Mar 09, 2017

Florida Bike Week Forces Love's to Restrict Truck Parking

Florida Bike Week Forces Love's to Restrict Truck Parking

Love’s travel stop in Florida won’t allow truck parking during bike week.

The Love’s travel stop in Ormond Beach of I-95 will not allow trucks to park from March 10–19 due to the increased traffic resulting from Bike Week. In the past, local law enforcement officials say there have been up to three miles of backups on I-1 and 1-95 near the Love’s location because of the event. Trucks will still be allowed to fuel up at the location.

Use Trucker Path to Find Truck Parking Nearby

There are over 7,000 locations for parking in the Trucker Path app. Be sure to plan ahead to find locations with available truck parking nearby. Search for TA & Petro, Pilot & Flying J, independent truck stops and Walmarts that allow overnight truck parking.

Locations With Truck Parking Near Ormond Beach

Flying J – St. Augustine, FL Highway 206, exit 305
Rest Area – St. Augustine, FL I-95, exit 305
Rest Area – Longwood, FL I-4, exit 4

Love’s of Ormond Beach Statement

“In the past when we attempted to impose 30-minute parking limits for trucks, it was difficult to enforce. The increased traffic volumes for truckers waiting to fuel – combined with the significant influx of cars, trucks and bikes during that week – caused traffic jams to the point that State Police had to close the exit. Love’s wants to provide the necessary fueling for our professional truck driver Customers, but to ensure that is still available, we need to keep the trucks moving in and out at that exit.”

Love’s Location: 1657 US Hwy 1, Ormond Beach, FL 32174.

Tagstruck stops

Trucker Spotlight - Hope Zvara <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different people in the trucking industry to understand some life lessons that make them who they are today. We also learn more about their motivations, and the problems that they encounter on the job. We also tackle how Trucker Path's solutions helped them with what they do. The information that they provide helps inform other people who are looking to delve into the trucking world.</em> <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Lark20200727-210833.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Hope</strong>, who is a Yoga instructor and founder of Mother Trucker Yoga, whose advocacy is to teach yoga and wellness to truckers. She has been featured in a lot of trucking websites, magazines, and also maintains a podcast on Chrome and Steel Radio. Let's get to know more about Hope and how she mixed yoga with trucking. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Lark20200727-210801.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Tell us a short story about you. Any trivia?</strong></h3> I had no idea what I wanted to be when I was in high school. I knew I wanted to help people but was lost among many other things. At age 20 I decided I wanted to do mission work and began to look into being in the Peace Corps. But as a college drop out, that wasn’t an option. So I found a program and a few short months later I found myself on a plane to Nigeria to live for nearly a year. That trip changed my life in a way that helped me to see that I could do anything. As someone who had struggled with addiction and a slew of other issues, a trip like that gave me a deep dose of perspective. That perspective still drives me today to help others gain perspective on their health, happiness, and life’s direction. Trivia? I am a middle child. I Have been to 7 different countries before the age of 30. I love alternative rock. I love dark chocolate and mojitos. And love love love to travel! <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you decide to delve into the trucking industry?</strong></h3> Well trucking just fell into my lap. For about 5 years prior I knew I was a transition in my career and was ready to do something different, something more. I had owned a yoga studio for more than a decade and knew owning a studio wasn’t my end game. Then at a local business mixer in my hometown of Hartford, Wisconsin, I started chatting it up with someone I had never met before, who is now my former business partner. I was trying to pitch him corporate yoga for his trucking company office employees and he looked at me and said, “do you have anything for drivers, like in the cab of their truck?” Without skipping a beat I looked at him, threw my arms up, and said “Mother Trucker Yoga”. He loved the idea and the next day I and a perfect stranger were building a company from scratch merging yoga and trucking. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Lark20200727-210808.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are the significant changes that you've noticed in the trucking industry?</strong></h3> I’ve seen a lot of changes in the last three years. Many drivers I’m sure will comment on the increased regulations. But I want to talk about increasing awareness and action around trucker health. More and more drivers and companies are taking notice of the necessity of taking care of our drivers’ health and well-being. I ask companies all the time are your drivers an asset or a liability? This pertains directly to the health of the driver. Every month I am seeing more and more drivers take an interest in cooking on the truck, drinking more water, trying to exercise or at least for the first time admitting it is something to pay attention to and work to improve. Secondly are mandatory 30-minute breaks and 34-hour resets. Now I am not a truck driver and never claim to be. And as much as these breaks can be a pain in the butt when a load has a deadline. I want to encourage you to see these times outside the driver’s seat as opportunities to take better care of you. Get out and walk, exercise, get to the grocery store or order groceries to be delivered to your truck, or meal prep. See that time as a blessing to help improve your health. You have to take it so you might as well do something positive with it. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What came first, trucks or yoga?</strong></h3> Great question. Yoga came first. As a teen, I struggled with depression, anxiety, and addiction and yoga saved my life. Now I know that might seem heavy, but the reality is that many struggle with mental health and yoga is as much physical fitness as it is about mental and emotional fitness. I went from a young teen practicing yoga as a lifeline to teaching yoga to others, teaching teachers, and then teaching yoga to truck drivers just like you. And I have to say, working with truck drivers has been one of my favorite parts of the road I've been traveling (hehe- get it). <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Lark20200727-210823.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Ever tried driving a truck?</strong></h3> I've driven a lot of things, a skid steer, a forklift, a truck and trailer backward up a winding driveway- yes; but an eighteen-wheeler, not yet. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/h1.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your trucking industry pet peeves?</strong></h3> Complaining. Now people in every area, every walk of life, every industry complain. And sharing our concerns, or dislikes, and frustrations when done correctly can be an effective way to make a change. But when people leave comments complaining about what they don't like in a negative tone without any suggestions on how to make it better and when people attack and never for a second consider all that the other has done or has to go through to make X happen, is so frustrating. I believe the key is perspective. And when we gain perspective our tone often changes. We see life differently. The second is people saying it is impossible to be healthy or exercise when you are a truck driver. I promise you with 100% confidence that there are things that you can do as a truck driver to improve your health, fitness, and wellness that you can implement today. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Lark20200727-210828.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are the common habits that a truck driver should change?</strong></h3> #1 thing a truck driver should change today is drinking more water. Our bodies are made up primarily of water and many of our health concerns can often be tied back to dehydration: grogginess, muscle pain, cramps, fatigue, mental fog, and digestive issues. Drinking more water, ideally, 1/2 your body weight in ounces can dramatically change your health. Secondly is to move more. I'm not telling you to exercise, what I'm saying is with all that sitting you need to move more so you don't end up as stiff as a board. Simple things like small movements or stretches while driving. Walking laps around your rig while filling up with fuel. Or a yoga stretch here and there in those moments where you are waiting to load, unload, on your break, on your reset. It all adds up. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Lark20200727-210818.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are the benefits of yoga for truck drivers?</strong></h3> There are endless benefits to practicing yoga. And being a truck driver you aren't exempt to those benefits. Here are13 of my top benefits to truck drivers practicing yoga: <ul> <li>Improves flexibility and mobility.</li> <li>Strengthens muscles, which can help with arthritis and back pain.</li> <li>Aids in realigning the spine to help distribute weight evenly.</li> <li>Helps keep spinal disks supple.</li> <li>Offers a natural weight-bearing exercise, increasing bone density.</li> <li>Gets your blood flowing, providing more oxygen to your cells and helps boost hemoglobin and red blood cells.l</li> <li>Assists in increasing the drainage of the lymph, helping to destroy and fight cancerous cells.</li> <li>Gets your heart rate up, lowering the risk of heart disease.</li> <li>Gets you breathing.</li> <li>Lowers blood pressure.</li> <li>Lowers cortisol levels, helping with long term memory, and fighting depression.</li> <li>Improves coordination, reaction time, memory.</li> <li>Helps you to relax</li> </ul> <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Lark20200727-210813.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What is the best truck stop food for truckers?</strong></h3> There are dozens of diets and eating guidelines that people follow-truckers included. And I think the better question to ask is what should drivers look for each day at the truck stop to eat? And the answer to that is simple. Look for foods that are fresh, look for foods that are preservative, additive-free. Look for foods that have some sort of nutritional value. So many drivers (and Americans) are eating empty calories: chips, fast food, candy, soda. And sometimes it is hard and there are minimal options so ask yourself what is “good, better, best” for me to eat today. Dried nuts are good, a container of raw carrots, pretzels and hummus is better, or a burger without the bun and a salad with a hard-boiled egg and tons of veggies on top is probably the best. Sometimes the best option is not available. So what is good or better? When we bucket the foods in front of us this way we take some of the stress out of it and stop thinking in the form of “good diet” or “bad diet” and start thinking along the lines of good, better, best. And remember you don't’ always need to be the best! <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Lark20200727-210838.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are some wellness tips that you would like to share for truckers?</strong></h3> What we do each day is often dictated by what is sitting between our two ears. Mental health is critical as a truck driver. When you add up being away from family and loved ones for weeks on end coupled with isolation, erratic schedules, and deadlines, you need to take time for you. This does not include mindlessly scrolling Facebook or Instagram. This is you listening to a positive audiobook, or upbeat music, calling a friend, and not complaining but sharing your wins for the day. But don’t be fooled, simple things like drinking more water, and getting your butt moving (sorry to be so blunt) WILL and does positively impact your overall wellness every single day. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/h2.jpeg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>How can truckers subscribe to your yoga classes?</strong></h3> Drivers can easily subscribe and join our Mother Trucker Yoga family as easy as a click of a button. By going to <a href="http://www.MotherTruckerYoga.com">MotherTruckerYoga.com</a> and go to our “Subscribe” page. Don’t worry it’s not $100 a month to join our family and receive our amazing content. Subscribe for just $7.99 a month and get new content dripped to you each month. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Jul 27, 2020 • Carriers

Grocery Shopping Tips [p]Grocery shopping can be tricky, especially when trying to find quality, healthy food within a budget. As a trucker, being on the road without a proper kitchen doesn't help either.[/p] [p]We all are pressed for time to shop and cook, [a href="https://app.appsflyer.com/com.sixdays.truckerpath?pid=Social Facebook"]especially truck drivers[/a]. Still, we must make it a priority in our life to incorporate healthier habits. In order to eat healthier while staying on a budget, it's important to look for food items that are versatile and complementary. You should buy ingredients that can be combined in different ways to make a wide variety of meals. For example, you should buy one kind of meat that you can use for sandwiches, as an ingredient in a salad and as a main course dinner staple accompanied by grains and vegetables.[/p] [h2]1. Buy Quality Meat[/h2] [p]Save yourself a ton of time and money by choosing to [a href="http://thehungryhauler.com"]buy quality meat[/a] from the grocery store. This doesn’t mean buying the most inedible, misery-inducing meat. Food that doesn’t taste good is hard to eat and can lead us to refer back to unhealthy habits. However, there are cuts of meat available at a large supermarket that are as affordable as ground beef and much higher quality. The main thing is to keep your eyes open and look at the price per pound on the package.[/p] [p]Some regions of North America can buy chicken at a low price, while in others, beef or pork is the cheaper option. Aim for meats under $5.00 per pound. In some areas, this will be very easy, in others, not so much.[/p] [giphy]<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/c1XQxXjS6A5xK" width="480" height="269" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>[/giphy] [p]One thing you want to avoid if possible is pre-packaged sliced deli meat. Sure it tastes good, but it costs a fortune and is high in sodium! Not to mention they are mechanically seperated and mixed in with all sorts of animal parts. Typically deli meats are sold in a different unit of measurement to throw you off and keep you from noticing that it often costs $15 to $25 per pound. At that rate, you might as well buy a fancy prime rib dinner to enjoy.[/p] [h2]2. Alternatives to Processed Deli Meats[/h2] [p]We aren't saying you need to become a vegan or avoid red meats. In fact, we're encouraging you to eat meat! The amino acids found in lean proteins are the building blocks for our muscles. There are 20 amino acids in our bodies and the food we eat. Making the correct protein choices can help lower your cholesterol and blood pressure as well as reduce the risk of heart disease.[/p] [ul] [li]Lean Ground Beef – Opt for the 90/10 or even better, 93/7 ground beef instead of the fattier 70/30 or 80/20 varieties. No sacrifice in flavor with the correct seasonings and all the savings on unhealthy fats.[/li] [li]Pork Tenderloin – Usually has less than 4g of fat per serving and is great for simple [a href="http://thehungryhauler.com"]Slow Cooker or Crock Pot recipes[/a].[/li] [li]Chicken Breasts instead of thighs and wings – Boneless chicken breasts are less fatty, have more meat and are versatile to use in a variety of recipes.[/li] [/ul] [giphy]<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/bBf6Eams9NmaQ" width="480" height="269" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>[/giphy] [h2]3. Choosing the Correct Grains[/h2] [p]While the most effective way would be to bake with a small portable oven, you can easily buy bread, bagels or muffins that taste great and are full of nutritional value. WARNING! You must be careful with store-bought bakery items because often they have a lot of stabilizers and preservatives in them, with processed, less healthy substances. Look at the ingredients lists and choose items that are as simple as possible: whole wheat flour, water, yeast, baking powder, sugar, and milk should comprise most of the list. If you can, choose items that are listed as freshly baked in-store. Try getting products that are whole grains or made with whole wheat flour.[/p] [h2]4. Best Sources of Carbs to Buy[/h2] [p]Surely meat and potatoes are a staple in most households. Although filling and full of essential minerals, there is a hierarchy of which potatoes and carbohydrates are healthiest. [ul] [li]Brown Rice – Contains more fiber and nutrients than white rice and many say it even tastes better.[/li] [li]Sweet Potatoes – The health benefits of sweet potatoes are endless. Full of vitamin B6 to aid the metabolism and heart health, vitamin C for immune enrichment, vitamin D for healthier bones and potassium for muscle recovery and the reduction of swelling.[/li] [li]Oats – Plain old-fashioned oats are full of fiber and help lower cholesterol, much better than Cheerios ever will. Best of all they are easy to make even on-the-road with just a cup of hot water. Top them off with a handful of berries for a balanced and tasty breakfast.[/li] [/ul] [giphy]<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/Qw4X3FwWZ1Ze1wHzbwY" width="480" height="269" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>[/giphy] [p]The key to a healthier lifestyle doesn't mean sacrificing flavor. It simply means choosing alternatives when grocery shopping that will be more nutritional, providing you with lasting energy as you travel America hauling freight. Happy Wellness Wednesday![/p] [p]By [a href="http://thehungryhauler.com"]John Heslop[/a][/p]

Jan 17, 2017

Nebraska Troopers Ride With Truckers to Spot Unsafe Drivers

Mar 01, 2017 • Community