When you’re on the road, it’s almost impossible to find time to go to the gym. In fact, research shows that around 70-90% of truck drivers don’t exercise on a regular basis. And the lack of access to a gym/equipment is a huge reason for that.
Most local gyms don’t have truck parking. Ubering to one is a whole ordeal (plus you have to leave your truck unattended…). And truck stops rarely have a fitness center.
You feel frustrated because you know you need to do something. You want to be more active. You want to live a healthier life. But you feel like you’re stuck in handcuffs and don’t know how to break free.
You feel screwed because you’re mentally burnt out after a long day of driving. And you feel helpless because most of the time you don’t know where you’ll end up parking that night.
We get that. And we’re mad no one has stepped up and helped you in the past. You have all these barriers stopping you and no one has taken the time to help you figure it out. So, we decided to change that!
We understand the lifestyle of truck drivers and are on a mission to make it as accessible as possible for them to exercise and live a healthy life while on the road.
We do that through an easy to use app on each truck driver’s phone that gives them:
Daily TruckFit workouts designed to be done in or just outside of their trucks. Each workout is 20-30 minutes long and doesn’t require the truck driver to purchase any extra equipment or gym memberships.
A free resistance band, which is all the equipment they’ll need.
Daily 5 minute Truck Stop workouts to help truckers move throughout the day or get some exercise on those days that they might not have time for the full workout.
Video and written instruction on exactly what to do and how to do it.
Nutritional guidance for truck drivers to eat healthy while on the road including restaurant guides and a manual for how to eat healthy at a truck stop.
Accountability in the form of daily messages through our app and group messaging with other like minded truck drivers.
Weekly mental health, mindset, and lifestyle education on different topics specific to truck driving and life on the road.
According to a survey completed and published by Insurance Business Canada only 15% of Canadians surveyed said that they were confident that they feel ‘very prepared’ financially if the get too sick to report for work. 23% of Canadians answered that they are not at all prepared financially if they pass away too soon, the study also discovered. Only 16% said that they have purchased life insurance that would cover their remaining mortgage payments should they ever pass away.
If like me you can sometimes feel somewhat sceptical about stats it does however strike me that far too many of us are not prepared for the unexpected, the chances of experiencing a financial loss if you are unable to work due to injury or illness are frankly very worrying. There are of course a number of reasons that can be attributed to this; perceived cost, understanding of coverage, availability, where to get it.
As someone who works largely with Income Protection Insurance and other living benefits my advice would be to work with a broker, a broker works for you their client and not a specific insurance company this means that they can take the time needed to understand your needs and then advise you as to the best options available from the very many insurance companies.
Insurance has to be exact and legally binding for your own protection but it does not need to be difficult to understand, when you work with the right broker it will be explained clearly and without jargon so that you have the peace of mind of knowing that if and when the time comes you and your loved ones will be properly protected.
We all know that at some point we will die and we hope that it is at a ripe old age and so we can more readily accept the need and payout of life insurance.
Income protection of the other hand is a different story because we are more easily swayed that we will be fine because; • ‘I’m a healthy person’ • ‘ I’d just carry on going to work’ • ‘I can’t afford it’ • ‘I’ll dip into my savings’ • ‘my family will help’
The reality is that if we lose our ability to work and earn a living everything else will suffer, friends and family while might be willing to help will usually themselves be using all of their income for their own needs. Savings will be depleted this will have a negative impact on the subsequently growth of any capital that was invested and there will also be tax implications of withdrawing from your RRSP.
The bills will continue to come in and the family needs will not be reduced in fact if you have a family member in need of medical care it is more likely that the other wage earner in the family may need to take time away from work to become a carer, long or short term. If you are self-employed you may need to employ someone to carry work load of the lost worker, you.
When I am speaking with clients about their need for Income Protection far too often I am asked to complete insurance for them for accident coverage only. It is my job and ethical responsibility to explain the pit falls of this choice, what if you get sick? It might be that you are newly starting in business and so may need to start at a lower amount than you would like in order to suit your budget or that money is tight. Start where you can and work your way up to where you need to be if you have to. Just don’t have nothing. If I were to ask you how many reasons do you think there could be for not being able to go to work what would you say?
The answer I give is easy, it’s 2, if you become injured or if you become ill. It’s that simple. If you can’t work how will you keep the lights on, put food on the table and keep your home warm or even just keep your home. I could quote stats again but I don’t need to, I have firsthand experience of having to remind clients or their partners that no they are not covered for the sickness that has befallen them because they wanted to wait and add it later or they just didn’t think they needed illness coverage. It is the worst, the very worst phone call because by the time I receive it it’s too late, there is absolutely nothing that I can do about it.
The solution to making sure this is not you is simple: 1. Work with a broker that you like and trust. 2. Get insurance while you are healthy if you can, but you can still get good coverage if you have pre-existing conditions. 3. Review your coverage regularly 4. Just don’t have NOTHING, please. Be prepared for the unexpected and rest easy with the peace of mind that you and your family will be financially secure when the time comes. Make the call today to speak to a trusted adviser.
Fiona Stone – Owner Contact Fiona at fiona@stoneinsurance.ca
Effective ways of coping with stress is important. The Trucking life is challenging but many drivers and spouses are very happy.
How do they do it?
Well, it’s got a lot to do with their attitude and outlook on life and the fact that they are compatible to a certain extent with the trucking lifestyle. Don’t worry however, if you find that you are not compatible or no longer compatible for the lifestyle and you need ways to cope.
Anyone can learn ways to more effectively handle stress. Here are some ways to de stress that works and doesn’t require drugs. Perfect for truckers or people who need to function unmedicated.
In a trucker’s life. It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to get relief for stress
Exercise more By now you know that exercise is a universal remedy to help with all types of health problems. It is also good for de stressing. Exercise is meant to eliminate stress. Stress prepares the body to act. Fight or flight is your bodies state as a result of being highly stressed. To do either is burning energy (exercise) of course you and I both know we don’t actually respond this way because we don’t live in the jungle where most of our natural responses and instincts are necessary for survival. Stress causes the release of Cortisol which negatively affects the immune system (and can also instigate depression). These toxins float around terrorizing your body until they dissipate. Exercise reduces the presence of the by products of stress and so it helps you manage and normalize. Now go for a 20 minute power walk.
Deep Breathing is Relief for Stress You can be anywhere and relax, calm your mind by concentrating on slow and deep breathing. Or you can pretend you are a Yoga master or something………sitting in an upright posture perfect position but with shoulders relaxed and with your eyes closed. You will breathe in deeply through your nose holding it for a 5 count or so and then breathe out through your mouth. Breathe from your belly. While doing this for a minute or 2, you will focus on your breathing and NOT the issues that have stressed you out. I always say make positive meaningful statements to yourself while you are doing this if focusing on your breathing doesn’t keep you from thinking about the stress inducer. Deep breathing introduces more oxygen into your system which helps your body to be more effective. It too helps removes toxins from your body.
Take power naps to relieve stress – Yep, studies show that a 15 – 30 minute or 1 hr sleep sessions, the time frame for benefits depends on the person, in the middle of the day or in the middle of the night, had serious health benefits. Reducing stress is only one of them. Now we both know that you won’t always be able to do this but is you can, there you go.
Laugh at your problems to reduce stress– Laughter is a great way to cope with stress. It releases endorphins and boosts your immune system while also reducing those toxins in your body. Have your favorite comedian’s CD on hand with a finger on the play button.
Choose to let your worries sit on the back burner for the time you will pop your CD in and live in the moment for that period of time as if no problem exists.
We are NOT talking about developing a permanent state of denial, lol.
Do Something To Help Someone Else – Shift your focus. Help someone else with challenges that they are facing. Sometimes people just need a good conversation or maybe an outside voice to chime in on a situation. When you take the focus off yourself and instead on trying to help someone else with their problems, it will make you feel better long enough to put your issue in proper perspective. Often we see what we are facing as larger than it really is. If we properly assess the situation and instead of worrying move on to figuring out what the next step is in order to keep moving forward, we will experience less stress.
Take a Break – Get away for a week or a weekend. Just you and Father Time and perhaps a camera or video recorder. No log books allowed! If you can’t get away, a perfect way of coping with stress is simply making a conscious effort to slow down and pay attention to the small things around you.I mean, pay attention to details. In particular the beauty of things in nature. We take a lot for granted in this fast paced society and miss out on the true beauty and magnificence all around us every day.
Watch the birds glide, the ducks swim or just sit back in the shade of a beautiful autumn leaved tree and pick a cloud to track across the sky.
Other ways to de stress
These all help with coping with stress. But you will need to do them long term and they should be a way of life. Don’t want to hear, “I can’t do that as a trucker”. It’s a lie.
