Author: Casey Nighbor

Staying safe on the road this Fourth of July

Posted on by Casey Nighbor

July may be known for patriotic parties, long days at the beach, and general summer fun — but it’s also a dangerous month to be out on the roads driving. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has previously noted that the Fourth of July is the most hazardous day to be out on the roads.

In addition, people sharing the roadways are likely to be distracted, in a rush, or possibly impaired. 

First and foremost, practicing space management is key. If you distance yourself as a driver, you have the highest chance to mitigate yourself being exposed to a collision.

In addition to space management, use these six best practices while sharing the road with distracted drivers:

  1. Watch your speed: If you find yourself outpacing the traffic around you, slow down. Additionally, remember to reduce your speed if you’re driving in areas where there may be families and large groups of people.  Also, remember to keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, particularly in construction zones.
  2. Be mindful of the weather: The Fourth of July falls right in the middle of thunderstorm season, so severe weather safetyis a must for truckers. We all know that the weather can change quickly in many parts of the country, so it’s important to check the weather for your route ahead of time. If there’s a chance of severe weather, consider taking an alternate route if you can’t monitor the weather and conditions become too dangerous to drive.
  3. Expect delays:  With a high volume of people on the road at the same time, it’s very possible that truck drivers will be exposed to heavy traffic, specifically in areas where camping, boating, and other outdoor activities are in heavy demand.  Be sure to plan your route ahead of time and account for potential delays. 
  4. Limit distractions: Cell phones, eating and fatigue are three key factors to distracted driving. While it’s possible to talk while keeping your eyes on the road, it’s still a distraction and it causes the driver to lose focus on the primary objective. Never use a handheld device while operating a CMV, in addition, try not to eat while you’re driving. 
  5. Rest up: Make sure you’re rested prior to starting your shift. Often times than not, a truck driver is trying to juggle their workload while trying to participate in family gatherings. It can become overwhelming and the element of fatigue becomes a hazard.
  6. Maintain your truck: Summertime can really take a toll on trucks, so make sure your truck is well-maintained. During the summer months, it’s a good idea to check your tire pressure more regularly to avoid blowouts. If your tires are under-inflated, fix the problem as soon as you can.

While many, if not all of these tips apply and benefit trucks year-round, implementing small safety procedures can make a big difference for you, and everyone else on the road.

Looking for more insight on how to best stay safe on the road? Check out our ultimate guide to truck driver safety.

Celebrating Veterans Day at Centerline

Posted on by Casey Nighbor

At Centerline Drivers, we thank all of our veterans for their service. Here is one story of what being a veteran means to our employees. 

John Trahan

Director of Business Development – Centerline Drivers

John Trahan comes from a military family. He served in the Air Force from 1985-89, assigned to the 31st security police squadron in Homestead, Fla., where he worked with a global security group, spending lonely nights guarding flight lines, aircraft and other Air Force assets and personnel. Between important global security work during the Cold War, Iran Contra and strife in Central America were a lot of lonely nights alone guarding the main gate, learning to develop patience and remain vigilant.

“Patience is a virtue when it comes to being in the Air Force or a sales leader,” he said. “You gain patience but through that patience you have to remain vigilant to your duties and your post.”

He’s kept that lesson through his work in transportation and logistics, including the past eight years with Centerline.

“You have to be patient with your team, drivers, clients,” he said, noting that it’s important to be engaged with your teammates and trust everyone to do the right thing.”

“Being in the military gave me good values and the belief in the team and working hard in everything you do,” he said. “TrueBlue values veterans. We take a lot of pride and everyone is so focused on helping and contributing to the mission. At our yearly sales meetings in Centerline, we have veterans stand up and be recognized for our service, but it’s more than that. I’ve seen from our recruiters and leadership that we’ve done everything possible to connect veterans to great job opportunities.”
John Service

And it translates to the drivers and clients, too. One Centerline client — Coastal Pacific Food — delivers food to military overseas via West Coast ports that put the food on ships to go to far-flung locations where the military is deployed. They also deliver to naval and air force bases in California, Nevada and Arizona and Centerline tries to find drivers that are vets so they can continue that service.

“You should see the heart and soul they put into making sure their containers don’t miss the ships going overseas,” he said.

Handling Accidents of Any Size

Posted on by Casey Nighbor

Being involved in an accident can be alarming and disorienting, but an accident involving a commercial truck can be downright frightening. Who do you call? What actions do you take? It’s important to be prepared and informed before a wreck occurs, because the steps you take afterwards can become critical down the line. At Centerline, our drivers’ safety is our top priority. We strive to arm our drivers with the knowledge and resources needed to tackle even the hardest situations. Below we have outlined the steps truck drivers should take after a collision.

Step 1: Move to Safety

After an accident, it is important that you move out of harm’s way to prevent further damage. Place your reflectors out on the road. This will alert other drivers of the incident and help secure the scene. Take some time to calm your mind, and remember to never admit fault or apologize for the accident.

Step 2: Make the Right Calls

Call the police and seek medical attention, whether you are injured or not. The moments following a crash can be very disorienting. You may not notice or feel any pain or injuries. Remember, if your vehicle requires towing or if an accident results in a party requiring immediate medical attention or a fatality, your crash qualifies as a DOT recordable accident.

Step 3: Document Everything

Regardless of the results of the accident, it is important to make sure you are protected. Always report an accident, no matter how small. Police officers that arrive at the scene will also be completing their own report – always ask for a copy. Take pictures from every angle of the truck, and make sure to get close-ups of any damage, including damage to other vehicles. The goal is to tell the story of what happened if things progress legally.

Fill out an accident report as early as possible so you don’t miss a single detail. Reports should include at a minimum: information about physical injuries or property damage, a diagram showing lane assignment and cross streets, the cause, and your role in the incident. Don’t forget to capture contact and insurance information for the other parties involved.

Accidents can and do occur, leaving even the most experienced drivers feeling on-edge. The most important thing to remember is to remain calm and follow the steps above. Remember, Centerline has your back.

How to protect yourself from skin cancer as a truck driver

Posted on by Casey Nighbor

By now you’ve most likely seen the picture of Bill McElligott, the truck driver who had severe sun damage on one side of his face.

It came from a, now famous, study by the New England Journal of Medicine released in 2012. It showed a truck driver who had been driving for over 28 years and showed signs of extreme aging on the left side of his face. The researchers concluded that the UVA that came through his truck’s window had caused intense damage on that side of his face, while the other half remained relatively smooth. It showed on a single face how powerful that sun can be at aging our skin.

The power of the sun

As a professional truck driver, you get a lot of sun exposure every day. It primarily hits the left side of your face and body. Although glass does filter out harmful UVB rays, it cannot filter out UVA rays and those rays can penetrate deeper into the skin.

And even when it’s cloudy, the sun can still cause harm. More than 80 percent of solar UV radiation can penetrate cloud cover, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF).

While many believe the sun can only be harmful when there is warm weather, but you can get UV damage year-round. Snow even makes the UV rays more intense because they reflect off of it.

So why is all of this important to you as a truck driver?

While you may not care much about wrinkles like Bill McElligott’s, you should care about the risk of skin cancer. The same type of UV rays that cause wrinkles also cause cancer.

Currently, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime and the risk is even higher in jobs where you’re regularly exposed to sunlight, according to SCF. As a driver, you fall into the category of high sun exposure and need to be vigilante about sun protection.

Thankfully, skin cancer is treatable if caught early but prevention is critical to help avoid risk. 

You should be visiting a doctor semi-annually to get checked for skin cancer as well as performing monthly self-exams.

How to Protect Yourself

There are few simple things that you can do to protect yourself from the sun while driving.

  1. Wear sunscreen every single day: Even when it’s cloudy or snowing, you need to apply sunscreen to your face, arms and hands. You should focus on the left side of your body because it’s the most likely to receive the most sun exposure. According to SCF, you should be wearing SPF 15 at minimum, but SPF 30 is recommended. It should be a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVB and UVA rays because UVA rays are the most likely ones to penetrate window glass and cause damage.
  2. Cover up: Weather permitting, wear longer sleeves to protect your skin from the rays. Certain fabric won’t fully protect you from sun exposure so you should still apply sunscreen, but it will offer another layer of protection. Hats can also provide a level of protection for your face and head.
  3. Wear sunglasses: The sun can also cause damage your eyes and even cause cancer. As a driver, your eyes are your most important asset so safeguard them with sunglasses that provide UV protection.

As a driver, you are at a high risk for UV sun exposure and skin cancer. By taking some simple preventative measures, you can protect your skin.

Business Preparedness: Uncertain Peaks and Valleys in Trucking

Posted on by Casey Nighbor

Changes in transportation can happen practically overnight. Markets can change quickly and impact your operation in an instant.  

Planning for unexpected rises in demands or sudden declines means that your business will weather the storm easier.

1. Reflect on past seasons and anticipate disruptions

One of the best ways to plan for peaks and valleys is reflecting on what has happened in the past. Think about previous seasons and list what worked and what didn’t for your business. Figuring out what to keep and what to improve can help guide your future decisions.

Trucking is full of disruptions. From truck driver shortages, bad weather, no-show drivers and late pickups, you must be prepared for all scenarios. Having plans ready to go for a variety of likely situations can help mitigate the negative impact

2. Increase your communication

Communication is key to any successful business, but it becomes even more important in times of volatility. All parts of your operation should know what the other is doing.

Any changes or updates should be quickly and effectively communicated to your drivers or customers. You want to ensure that any new policies and procedures are understood by your staff. Creating an environment of open communication within your operation also creates a sense of trust and assurance.

3. Partner with a trusted provider

When the market becomes uncertain, it’s good to have a staffing partner who can tailor a driver solution to fit your business needs.

Whether you are facing unexpected peaks or valleys, Centerline Drivers can you get the qualified drivers you need—and we do it better and faster than anyone else.

Want to learn more about the critical steps to planning for changes in your operation? Download our free peaks and valleys checklist

10 simple tips for safe winter driving

Posted on by Casey Nighbor

When the temperatures plunge and the snow starts falling, even the most experienced truck drivers can have a hard time. Reduced traction on icy roads and poor visibility can make driving a truck very dangerous in the winter. There are a few steps you can take to help you stay safe this winter.

1. Slow down

It might seem like common sense but slowing down is critical during any sort of dicey winter weather. Many accidents during the winter happen because drivers don’t slow down enough to match road conditions. It’s always better to go slower than you think in case you have to compensate for icy roads. Going slow will also give you extra time to react if anything goes wrong in front of you.

2. Give yourself some extra space

Do you know that the stopping distance on a wet road is twice the normal stopping distance? And on icy roads, it’s almost 10 times! So, leave plenty of room between your truck and the vehicle in front of you so that you have enough space to move out of harm’s way in case of unpredictable situations.  

3. Inspect your truck (check it twice) 

Getting your truck prepared for winter is essential to prevent potential hazards. Check the tire pressure, engine oil and antifreeze levels fastidiously before you hit the road. Pre-trip inspections are critical to a smooth trip. 

If you need to apply snow chains, this video can help ensure you do it correctly.  

4. Pay attention to tire spray

An easy way to assess the road condition is to look at the amount of water coming off the tires of the vehicles around you. This is an especially useful trick when you are trying to figure out if the roadways are about to freeze after a rainstorm. If there is a lot of water, the road is wet and if the spray starts suddenly reducing, the roadway have started to freeze. Knowing this information can help you practice extra safety measures when ice is likely starting to form.

5. Be prepared for anything

Having winter weather emergency essentials with you during the season is always a good idea. Stock your truck kit with a flashlight, extra food and water, a small shovel, extra battery chargers, matches, a bag of sand or salt, etc. These items may come in handy if you get into a tricky situation and it’s always better to have them ready.

6. Double check

Poor visibility during whiteout conditions means that traffic lights, signs and other drivers become more difficult to see. Although you may be able to see, don’t assume other drivers can. Double check before going through intersections, turning down one way streets, or going around bends in the road.

7. Stay calm

During bad road conditions, avoid making sudden actions. Breaking or accelerating quickly can cause you to quickly lose control of your vehicle. Try to keep a consistent speed and avoid doing anything that could reduce your traction on the road.

8. When in doubt, pull over

If at any point during winter conditions you aren’t sure of your safety, pull over. Severe weather conditions can quickly go from bad to worse and your safety is always the priority. Find a safe place to pull over and wait until the road conditions improve before driving again.

9. Let there be light

The visibility is quite poor in inclement weather conditions. So, don’t forget to turn on the headlights of your truck. This will allow the other drivers to see you and maintain a safe distance from your truck.

10. Take evasive action

Sometimes, it’s better to take evasive action than hard braking, especially on a snow-covered road. If your speed is around 25-30mph, consider decelerating your truck slightly and maneuvering around the obstacles to avoid a collision.

Always exercise good judgement and prioritize safety for an accident free winter season.

7 ways to reduce stress as a truck driver

Posted on by Casey Nighbor

As you already know, stress is part of the job. Between traffic, tight deadlines and long hours of sitting, driving can be an incredibly taxing job.

Learning how to cope with the built up stress that driving causes can help you improve your daily life. Here are 7 tips to help relieve stress.

Signs of stress

There are many signs of stress but many of them are easy to write off as part of “daily life”. However chronic stress can lead to a variety of health problems including mental health problems, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke and gastrointestinal problems.

Signs of stress include:

  • Low energy
  • Headaches
  • Upset stomach
  • Insomnia
  • Frequent colds
  • Chest pain and rapid heartbeat
  • Nervousness and shaking
  • Clenched jaw and grinding teeth
  • Becoming easily agitated or frustrated
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Having difficult relaxing
  • Racing thoughts
  • Forgetfulness and disorganization
  • Changes in appetite

This is just an abbreviated list. There are many signs and symptoms of chronic stress and should not be ignored.

1. Eat healthy

It’s hard to eat healthy on the road. But making small modifications to your diet (like no bun on a hamburger) and bringing your own nutritious snacks can make a huge difference. Staying hydrated also helps fight stress and fatigue so make sure to be drinking water while eating your healthy snack.  Check out our list of healthy road snacks for some on-the-go ideas. 

2. Get out and stretch

When possible, get out and stretch for 3-5 minutes. Stretching can help relax your muscles and ease tension. Sitting all day can put a lot of stress on your body and moving your body around can help clear your head. Exercising as much as possible also helps reduce stress as well as increase your energy and strength. Even taking a short walk can help clear your mind and balance your stress levels.  

3. Meditation

Meditation is one of the most effective forms of stress busting. It has been shown to reduce anxiety levels over 60% of the time. However, it’s easy to think you have to meditate for a long time or be within a formal setting to enjoy the benefits. But simple breathing techniques are forms of meditation and can be done anywhere, anytime. The simplest of exercise is to breathe in through your nose for 4 counts, hold the breath for 2 counts and then exhale through your mouth for 4-6 counts. Repeat 5-10 times to clear your mind and create instant relaxation. When not driving, meditation apps are a great option if you want to dive deeper in a practice. These guided meditations are customized to certain moods or issues so you can find the experience you want.

4. Be present

Driving all day can be lonely. When you come home, learning how to be fully present with your friends and family can help relieve these feelings. Try to focus and actively listen to what they have to say about their own lives. Instead of worrying about things in the future, stay present in the moment and enjoy everything happening right then.

5. Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is critical to reducing stress as well as increasing general wellness and health. Ideally, you should be getting 7-9 hours of sleep a night. Keep your room dark and cool, turning off electronics before bed and having a nighttime routine can help ensure a restful night.  

6. Music/podcasts

Listening to some of your favorite music, a podcast or an audiobook can help take your mind off a stressful driving situation. Tuning into something that is interesting or stimulating can help focus your mind and relieve tension. Music can also help a great deal. Soothing music is great if it doesn’t make you drowsy, but anything that you enjoy will get the job done.

Check out some of our driving playlists for hours of good music!

7. Spend time with friends and family

Take the time to spend time with the people you love and who make you happy. Driving can be very isolating so making sure you take some free time to reset yourself and be present with your loved ones.

5 tips to stay healthy during cold and flu season

Posted on by Casey Nighbor

While the cold and flu season seems like a normal part of life, this year’s season will be nowhere close to normal. The coronavirus is not going anywhere soon, which means we’ll be dealing with the pandemic alongside other viruses. 

With the impending cold and flu season just around the corner, it’s important to be vigilant about protecting yourself—if not more this year.

Getting sick could mean time off the road and although it may seem like a common illness, it’s important to remember that the common cold and flu could now be symptoms of COVID-19 and therefore, we all need to take extra precaution.  

Here are 5 tips to help reduce your chance of getting sick.

1. Get your flu shot

It’s the number one thing you can do to prevent the flu. It often takes minutes and is available at your doctor’s office or local pharmacy.

2. Wash your hands

During cold and flu season, there is no such thing as washing your hands too much. Wash them with soap and water every chance you get, especially after being around someone sick. Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizer in your truck for when a sink isn’t available. Also, get in the habit of not touching your nose and mouth to avoid spreading germs.This should be a regular habit with the onset of COVID-19, but it’s even more important this year. 

3. Get enough sleep

Being well rested helps your body fight off any illness. Sleep deprivation can cause your body to run down and make you more susceptible to getting the flu. Get 7-9 hours a night can ensure your immune system stays healthy.

4. Keep your surroundings clean

Doorknobs, cellphones, steering wheels, and light switches can all harbor germs. Sanitizing your surroundings daily with an alcohol-based cleaner or wipes can reduce the amount of germs you come into contact with.

5. Live a healthy lifestyle

Drinking enough water and eating vitamin-rich foods can help boost your immune system. When you are dehydrated or eating processed foods, your body can become stressed and you can become more susceptible to illness. Eating foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals, such as fruits and vegetables, can help ward off illness or reduce your time being sick if you do catch something,

No one wants to be sick, but these simple steps can ensure you and your family stay healthy this season.

5 New Year’s resolutions for truck drivers

Posted on by Casey Nighbor

The new year is (finally) upon us. The beginning of a year is a good time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the coming months. When goal setting, it’s better to make specific, attainable goals. While the goal ‘lose weight’ or ‘save money’ are common goals, they are vague. It’s easier to stick to goals if you make them detailed and measurable.

Below are a few ideas of resolutions for truck drivers.

1. Drink up (that H2O)

It’s easy to opt for sugary drinks or ones with caffeine when you’re out on the road. But drinking more water can help your body in a variety of ways. It helps boost cardiovascular activity, keeps your joints and muscles working, cleanses toxins from your body, boosts brain function and energy function and much more.

Set a goal on how many ounces you’d like to drink each day. A good rule of thumb is to use is to take your body weight and cut it in half. That’s how many ounces of water you should aim to drink each day.  

2. Hit the pavement

Staying active is critical to good cardiovascular health and maintaining a healthy weight. But being more active can help you to feel better on a daily basis. As a driver, most of your job is sitting, which causes stress on your back, neck and knees. Getting 30 minutes of aerobic activity a day can counteract the ill effects of sitting and keep your heart healthy. Exercise has also been shown to boost mental health and clarity.

But you don’t have to run a marathon tomorrow. Walking around your neighborhood or biking to the grocery store are simple but effective ways to get more exercise. Aim for 20-30 minutes of cardio activity at least 4-5 times a week.

3. Safety always

Safety is the most important thing as a truck driver. But this is the year to make safety a constant priority. This could include reducing your distractions while driving, always performing a full pre-trip inspection or taking new safety courses. Our safety resource center can help you stay up-to-date on the latest safety information. 

And with ongoing threats of health safety with COVID-19 as we wait for a vaccine, this includes making your health safe as well. This cleaning and best practice checklist can help you stay vigilant on the job. 

4. Eyes on the prize

As a driver, your eyes are a greater risk that other jobs. Long hours on the road can damage your eyes over time. This year, be sure to make an appointment to get your eyes checked and wear any glasses or contacts that are recommended. Also, be sure to wear sunglasses to prevent UV damage and keep eye drops in your truck for when your eyes feel dry or overly fatigued.

5. Keep the connection

It can be hard to maintain relationships while on the road. But making your personal relationships a priority can make a huge difference in your mental health. Try scheduling a standing phone call with the important people in your life or make sure you reach out to at least one person a week via text or email. Even small points of contact can help you feel connected.

Do I Need an Outsourced Driver Management Solution? [Checklist]

Posted on by Casey Nighbor

The philosophy behind Centerline’s Driver Management Service is simple: When you outsource your driver employment to us, Centerline will take on the management of your CDL drivers – specific to your needs and requirements – and relieve you of the details of hiring and employing.

Use the checklist to help determine if outsourced driver management is a viable option for your logistical needs.

Download our checklist

Your Products Our People [Info Sheet]

Posted on by Casey Nighbor

Imagine a partner that provides expert professional drivers to get your products where they need to go. Centerline is your best source for placing and hiring expertly matched drivers to keep your business moving forward. With our solutions in place, you can focus on making the best product—we’ll take care of the people.

Why I joined Centerline- Shaun N.

Posted on by Casey Nighbor

Centerline driver Shaun N. talks about why he joined Centerline over 6 years ago. For him, it was all about flexibility.