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1. Stuff happens to the truck. Somethings if caught early do not fulminate into disasters. One thing about a truck .. lots of stuff that can be very inconvenient when broken are vulnerable The springs supporting air lines, hydraulic lines, tires, etc. Taking a couple of minutes to look might save an hour or two one day.
2. Speaking of tires -- catch a low tire and fill it -- you have averted disaster. Let the tire get hot and blow up, and all those hours running down the road will be for naught waiting for the tire man. Also when tires blow up they send parts and pieces flying that can affect the parts mentioned in bullet #1.
3. Health. Deep Vein Thrombosis and "Irregularity". It was first thought the DVT was a problem in older people then a 26 year old Australian died while sitting in coach for 23 hours. Threw a clot. Your veins unlike your arteries, which have the pressure from your heart to move blood, veins depend on your moving around to move blood. When you do not move your blood clots. This is very bad. Also your intestines have muscles and move stuff through a process called peristalsis. But being regular depends on moving around.
4. Fatigue. The drone of mile after mile is mentally fatiguing. Also, holding your body in the same position all the time is physically fatiguing. Eventually, it catches up.
So taking a break, checking out the truck, moving your legs and body solves lots of problems at very little expense.
I'm not driving yet, but I'm getting ready to start school soon. The two things that concern me most about trucking is diet and exercise.Originally Posted by Crackaces
I think there are 4 good reasons not to drive much over 4 hours.1. Stuff happens to the truck. Somethings if caught early do not fulminate into disasters. One thing about a truck .. lots of stuff that can be very inconvenient when broken are vulnerable The springs supporting air lines, hydraulic lines, tires, etc. Taking a couple of minutes to look might save an hour or two one day.
2. Speaking of tires -- catch a low tire and fill it -- you have averted disaster. Let the tire get hot and blow up, and all those hours running down the road will be for naught waiting for the tire man. Also when tires blow up they send parts and pieces flying that can affect the parts mentioned in bullet #1.
3. Health. Deep Vein Thrombosis and "Irregularity". It was first thought the DVT was a problem in older people then a 26 year old Australian died while sitting in coach for 23 hours. Threw a clot. Your veins unlike your arteries, which have the pressure from your heart to move blood, veins depend on your moving around to move blood. When you do not move your blood clots. This is very bad. Also your intestines have muscles and move stuff through a process called peristalsis. But being regular depends on moving around.
4. Fatigue. The drone of mile after mile is mentally fatiguing. Also, holding your body in the same position all the time is physically fatiguing. Eventually, it catches up.
So taking a break, checking out the truck, moving your legs and body solves lots of problems at very little expense.
I used to work for the Illinois Tollway, and I saw a lot of truck drivers. Truck drivers are some of the most unhealthy people. You can't live your life like that and expect it's not going to affect your health. I've got two little kids, and I plan on being around for them as long as I possibly can.
What kind of stuff are you checking on your truck?
How long are the breaks?