Up Front

The write stuff: ‘Healthy Trucking’ column

As many readers know, we’ve been using this column—as well as valuable editorial space throughout our magazines and online newsletter—to talk about a critically important driver issue that has, in our opinion, not received nearly enough attention in recent years. The issue is driver health, specifically the deteriorating health of the nation’s legion of truckers. What can individual drivers, the trucking industry and the medical profession do to improve the situation?
     We’ve not only published articles about the subject, we’ve put our money where our mouth is by sponsoring “Healthy Trucking” kiosks at truck stops around the country where drivers can check their blood pressure for free. Beginning with this issue, we’ve gone a step further by introducing a regular feature, “Healthy Trucking” (see page 56), written by Dr. John McElligott, founder of the Professional Drivers Medical Depots (a planned national network of medical clinics located at truck stops).
     Needless to say, all of us at Over the Road and Pro Trucker are proud to further the “healthy trucking” cause. We encourage drivers to stop in at PDMD clinics now open in Knoxville, TN and West Memphis, AR (other locations due to open soon), and we encourage potential sponsors of PDMD to join us in supporting this most worthwhile of programs. For further information, send an e-mail to: drjohn@otrprotrucker.com.