TCA to Sponsor Free Health Fairs on September 16, 2014, at 15 TA/Petro Locations Nationwide
During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, professional truck drivers can take steps toward getting more healthy and fit.
Alexandria, Virginia:
As it has done for the past four years, the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) is about to sponsor free health fairs at select TravelCenters of America/Petro Stopping Centers (TA/Petro) across the United States. Conducted as part of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW), the fairs are intended to guide professional truck drivers toward better health and fitness through fun, informative events and activities.
Any professional truck driver holding a CDL is welcome to stop by one of the following TA/Petro locations between 3-6 pm on September 16, 2014:
- Arizona – TA – Tonopah
- Arkansas – Petro – North Little Rock
- California – Petro – Ontario (Shawn Hubbard Ontario Stopping Center)
- Florida – TA – Wildwood
- Georgia – TA – Cartersville
- Idaho – TA – Boise
- Indiana – TA – Clayton
- Minnesota – Petro – Clearwater
- New York – TA – Binghamton
- New York – Petro – Waterloo
- Ohio – TA – Lodi
- Pennsylvania – TA – Harrisburg
- Rhode Island – TA – West Greenwich
- Tennessee – TA – Antioch
- Texas – TA – New Braunfels
Each fair will provide health care professionals conducting blood-pressure screenings and glucose testing. Other activities will vary by location, but could include things like cornhole, basketball, dog washing, pet adoption, live bands, truck windshield washing, and more. Sleep apnea specialists, fitness coaches, and local celebrities may participate. (At the TA in New Braunfels, Texas, come meet Joe Martin, founder of Truckercise, a DVD that demonstrates exercises truckers can easily do while on the job.) Some locations will offer wellness walks from 6-7 pm, possibly led by a recognized personality.
New for this year, all locations will be informally surveying participants to try to delve deeper into health habits. Drivers will be asked to estimate how much sleep they get, when and where they exercise, what types of food they consume and when and where they eat, etc. All responses will be anonymous and will only be used to help pinpoint areas that TCA and the trucking industry should try to focus on in the future.
In addition, this year’s driver health fairs will feature “activity wheels” – an idea first conceived by the Texas Motor Transport Association at one of the previous fairs. Participants will spin the wheel, but cannot claim the prize until they perform the activity indicated. This could range from doing 10 jumping jacks, to shooting a basketball from a certain spot, to running half a mile. The more physical exertion needed, the more valuable the prize will be.
Progressive Commercial of Mayfield Village, Ohio, the company that sponsored the activity wheels so that all 15 locations could have one, was intrigued with the idea.
“We recognize that it’s tough for truckers to find time to exercise and eat healthy on the road,” said Roxanne O’Brien-Troke, a marketing representative at Progressive. “Often times, truckers have to go the extra mile to stay healthy. We’re hoping the activity wheel will show participants some fun new ways to work fitness into their daily routines.”
The state trucking associations of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Texas have helped TCA immensely in its quest to get drivers exercising, eating better, and taking charge of their bodies. Each group is committed to fighting the ill effects that a sedentary lifestyle can bring and has done a tremendous job of putting each fair together and spreading the word to professional drivers.
In New York, for example, health fairs will be held at two high-volume truck stops. According to Kendra Hems, president of the New York State Motor Truck Association, “Maintaining good health is one of the most important steps a driver can take to ensure safety on our roadways. We know that the benefits of outreach programs like these health fairs are immeasurable. That’s why we continue to partner with TCA in this endeavor.”