Tips for Truckers On The Road – Staying Informed About COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

In this unprecedented pandemic the world is facing, ‘safety first’ is critical for truck drivers. Today, it is more important than ever to protect not only yourself and your livelihood but also your loved ones and the people you come in contact with.
Here are a few tips we’ve collected to help stay safe and healthy on the job:

1.  CDC Recommendations

Keep your hands clean.
When you can, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When you’re on the road, use a hand sanitizer that contains greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol. Cover the entire surface of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

Wipe down surfaces.
Clean and disinfect the interior of your cab – especially your steering wheel, shift, radio and anything you touch often. This goes for your phone too! When you stop – wipe down surfaces other people may have also touched like faucets, sinks, toilets, doorknobs, tables, chairs and more.

Avoid close contact.
You will obviously come in contact with people along your route. Keep your distance as much as possible. The general rule of thumb right now is to keep about six feet away if you can. You won’t always be able to, so wear gloves and disinfect your hands after any contact. 

For more information, please visit CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 2.  Disinfecting Your Cab

Alcohol and disinfectant wipes are hard to find now, and many may be too harsh for the interior of your cab. See this blog post by We Care Car Care for some tips and guidelines for keeping your truck clean and germ-free.
 

3.  Staying Healthy

Pack and prepare your own food.
Restaurants across the nation are shutting down. While some still provide curbside pickup, it’s difficult to know where and when you will find this service. It’s best to plan ahead and pack a cooler of as much fresh, healthy food as possible. Grocery stores are also still open where you can get pre-washed salads, vegetables, fruit and more.

Stay hydrated.
Carry plenty of water as well as powdered electrolyte solutions to keep well hydrated.

Get some exercise.
Many truckers carry folding bicycles with them to ride around parking lots or rest areas. Even just a brisk walk or jog in these same areas can go a long way to keeping your heart (and mind) healthy.

Call your doctor if you feel unwell or start running a fever.
And if you know you’ve been exposed to someone with the virus, guidance from the CDC and medical professionals is to get to a safe place and self-quarantine for 14 days.

‘Safety first’ includes tackling repair issues when you’re on the road. The FYX platform can make sure you get help fast and keep you on the way to your destination.