2007 October | AskTheTrucker

Depression and the Long Haul Trucker

Posted by Allen Smith in otr trucking, trucking life on October 22nd, 2007

A long haul trucker is no stranger to sleep deprivation. Even local truck drivers deal with the problem of little rest, many working 70 hour weeks. Sleep deprivation is the leading cause of serious truck related accidents, resulting in as high as 40% of all crashes. The constant attitude of many motor carriers of “you’ve got to get the freight there,” is an enormous stress on the long haul trucker. Even though Federal Regulations require a driver to take a 10-hour break after 14 hours of on duty time, these 10 hours often work out to be only 5-6 hours of actual sleep per day.

Several years ago, I decided to keep a log of the actual sleep time I received each day. Over a six-week period, it showed that I was only actually “sleeping” an average of 4 hours per day. Twenty eight hours of sleep in an entire week . . . and to add to the problem, a great deal of long haul trucking is done at night.

Sleep deprivation can lead to many other health problems, including depression. Adding the lack of sleep on top of endless hours alone and away from family, increases the risk of “the invisible illness,” depression. Though statistics vary, it is believed that depression in long haul truck drivers is as high as 30-40 percent.

Signs of depression include:

Feeling of hopelessness

Loss of interest in daily activities

Change in appetite or weight

Sleep disturbances

Loss of energy or fatigue

Aches and pains

Low self esteem

Less interest in sex

Feeling of sadness and crying spells

Thoughts of suicide

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above on a regular basis, you may be battling “the invisible illness.” See your doctor. Depression is treatable and you DO NOT have to live that way! The first step is recognizing the signs and the second step is doing something about it. Go to your doctor and get the help that will change your life. As your friend in trucking . . . don’t think about it . . . DO IT.

About the Author:

Aubrey Allen Smith is the author of the Truth About Trucking and How to Guarantee a “Perfect” Move.

: long haul trucking, trucking

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Moving : When You Have to Store Your Items

Posted by Allen Smith in moving on October 15th, 2007

Moving can be an emotional process. When there are other steps your move requires, the emotion can run even higher. One of these steps is the necessity of placing your items into storage. When the probability of storage plays into the equation, one should look into the correct storage facility to prevent any unwanted “surprises.”

Using the moving company’s storage is a very expensive adventure. There are additional charges for placing your items into their storage, additional charges for removing the items out of their storage and of course, the expensive monthly charges for using their facility. Simply put, utilizing the mover’s storage can add up to plenty of dollars!

When you have to store your items, the best route to take is to use a self storage facility. Not only is it much cheaper, but you can have 24 hour access to your goods and not be limited to the moving company’s hours of business. You will also have the piece of mind knowing that you and only you have access to your belongings.

When choosing a self storage facility, there is one key element to look for: be absolutely certain the moving truck, especially if your goods will be transported by an 18-wheeler, that the truck can “fit” into the self storage facility. This is where the biggest problem can arise for customers, causing additional charges from the movers. If the semi arrives and cannot maneuver properly around the self storage facility, you may be looking at an additional charge like a “long carry charge” or even worse, a “shuttle charge.” If possible, take pictures of the self storage facility, showing its layout, etc., and give to your mover . . . this way they can see beforehand that the truck will be able to “fit”.

At the time when your items are being placed into the storage, be sure to have plenty of blankets and protective equipment to cover your furniture. Remember, once your items are going into a self storage facility, YOU are ultimately responsible for having the proper protective supplies, such as blankets, paper pads, etc. The mover should bring along enough paper pads to do the job since they knew in advance your items were going into self storage, but many times they will “run short” and have no way of protecting against scratches and damages.

By using your own self storage, you will not have to worry about the large expenses that movers charge for storage, and you will be totally in charge of your belongings.

About the Author:

Aubrey Allen Smith is the author of “How to Guarantee a “Perfect” Move” and the “Truth About Trucking.” He is an expert in motor carrier transportation and has 38 years experience within the moving industry.

: moving

moving

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