and brokers is paramount to keeping the supply lines open. It’s important to have confidence in knowing that you are not being put at risk for the profit of your broker. Make sure that your driving assignments have been cleared for safe passage and that your destination companies are following the proper pandemic safety protocols.

In order to ensure that you will continue to get paid regularly, it’s to your benefit to work with brokers that use freight factoring. With so many companies dealing with financial hardships due to mandatory closings it is important to know that your broker will be able to pay you for your efforts.

Protection

It’s up to you to protect yourself and not to rely on others to have your best interest in mind. For much of your day, you will likely be isolated to the inside of your vehicle however, you will need to get out and deal with a variety of people on each end of your load.

Homemade or store-bought masks are the best line of defense against becoming infected with Covid-19. It’s also a good idea to always carry and use gloves and sanitizer with you to help reduce the chance of infection.

Pack Your Own Food

Stopping several times a day to get coffee and meals can be risky behavior during this pandemic. Service stations, truck stops, and fast-food restaurants have large populations of people moving through them daily.

It’s a good idea to plan out your meals in advance and pack your own food from home. Carry a plug-in cooler that can keep sandwiches, snacks, and drinks cool and available for you throughout your route and limit your need to stop.

Take Breaks

All truck drivers know that exhaustion is a real threat to their safety on the road. With the added emotional and psychological stress that the pandemic has created, it’s more important than ever to stop for breaks when you can. Just a few minutes to get out of the truck, stretch and walk can help you revive and refresh your mind and body.

Sleep

Getting a night of good sleep can help to relieve stress. Pay attention to the amount of sleep that you are getting out on the road. If you are struggling to get rest you can try using meditative breathing, listen to sleep music or try a natural supplement like Valerian root or Melatonin to help you get to sleep.

The whole world is relying on truckers to keep the most important supply chains open in the country. As stewards of this huge responsibility, drivers need to focus on the right self-care to help them stay on the roads.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTime