According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), commercial truck drivers are more likely to have an injury that prevents them from working than people in any other profession. This is especially true in colder states like Iowa, where icy cabins and poor circulation can lead to health risks. While you can’t move around frequently or get a standing desk as the common alternative to sitting at work, here are a few things you can do to make your seat safer:
- Adjust your position every thirty minutes or so. Not only does this movement release prolonged pressure on veins and arteries, each adjustment might help correct for something harmful in your previous posture. If you were just leaning a bit right, lean a bit left; if you notice you’ve been leaning forward, adjust the back of your chair so your back is straight or extended back.
- Take the time to adjust your seat on a new truck or if you’re driving with someone else. Your feet should easily be able to reach the peddles, your back should be completely against the seat cushion, and the seat itself should be raised high enough to support your legs.
- Rearrange your hands. While the default driving position is with your hands on 10 and 2, adjust them every once in a while and make sure you’re not holding the wheel tightly. You can tap your fingers, conduct the music on your radio, or frequently change the primary driving hand, so long as you keep your hands moving.
While stretching and exercising are the best ways to stay in shape, sometimes that’s not always possible on a tight schedule. Instead, use small movements and constant adjustments to stay moving while your driving. If you want to learn more about how the increased health and safer driving from these small changes can impact your trucking insurance policy, too, go to J.E.B. Insurance Services, LLC here. We provide commercial truck insurance in the following states: Florida, Georgia, Texas, North Caroline, South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa & Nebraska.
