Hey all, I am new to forums so please bare with me. I’m truckersmate05, from Yorkshire, England and have been working alongside truckers and Long Distance Lorry Drivers visiting and living in the UK in an attempt to improve downtime recreation.
Myself and the trucking community as a whole would really appreciate anything anyone has to say about how they spend downtime, downtime safety concerns, favourite truck-stops, ect.
Thanx for taking time out to read this and i hope to hear from you soon
I initially began research into the affects of LDL driving on physical and mental well-being, while at university in 2004 during this time I researched areas such as eliminating and reducing spinal and muscular injuries, the importance of proper relaxation (change of thoughts) during downtime, common stresses and anxieties of the LDL driver ect.
I have myself spoken to many drivers both during that time and over the last few years and have found that while many drivers don’t mind the hours driving on the road (as “it’s the job”) they do however often state that too many downtime facilities and truck-stops are far from restful, relaxing places. Considering poor rest and relaxation affects concentration, noted as a leading cause of accidents among all road users, more time and effort should be spent on making these areas restful, safer and more relaxed.
While as a whole conditions of manned stops have gradually improved over the years with many offering shower/eating facilities, brighter and staffed parking areas this is not represented adequately throughout the country placing drivers at the constant risk of a poor sleep patterns, crime ect. for which drivers are often partially blamed. I have been visiting truck-stops over the last year showing drivers various exercises they can do to help weakening muscles caused through prolonged sitting (i.e. core and lower back, quadriceps and other posture related problems), I have advised on diet ect. and it was through this contact I was advised to approach forums.
My work is mainly that of a personal fitness instructor for which, as one offs, on-line or where possible I will offer free help and advise. I do however also employ male and female mobile massage staff who themselves frequent truck-stops in a business which has brought me closer to the problems faced by truckers once again. My staff while on the road travel in motor home type vehicles and have a close ties to many truckers and truck stop workers we frequently attend. Also others we attend that are not so welcoming we do try to (badger or) offer help and advise on what truckers require and practical ways to their facilities which may benefit them long term but for this you cant beat hard up-to-date facts.
The reason I have placed the same question on both sites is that I was unsure as to how effective this would be as opposed to face-to-face communicating so i copied and pasted it from one to another hope people aren’t too offended by that
Again thanks for your question and please feel free to question further.
mobile homes offering massages at truckstops sounds like most german autohof’s especially the ones where the mobile home’s have little red lights in the window.
there can’t be that many truckstops left in the UK now that you visit? most drivers can’t afford to pay to park in services and certain truckstops, ashford for example 25 quid a night
LDL? isn’t that a type of cholesterol? it’s a bad thing for truckers as well as sugar levels leading to more diabetics and obesity
finally how much are you charging for your help? nobody works for free and you’re travelling will cost a bit so unfortunately even more expense for drivers in the UK
the main problem I have parking up is when other drivers have no thought and consideration for their fellow drivers or in some cases malicious noise, ie…
Reversing without switching their reverse sirens off at night ( needed in day ) , sloting themselfs in at side with radio still on and engine running needlessly while they sort their paperwork out, laughing and joking with other drivers right outside your cab, trailer swaps at side of you when it could be done away from others in some cases or bloody freezers pulling in at side of you when theres plenty of space away from you and others.
admitedly sometimes the freezer drivers and trailer swappers don’t have an option but in most cases they do.
another gripe is that office workers can buy good food and sort out what they want to eat before going to work reletivly cheaply, trampers on the other hand are stuck with burger vans, McDonalds or a Ginsters at all main services, truckstops do offer more choice if you are lucky enough to be able to get to one.
for better physical and mental health for Drivers maybe laws being passed forcing services to offer better healthy food around the clock not just fast food for part of the day and also " how to be as quiet as possible " training could be inserted into that CPC Debarcle
truckersmate I think your heart is in the right place and I hope something does get sorted sooner rather than later before I either keel over from heart disease or wind up in jail for killing an ignorant arsed trucker
UKSTO:
the main problem I have parking up is when other drivers have no thought and consideration for their fellow drivers or in some cases malicious noise, ie…
Reversing without switching their reverse sirens off at night ( needed in day ) , sloting themselfs in at side with radio still on and engine running needlessly while they sort their paperwork out, laughing and joking with other drivers right outside your cab, trailer swaps at side of you when it could be done away from others in some cases or bloody freezers pulling in at side of you when theres plenty of space away from you and others.
+1… Last time I brought this up on here I was told that I shouldn’t be in the job and that I was a wimp by one of the more tough brave butch guys on here, and fair play to the guy, any member of the public on our side that is prepared to help us (a rarity in it’s self today) is all right by me.
sounds like most german autohof’s 
especially the ones where the mobile home’s have little red lights in the window.
guys on here, 
and fair play to the guy, any member of the public on our side that is prepared to help us (a rarity in it’s self today) is all right by me.