Healthy Trucker headed south of the border in early October to participate in the American Trucking Associations Management Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, CA with the first ATA Healthy Trucker Challenge. Three teams made up of the ATA Leadership, America’s Road Team and Conference Attendees walked, jogged and ran to add more than 1.1 million steps which equates to an incredible 569 miles. To put that into perspective it would be like walking from San Diego to Sacramento.
FitBit devices (wearable technology) were used to measure their steps as each team competed to see who could post the most steps to the leaderboard. A number of conference attendees also participated by downloading the MOVES application turning their iPhone or Android phone into a pedometer.
Congratulations to America’s Road Team who took an average of 16,991.00 steps per day over the 3 ½ day competition. Honorable mention goes to Captain Eddie Weeks for breaking the hundred thousand mark (102,472 steps). “This was a great way to promote healthy habits and get competitive juices flowing while at the MC&E,” said Weeks, a professional driver with AAA Cooper. “We gave it our best shot,” said outgoing ATA Chairman Phil Byrd, president and CEO of Bulldog Highway Express, but those America’s Road Team Captains are tough to keep up with-in safety and in steps.”
The challenge consisted of Byrd; income ATA Chairman Duane Long, Logistics; Pat Tomas, UPS Inc.; Kevin Burch, Jet Express and Dave Manning, Tennessee Express and comparing them to the steps of America’s Road Team Captain Week; Don Logan, FedEx Freight; Jeff Halford, Con-way Freight; Don Biggerstaff, ABF Freight Systems and Nate Wicks, UPS Freight. The Team that recorded the most steps was to be awarded 10 FitBit devices to be shared amongst team members. The Challenge was so successful at the meeting, that Healthy Trucker boosted its commitment and provided each of the 20 Road Team Captains at MC&E a FitBit to take the challenge back to their companies.
Garth Pitzel from Bison Transport also lead the way for the conference attendees and as a result won a Complimentary Registration for the 2015 ATA MC & E that will be held in Philadelphia. When asked about the value of the challenge, Governor Bill Graves, President and CEO of the ATA replied that “You could tell that the challenge was very well received.” “I think the challenge underscored the importance that we all know in our lives we need to stay active, we need to keep moving and try to work towards being as fit and healthy we can be” Grave’s continues “I appreciate immensely the effort you guys have put into this program”.
It’s no secret that our industry struggles with maintaining good health. The hectic schedules and sedentary lifestyles that many of our drivers have make it much more difficult for them to maintain good health. Numerous studies show that if we (include many us in the office) sit for long periods of time that we have the same risk of heart attack and stroke as someone that smokes. “Sitting Disease” as Cardiologists are now calling it, can be reduced and possibly even eliminated if we make a conscious effort to just get up and walk more. We really have no choice. Becoming more active has to be the central focus of fleets if they want to help get their drivers heathier. Most of us know that we should be more active and very few fleets have the luxury of putting in a gym or have a trainer work with their drivers. “We are already working with Healthy Trucker to keep the momentum going on a follow up competition that will include many of our State Associations, America’s Road Team Captains and ATA Leadership” said Elisabeth Barna Senior Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs, ATA.
The America’s Road Team show off their FitBit’s awarded to them by Healthy Trucker at the ATE MC&E in San Diego in early October. Joining them for the photo are Healthy Trucker Representatives Glenn Caldwell, Aaron Lindsay, Ray Haight with Elisabeth Barna from the ATA.
The America’s Road Team is sponsored by Volvo Trucks, is a national public outreach program led by a small group of professional truck drivers who share superior driving skills, remarkable safety records and a strong desire to spread the word about safety on the highway. Follow America’s Road Team on Facebook or Twitter.
About the Author
Glenn Caldwell is the Vice-President of Sales for NAL Insurance Inc. of London ON. For over 25 years, Glenn has worked closely with many fleets across the country to ensure their Owner/Operators have the protection they need to Keep Rollin’.
You can reach him (800) 265 1657-3350 gcaldwell@nalinsurance.com www.nalinsurance.com www.healthytrucker.com.
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