According to program embarrassing bodies the haulage industry is the unhealthiest of all apparently this is the findings of an extensive survey they done i just wondered what you all think of this I’m sure there been many different opinions
I must confess that as a still quite slim 30 year old lad, I do worry what I would end up looking like should I make a lifetime career out of driving. Some of the sights I see at the wheel of a truck make Jabba the Hutt look like a gym fanatic.
BanburyDan:
I must confess that as a still quite slim 30 year old lad, I do worry what I would end up looking like should I make a lifetime career out of driving. Some of the sights I see at the wheel of a truck make Jabba the Hutt look like a gym fanatic.
The last thing I thought of when I was 30 was what i was going to look like now. I was more interested in my family,a decent wage, girls in mini skirts, a good night out with the drivers I was meeting that night, a good pint, girls again 
and the state of the economy!! OK the last bit is a fib. 
regards Kevmac47.
Ps I haven’t changed a bit in the last 35 years 
(hope you don’t find any of my pics on other threads)
Health just doesnt have to be about food.
Lower back,sciatica,dvt for starters.
All 3 can be brought on with long periods of sitting down.
kevmac47:
BanburyDan:
I must confess that as a still quite slim 30 year old lad, I do worry what I would end up looking like should I make a lifetime career out of driving. Some of the sights I see at the wheel of a truck make Jabba the Hutt look like a gym fanatic.The last thing I thought of when I was 30 was what i was going to look like now. I was more interested in my family,a decent wage, girls in mini skirts, a good night out with the drivers I was meeting that night, a good pint, girls again
Ps I haven’t changed a bit in the last 35 years
Please don’t think it concerns me 24/7 - I’m just aware of how it could all turn out for me if I’m not careful…
I think it all goes on shift pattern and lifestyle.
I personally struggle at the minute.
sleeping
I start work at 1am which means getting up at 11pm, I usually get home around 2pm but then i want to spend time with wife and kids so I go to bed at same time as kids 7pm. then up again at 11pm for work.
Living on less than 4 hours sleep a night is not good at all. I look and feel shocking.
eating
Then there is the eating aspect of it. I tend to eat loads during first few hours of shift, ( mainly as whilst im eating im not falling asleep at the wheel 
). Then I dont eat until i get home, most of the time this becomes lunch/dinner. Its not a great balanced eating regime, and im not sure if im eating enough or if im eating too much.
Social life/exercise
None existent, Impossible to fit any in.
I used to enjoy running and cycling but now im that shattered I just havent got the energy.
As for social life, That ended when i got married lol.
What im trying to say is, If I worked more normal hours eating and sleeping would be easier, therefore i would feel better and healthier. But money doesn’t come from working normal hours.
I do believe this industry can be one of the hardest to be in when trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
You could check out the state of some bus/coach drivers,they are all Gods gift as well.
Haven’t seen the program as i seldom watch live TV.
There could be something in the age groups to be considered, the vast majority of truck drivers are in their 50s or more , thats not going by statistics but my own eyes, naturally by the time we get to our 50s with years of bloody 60 and 70 hour weeks behind us we won’t be looking like bloody film stars any more.
The younger ones will have a high proportion of foreigners but thats a different discussion.
How many other industries to you see such a concentration of older workers still coping with the hours we do?, naturally we’ll be unhealthier than an industry that doesn;t employ anyone with naturally grey hair…
…which brings me round to another point, when did grown men, especially hairy arsed truckers, start to dye their hair, do they realise just how false it looks.
haribo4000:
I think it all goes on shift pattern and lifestyle.
I personally struggle at the minute.sleeping
I start work at 1am which means getting up at 11pm, I usually get home around 2pm but then i want to spend time with wife and kids so I go to bed at same time as kids 7pm. then up again at 11pm for work.
Living on less than 4 hours sleep a night is not good at all. I look and feel shocking.eating
Then there is the eating aspect of it. I tend to eat loads during first few hours of shift, ( mainly as whilst im eating im not falling asleep at the wheelSocial life/exercise
None existent, Impossible to fit any in.
I used to enjoy running and cycling but now im that shattered I just havent got the energy.
As for social life, That ended when i got married lol.What im trying to say is, If I worked more normal hours eating and sleeping would be easier, therefore i would feel better and healthier. But money doesn’t come from working normal hours.
I do believe this industry can be one of the hardest to be in when trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
You got to ask yourself mate is it really worth it i know we all got to make a living and keep the wolves from the door but its the grim reaper who will come calling at your door if you dont change your life style PDQ .
How on earth can you get by on 4 hrs sleep a day you must be a danger to yourself and the rest of us on the road.
You have admitted to yourself that you have a rotten lifestyle so now is the time to get something done about it before its too late.
I was the same a few years ago you family to feed ect ect working crazy hours the job caused me to miss so many important family events i just said one day this is not worth it anymore and found something that gives me a little bit of time for me and my family.
i know its easier said than done but your lifestyle will catch up with you sooner or later.
ND888 BIGJ:
i know its easier said than done but your lifestyle will catch up with you sooner or later.
Theres the problem, it is easier said than done.
I love driving, i love the job. I assumed that I would get used to living on 4 hours a night sleep.
How do other people do it?
I wish i could get the same money for doing better hours. Cant have my cake and eat it though.
My family will always come first so i will have to deal with it.
I certainly see what your saying though, I will have to disguise myself so that the grim reaper doesnt see its me!
Yes it is difficult and it wont change overnight but just a few small things to begin with like your diet can make a lot of difference.
Speak with your boss about changing over to a day shift for a few months you might drop a few quid in your pay packet but you will notice the differnce and so will your family.
I have been around trucks all my life its in my blood infact people say i dont have blood in my viens but diesel lol.
i got into coach driving around 12 yrs ago and have never looked back i still do mental hours but i get to stay in hotels /premier inn for my rest period and the food isnt that bad either most of the hotels have health clubs gymnasiums so i get to use them.
I take you manage a cpl of hours in the bunk most days when waiting to get tipped but its not enough for this job i reckon we need at least 6-7 hrs kip a night just to function properly.
btw im not judging you i was the same at one time. Your brain might want to go on working like this but sure as eggs is eggs you body will say to your brain one day no more.
right i need to get to work now have a nice day mate and think about it.
haribo4000:
ND888 BIGJ:
i know its easier said than done but your lifestyle will catch up with you sooner or later.Theres the problem, it is easier said than done.
No, it’s dead easy actually.
I love driving, i love the job. I assumed that I would get used to living on 4 hours a night sleep.
How do other people do it?Some people are insomniacs. I wasn’t. I just collapsed a couple of times.
I wish i could get the same money for doing better hours.
You quite possibly can but it doesn’t happen just by wishing. You have to put a tooth under your pillow or get the biggest bit of the wishbone to make your wishes come true!
Cant have my cake and eat it though.
Yep, I agree with that.
My family will always come first to my funeral so i will have to deal with it.
It’s the money that’s coming first though not your family as you seem to think?
I certainly see what your saying though, I will have to disguise myself so that the grim reaper doesnt see its me!
He won’t miss you when it’s your turn. So why are you trying to jump the queue?
ND888 BIGJ:
Yes it is difficult and it wont change overnight but just a few small things to begin with like your diet can make a lot of difference.Speak with your boss about changing over to a day shift for a few months you might drop a few quid in your pay packet but you will notice the differnce and so will your family.
I have been around trucks all my life its in my blood infact people say i dont have blood in my viens but diesel lol.
i got into coach driving around 12 yrs ago and have never looked back i still do mental hours but i get to stay in hotels /premier inn for my rest period and the food isnt that bad either most of the hotels have health clubs gymnasiums so i get to use them.
I take you manage a cpl of hours in the bunk most days when waiting to get tipped but its not enough for this job i reckon we need at least 6-7 hrs kip a night just to function properly.
btw im not judging you i was the same at one time. Your brain might want to go on working like this but sure as eggs is eggs you body will say to your brain one day no more.
right i need to get to work now have a nice day mate and think about it.
Apparently it is a day shift im on,
I hadnt really concidered coach driving. something I may look into in the future.
i usually manage 30 mins sleep here and there, depends where im tipping to be honest.
I know one day it will all catch up with me, Im just hoping I can be in a better position before it does.
haribo4000:
ND888 BIGJ:
Yes it is difficult and it wont change overnight but just a few small things to begin with like your diet can make a lot of difference.Speak with your boss about changing over to a day shift for a few months you might drop a few quid in your pay packet but you will notice the differnce and so will your family.
I have been around trucks all my life its in my blood infact people say i dont have blood in my viens but diesel lol.
i got into coach driving around 12 yrs ago and have never looked back i still do mental hours but i get to stay in hotels /premier inn for my rest period and the food isnt that bad either most of the hotels have health clubs gymnasiums so i get to use them.
I take you manage a cpl of hours in the bunk most days when waiting to get tipped but its not enough for this job i reckon we need at least 6-7 hrs kip a night just to function properly.
btw im not judging you i was the same at one time. Your brain might want to go on working like this but sure as eggs is eggs you body will say to your brain one day no more.
right i need to get to work now have a nice day mate and think about it.
Apparently it is a day shift im on,
I hadnt really concidered coach driving. something I may look into in the future.
i usually manage 30 mins sleep here and there, depends where im tipping to be honest.
I know one day it will all catch up with me, Im just hoping I can be in a better position before it does.
I can state with confidence you are not on a day shift mate, you’re on a night shift night. Shifts that start between midnight and four am are classed as nights and are subject to a maximum shift duration of 10hrs (including break) unless you have a collective workplace agreement to opt out of that part of the working time directive - that means all of you. You are also entitled to additional medical checks (because you’re a night worker).
I also have a job that requires early starts and know just how hard it is to get proper rest. However, you have a duty of care under the Health and Safety at work Act to ensure you are adequately rested before you start work and 4 hours kip will not be enough I’m afraid. Look what happened to the guy in the Selby Rail Crash who fell asleep at the wheel (allegedly) and ran off the road. In the event of a serious collision involving you and your vehicle your lifestyle will form a part of the investigation.
Grumpy,
How do you manage to get enough rest whilst balancing family life and work??
In an ideal situation I would start at 8pm, this would suit me brilliantly. But until an opening becomes available for that start time I am stuck making the best of a bad situation.
alamcculloch:
You could check out the state of some bus/coach drivers,they are all Gods gift as well.
I am a shining example
haribo4000:
Grumpy,
How do you manage to get enough rest whilst balancing family life and work??
In an ideal situation I would start at 8pm, this would suit me brilliantly. But until an opening becomes available for that start time I am stuck making the best of a bad situation.
It’s not easy mate. I have to have a minimum 6 hrs in my pit and my start time will dictate my bed time. I start from midnight to about 7am on a 5 week pattern, starting lates, then working back to the early shift. I get about 3 weeks of sub 4 am starts. When on earlies the family tends to get the smelly end of the stick and I cannot say life is normal for them, but I am not going to work unless I am as fully rested as can be be so I can ensure I do my best to come home to them at the end of the day - sorry night.
My family understand this and they do make compromises to make my life easier, I hate asking them to make adjustments for me but its the only way to get some sort of rest.
Employers cannot see the problems they cause at home as they think they own you and I’m sure they think we are robots. Truth be known we are not paid enough to put up with this crap.
And employers think it’s perfectly reasonable for you to lead this lifestyle with minimum extra renumeration.
unfortunately,there’s no way out for most because they are living 800 pound a week lifestyles but only have 300 pound a week jobs.
commonrail:
And employers think it’s perfectly reasonable for you to lead this lifestyle with minimum extra renumeration.
unfortunately,there’s no way out for most because they are living 800 pound a week lifestyles but only have 300 pound a week jobs.
Very true.
Inflation in cost of living is the problem. wages haven’t risen to match this therefore need to work more to keep up.