Tag: Truck Driver Rest Breaks

The Best Things for Truck Drivers to Do on Their Breaks

Bob Holtzman

It’s not surprising to say that truck drivers spend a lot of time behind the wheel and feel the effects of long hauls and time away from home. Some spend up to 80 hours a week hauling freight from here to there by getting up early to beat the sun and get a head start on the road. So, it’s also easy to say that trucking professional value their breaks.

But with all that time on the road they may feel drained and not encouraged to do more than rest up, which is probably the most important thing in terms of driver health. In fact, truck insurance plans have been accessed by companies needing financial support following incidents related to driver health.

It should also be encouraged that drivers find a nice middle ground and stay active by keeping the mind and body as active as possible. Here are some of the different ways in which truck drivers can make the most of their breaks while still sticking to a schedule.

Yoga and Fitness

When it comes to the body, pulling long hauls can be taxing. Back stiffness, leg soreness and more issues can arise over time and take a toll on a trucker’s overall health. One way this can be alleviated is to swan dive into a daily dose of downward dog. Even 10 minutes of stretching and challenging your body to try new stretch positions can help to increase flexibility, bone density and breathing ability. Drivers should be encouraged to take 10-15 minutes a day to try yoga and make sure they’re as loose as possible, especially in between long stops.

Another way to keep as fit as possible is to incorporate other fitness options. While it may not be possible to haul your own weightlifting equipment there are things like less-heavy dumbbells you can store aboard. If you’re wanting to stay away from bulking up there are cardio-based workouts that can boost a healthy heart, such as running, long walks, and high intensity interval training workouts that are short and impactful.

Staying Knowledgeable

Thirty minutes of rest time can also be 30 minutes of study time or getting in touch with the latest news. Taking even a short break to get plugged in to learning about a new subject or getting up to date on things going on in sports or political news can help to keep the mind moving.

Have you been pushing off reading that spy thriller or latest issue of a favorite magazine? This is the perfect time to read up and stay informed.

Healthy Eating

Eating options while on the road aren’t always the healthiest and with limited time to rest getting something quick and easy may be the only choice. But drivers can also find ways to incorporate healthy eating with limited time and resources.

Drivers can get access to ideas on quick, easy-to-prepare meals that they can make right in their cabins. Limited time doesn’t have to translate to only things like fast food or fatty snacks. From fruits to smoothies, nuts to easy salads, truck drivers can learn take their breaks to learn how to cook some new meals.

About Western Truck Insurance Services

Western Truck Insurance Services is a commercial truck insurance agency with roots dating back to 1954. We have evolved into a highly respected, professionally managed, truck and transportation insurance brokerage. The hallmark of our organization is our desire to provide unparalleled service. We go way beyond what you expect to receive from an insurance brokerage. Equipped with state of the art automation, Western Truck Insurance can provide you with lightning fast truck insurance quotes, customer service, Insurance certificates and coverage changes.

Will California Require Truck Drivers to Take Unpaid Rest Breaks?

Bob Holtzman

In December of 2018, a ruling from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) stated that California trucking companies, while still requiring their employees to take rest breaks, are exempt from providing truck drivers paid rest. The ruling has been controversial to say the least and has already been set up to be challenged in court. Teamsters have already sued over the decision and petitions have been signed to reverse the ruling.

According to the FMCSA, there have been more crashes involving trucks in the northern California area, heading into Oregon. This has been due, in part, to a decline in parking. If a trucking professional can’t park and take a break, they simply keep on driving. This is a reason why it’s important for commercial truck insurance to be in place to protect drivers, their trucks and their companies.

The FMCSA holds the position that paid rest breaks reduce productivity, so not paying for them will motivate drivers to be more efficient in their work. Teamsters unions, on the other hand, are arguing that federal laws can’t overrule California’s state labor laws. Another argument from teamsters is that not having breaks covered will actually motivate drivers to forgo taking the right amount of rest while they are behind the wheel, causing them to decline in health, focus and safety.

Currently, the American Trucking Association has stated that it wants to do away with rest breaks altogether, promoting the idea that rest breaks would be bad for corporations. But attorneys for those who are suing say that the ATA’s arguments related to loss of productivity are not really supported.

In California, state labor laws stipulate specify that workers should get a 30-minute meal break for shifts longer than five hours and also that transportation workers rest for 10 minutes every four hours. The U.S. Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit in California ruled that carriers in the state must make sure that truck drivers get the right amount of rest and meal breaks.

The ATA has appealed to Congress before when it comes to these rulings, pleading over and over that rest breaks are bad for business. They’ve even gone as far as looking for support from the Trump Administration. The only question now is how will this all play out in court? Will it be a long, drawn-out fight?


About Western Truck Insurance Services

Western Truck Insurance Services is a commercial truck insurance agency with roots dating back to 1954. We have evolved into a highly respected, professionally managed, truck and transportation insurance brokerage. The hallmark of our organization is our desire to provide unparalleled service. We go way beyond what you expect to receive from an insurance brokerage. Equipped with state of the art automation, Western Truck Insurance can provide you with lightning fast truck insurance quotes, customer service, Insurance certificates and coverage changes.