Tips on Protecting Yourself From the Coronavirus Out on the Road

Posted on March 23. 2020

By: ClassADrivers.com

While many workers are unfortunately being laid off during this global pandemic of coronavirus, truck drivers are always needed.Paper towels, toilet paper, and critical medical supplies need to be shipped, and more people are ordering what they need online rather than going out to shop.

During the coronavirus crisis, truck drivers are keeping people alive and keeping the economy running.Even some aspects of trucking – like the long hours of social isolation – are now reasons that truck driving is an optimal career.

But truck drivers still have to keep safe from the virus, so we’ve created the following guide to help you stay safe out on the road.

Buy Loads of Cleaning Supplies

In a memo issued to Walmart truckers, Joe Metzger, Walmart Senior Vice President of Supply Chains, advised fleet members to purchase cleaning supplies via company cards. Given that there are roughly 9,000 truckers in Walmart’s elite fleet, that’s a whole lot sanitary products.

So make sure to pick up the following and keep them in your truck at all times:

Take the time to wipe down commonly-used surfaces, such as door handles, steering wheel, and gear shifter. Repeat this process every time you leave or enter the cabin. Although this may sound tedious, the coronavirus can remain active on surfaces for at least 7 days.

Physically Protect Yourself and Others

There are several startling differences between the coronavirus and the flu. For example, you can be reinfected by the coronavirus after getting a true negative test result. Someone with coronavirus may also experience no signs or symptoms themselves, but they could pass it to someone for whom it could be potentially fatal.

Due to this and other unusual factors,it is important to physically protect yourself from the virus. Here are a few tips:

  • Wash your hands often. Any time you enter and leave a truck stop. And don’t just do a little rinse. Take the time to soap up.
  • Use hand sanitizer if you touch anything on the way back to your truck
  • Don’t shake hands with anyone. Even if the receiver unloaded your truck the fastest you’ve ever seen.
  • Stay 6 feet away from other people.
  • Avoid touching commonly-used public surfaces with your naked hand. If you normally sit down and eat at the truck stop, take the food into your cab.
  • You’re still going to shower at the truck stop, of course, but make sure that you wash your hands last after touching anything you need to touch.
  • Don’t touch your face unless you’ve used hand sanitizer or washed first.
  • Cough into your elbow or shirt
  • Cover nose with tissue, elbow, or shirt when sneezing

Also, if you aren’t feeling well or showing any symptoms go get checked out as soon as you know.

Signs and Symptoms to Look Out For

With the flu and allergy season going on, it can be really difficult to know if you have the coronavirus or if ragweed is just wrecking havoc on your sinuses. Due to this, it is in your best interest to go to the doctor or hospital if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • Fever
  • Unusually tired or fatigued
  • Dry persistent cough
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weird muscle pain or cramps
  • Labored breathing
  • Breaths are shorter than usual

That said, it is important to remember you can be infected and not have any of the symptoms listed above.This is due to the unusually long incubation period, which can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. So take care out there and wash your hands!