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6 • OCTOBER 2022 NATION THETRUCKER.COM Walking can be as good as medication — without a prescription THE TRUCKER TRAINER BOB PERRY If you have read my columns in the past, you know I believe this: When it comes to weight loss it’s always about movement and what you put in your mouth. The next time you have a DOT exam, if your doctor tells you need to lose weight to manage your blood pressure, you might wind up with a prescription for medication. While you should always follow your doctor’s orders, here’s a proven “medication” that doesn’t require a prescription — walking. We all know that any physical activity can boost your overall health, and walking delivers extra value when time is sensitive for professional drivers. Here are some extra value points offered by walking. • Walking doesn’t require special equipment; just invest in a good pair of shoes. Much like your truck, good tread on your feet makes a difference in performance, mileage and smoother ride. • Walking helps control your appetite. It also helps to burn calories — which supports weight loss. • Walking reduces stress levels. This is my favorite benefit of walking, and it really does work! I have found interval walking to be the most effective, as it fits a driver’s tight time schedule and is easy on the joints. After a brief five-minute warm up, pick up the pace for 30 seconds and then slow it down for two minutes. Repeat. • Studies show that walking reduces arthritis-related pain. Walking protects the joints — especially the knees and hips, which are most susceptible to osteoarthritis — by lubricating them and strengthening your stabilizer muscles that support them. • Walking, along with good nutrition and a vitamin regimen, can help boost your immune system. This is especially important during cold and flu season. In closing, please note that these benefits work best when you incorporate walking into your daily lifestyle. Give yourself at least 30 days to feel the difference; you will feel it first and, after a period of time, you will see the difference. Good luck, and thanks for all you do for all of us every day. Known as The Trucker Trainer, Bob Perry has played a critical role in the paradigm shift of regulatory agencies, private and public sector entities, and consumers to understand the driver health challenge. Perry can be reached at truckertrainer@icloud.com. 8 iStock Photo Walking is a great way to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. It doesn’t require any special equipment other than a good pair of shoes, and can be as simple as taking a couple of extra laps around the truck. Crockett’s Pack ‘n Ship A VIRTUAL SECRETARY, NOTARY & MAIL SERVICE SCAN FOR VIRTUAL NOTARY SERVICE SCAN FOR VIRTUAL MAIL SERVICE VIRTUAL NOTARY SERVICE ✔ SELECT ANY NOTARY YOU’D LIKE. ✔ YOU EMAIL YOUR DOCUMENT TO NOTARIZE. VIRTUAL MAIL SERVICE ✔ SEND ALL YOUR PACKAGES TO OUR LOCATION. ✔ YOU RECIEVE AN EMAIL NOTIFICATION WITH THE IMAGE. CALL US TODAY AT 936-243-6074
THETRUCKER.COM NATION OCTOBER 2022 • 7 As rail strike loomed in mid-September, Biden stepped in to help avert it THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — As of this writing in mid- September, rail companies and their workers had reached a tentative agreement to avert a nationwide strike that could have shut down the nation’s freight trains and devastated the economy less than two months before the midterm elections. President Joe Biden announced the deal, which emerged from a marathon 20-hour negotiating session at the Labor Department and came just one day before the threatened walkout. “This agreement is validation of what I’ve always believed — unions and management can work together … for the benefit of everyone,” Biden said at the White House. The deal, which includes a 24% pay raise, will go to union members for a vote after a cooling-off period of several weeks. American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear congratulated the nation’s freight railroads and their unions on reaching a deal and averting a potentially economically catastrophic strike. “Our supply chain is entirely interdependent, making the potential for a nationwide rail stoppage a serious threat to our nation’s economic and national security,” Spear said. “We applaud both sides for reaching a tentative agreement that averts this outcome and permits our supply chain to continue climbing out of this COVID-induced rut.” Earlier in the month, Spear sent a letter to Capitol Hill warning of the risks of a nationwide rail strike. Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, also praised the tentative deal. “We are extremely pleased both sides were able to arrive at an agreement,” he said. “Our nation’s railroads are integral to the success of the American farmer. Without cost-effective, reliable rail service, so much of what farmers produce will never connect with our domestic and international customers. Biden made a key phone call on the evening of Sept. 14 to Labor Secretary Marty Walsh as negotiators were talking and being offered Italian food for dinner, according to White House officials who insisted on anonymity to discuss the conversations. On speakerphone, the president urged both sides to get a deal done and to consider the harm that a shutdown would inflict on families, farmers and businesses, the officials said. The five-year deal, retroactive to 2020, also includes $5,000 in bonuses. The railroads agreed SEE RAIL ON PAGE 21 AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar Norfolk Southern locomotives are moved in the Conway Terminal in Conway, Pennsylvania, Thursday, Sept. 15. INTERMODAL cont. from Page 3 into the facility. Some facilities are run very efficiently and keep wait time as short as possible; others, not so much. Maintenance of chassis can be a problem, too. Chassis are often owned by the shipping line and rented to the carriers who pull them. Carriers are often reluctant to repair a chassis they don’t own, especially when reimbursement from the chassis owner takes a long time — or doesn’t happen at all. Ports and rail yards often deal with maintenance by inspecting trucks that are on their way out of the facility. There is often a long line for inspection and another wait if repairs are need, so some drivers would rather take their chances if they haven’t seen a visible problem with the chassis. When drivers have to hook up to a chassis first, they may have difficulty finding one in good repair. Drivers often would rather deliver the chassis to the facility with a flat tire or a mechanical issue than take the time to get it fixed on the road, especially if the distance isn’t very far. Drivers can also be unkind to one another when it comes to chassis. It’s not uncommon to find a chassis that’s missing lights, lug nuts or any other item a driver might have needed to make another chassis roadworthy. Other disadvantages of intermodal trucking include lower compensation than longer-distance forms of trucking. Since the U.S. imports much more than it exports, it can be difficult to find a load returning to the port for shipment, and deadheading is often a possibility. Additionally, since chassis are usually owned by shipping lines, they can’t be used to haul containers belonging to another shipping line unless the two companies have a cooperation agreement. For example, a driver may return a chassis owned by Maersk to the port and need to pick up a different chassis to haul the next container that’s owned by another company. Even when owned by the same company, containers can be different sizes. For example, a 40-foot container won’t fit on a chassis made for a 20-foot container. Another drawback to intermodal is that drivers often don’t know anything about the cargo, its weight or how it was loaded. Paperwork, such as bills of lading, are often created in another country, where people speak a different language and use different measurement methods — all of which may not translate perfectly. Often, cargo information such as weights is more of an estimation than reality. Containers are sealed, so drivers usually can’t get a look at how cargo is loaded, making it difficult to predict if the load is top-heavy or leans to one side. Intermodal trucking can be rewarding, providing steady income and home time for many drivers, but there are also unique challenges. Drivers who are considering taking on the job would be wise to ask plenty of questions about potential miles and income. Speaking with experienced drivers is a must, since they can provide accurate information about carriers, customers and port and rail facilities. It isn’t uncommon for a driver to have worked for several carriers in the area, and he or she should be able to provide information about each. 8 MA<strong>TT</strong>ER cont. from Page 4 that particularly focuses on releasing the shoulders, underarm area and lower back. Grab the truck step, bench or bar and sit back; breathe deep and relax your arms to stretch deep. 7. Walking is a great way to keep your lymphatic system working optimally. Lack of movement is one of the biggest challenges our lymphatic system faces, and every minute counts. Walk in place, add an extra lap about your truck or walk a lap around the parking lot — it all adds up. Finally, don’t forget to hydrate. Your lymphatic system and circulatory system rely heavily on fluids — not soda or coffee, but water. As a bonus, try adding a pinch of Celtic INFLATION cont. from Page 1 just beginning to start downward. Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst at industry forecaster ACT Research, thinks current conditions may help keep a recession from being as bad as it could be. “We believe wage inflation needs to moderate before the Fed can begin turning away from tighter monetary policy,” he said in a recent press release. “As long as the jobs report remains strong, wage inflation may prove stubbornly persistent — which could in turn lead to a more-aggressive-for-longer rate hike.” Vieth identified three factors that could help mitigate a downturn, at least for trucking. “Carrier profits and profitability were at record levels in 2021, and contract freight sea salt for a boost in essential minerals. As a driver, it may seem difficult to take care of your health, but a little goes a long way. Pick just one of the moves above and commit to doing it every day for a week. The next week, add a second move; the third week, add another. You’ll slowly build up a routine that promotes not just breast health, but your best health today, tomorrow and for years to come. Hope Zvara is the CEO of Mother Trucker Yoga, a company devoted to improving truck drivers’ fitness and wellness standards. She has been featured in Forbes and Yahoo News, and is a regular guest on SiriusXM Radio. Her practical strategies show drivers how they can go from unhealthy and out of options to feeling good again. For more information, visit www. mothertruckeryoga.com. 8 rates are still expected to rise by high single digits this year,” he explained. “Vehicle demand remains healthy, if moderating from here, with pent-up demand and low inventories expected to help mitigate the depth of the downturn.” And, he warned, requirements for reduced emissions from diesel engines will have an impact. “Finally, some pre buy activity is anticipated prior to the implementation of CARB’s Clean Truck mandate, entering a queue already filled with pent-up demand,” he said. “States representing about 10% of industry demand will be adopting CARB mandates in both 2024 and 2025.” While the economy is expected to struggle in the first half of 2023, there will still be money to be made by carriers and by the manufacturers who sell them trucks. 8
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