Employment
Sleep Issues
Will Santa Bring an Answer to Driver Safety & Wellness? By Robert MacMillan
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o doubt professional drivers, like the general population, are becoming more aware of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, and in the case of drivers, its impact on their driving perform-
ance. And so they should! Particularly as the workforce ages, more drivers are seeing firsthand the consequences of ignoring health and the benefits of improving it. Drivers face health issues just by the very nature of
their jobs - long hours of sitting while dealing with elevated stress levels from traffic, bad weather, deadlines, waiting and more. Studies have shown stress and fatigue are viewed by a majority of drivers as the causes of major health problems.
However, very few drivers report any concern about the quality and quantity of sleep and its impact on their health a n d s a f e t y. S o , w h a t should drivers know about quality sleep and what can they do about it? They need to pay
attention to their sleeping environment. Here are several factors to consider: Sound! When our eyes are closed and there are no noisy distractions we can rest. Loud outbursts interrupt sleep. Atmosphere! Smoke and other odours in s l e e p in g qu ar te r s ar e likely to disturb breathing, so the odds of a quality sleep will be poor. Light! A dark or dulled down lighting environment enhances sleep. Te m p e r a t u r e ! C o o l sleeping quarters allow the brain to rest so one
can sleep well, allowing the body to better repair itself. Then there is the right equipment...the mattress! There are those that think ‘sleep is sleep’ and any mattress will do. This is not the case. Fortunately, there are now mattresses available for use in sleeper cabs that are specifically designed with driver safety and wellness in mind. Maybe Santa will bring a quality mattress to those drivers in need, and those that have been good!
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Schneider
Schneider Recognized as a Leading Carrier
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chneider has been selected as a “Top 100 Trucker” for 2014 by Inbound Logistics magazine. Each year Inbound Logistics, the leading supply chain and business logistics publication, compiles the Top 100 Trucker list to recognize transporta tion providers that offer diverse operational capabilities and experience to meet the supply chain and logistics needs of their industry readership. Schneider is featured in the annual Inbound Logistics “Trucking Perspectives” market insight report. In addition to providing their credentials, freight carriers were asked to comment on challenges and opportunities in today’s market. The report includes input from both motor freight carriers and shippers, providing a comprehensive analysis supported by empirical data and anecdotal observations. “Given today’s complex logistics and transportation challenges, espe-
cially efficiently matching demand to supply, the blended transportation solutions offered by Schneider show true leadership in the trucking sector,” said Felecia Stratton, Editor for Inbound Logistics. “For continuously providing the kinds of trucking solutions that readers need, Inbound Logistics is pleased to recognize Schneider as a 2014 Top 100 Trucker.” Schneider is the premier provider of truckload, intermodal and logistics services. Offering the broadest portfolio in the industry, Schneider’s solutions include Regional, Long-Haul, Expedited, Dedicated, Bulk, Intermodal, Brokerage, CrossDock Logistics, Supply Chain Management and Port Logistics. For more information about Schneider, visit www.schneider.com or follow on Twitter: @ WeAreSchneider. More information about Inbound Logistics is available at www.inboundlogistics.com.
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