The Truth About Truck Stops and Driver Health

What a New Study Reveals and What We Can Do About It

By Hope Zvara, Mother Trucker Yoga

If there is one thing I have learned after working with thousands of drivers, it is that your environment shapes your health in more ways than you might realize. You can be motivated and committed, but if the world around you does not support healthy choices, well being becomes harder than it needs to be.

A recent study from NIOSH that reviewed sixteen truck stops across the United States confirmed something I hear from drivers every single day. The places where drivers rest, fuel up, eat and recharge are not designed with health in mind. This study was not just a research project. It was a reflection of the reality drivers face.

And what it revealed is something the entire industry needs to take seriously.

Drivers deserve more than the bare minimum.

Study Source

A Pilot Study of Healthy Living Options at 16 Truck Stops Across the United States

NIOSH 2017

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5373917/

https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/44893

What Researchers Found

Researchers looked at each truck stop for cleanliness, nutrition, physical activity options, safety, access to healthcare and general comfort.

Here is what they found and it will not surprise most drivers at all.

The Good

Every truck stop in the study did have showers and basic amenities. Many offered laundry services, a lounge area, nearby hotels and internet access. These are helpful and they matter, but they do not automatically support long term health.

They are simply essentials.

The Not So Good

Now for the part that every driver already knows but the industry often overlooks.

There were no exercise facilities

Not one location had a space for movement or even a small fitness area.

Walking paths were almost nonexistent

More than eighty percent of the locations had no walking path at all which means that if a driver wants to stretch their legs they are weaving through truck traffic or potholes.

Access to healthcare was very limited

Almost all the locations had no medical clinic on site and nothing nearby that a truck could realistically access.

Fresh food was not consistently available

About half of the stops did not offer fresh fruit, and more than one-third did not offer fresh vegetables. Healthy ready to eat options were extremely limited.

Safety was a major concern

Many locations had poor lighting, no pedestrian-friendly areas, and mixed traffic flow, which discourages drivers from stepping out of the cab.

What This Means for Drivers

This study makes something very clear. The environment around a driver affects daily decisions and long term health outcomes. When fresh food is difficult to find, safe walking areas do not exist, and healthcare is out of reach, it becomes much harder to maintain good health.

This is not a personal failure. It is an environmental and structural barrier.

Other public health research shows that people make healthier choices when their surroundings make those choices accessible and realistic. Drivers are no different. In fact, they are affected even more strongly because of the amount of time they spend away from home.

Where the Hope Comes In

Even with all these challenges, drivers are not powerless. You can take small steps right where you are. And those small steps add up.

This is the heart of Mother Trucker Yoga. We focus on small practical movements and simple habits you can use inside your truck, outside your truck or anywhere you stop. You do not need a gym to take care of your body.

Many drivers think they need perfect conditions to get started. The truth is you simply need a little space, a little guidance, and a little consistency.

This is where truck stop wellness comes in. The industry may be slow to change but your personal wellness can begin today.

What We Can Do Together

Move where you are

Stretch in the cab. Twist in the seat. Step outside for sixty seconds of movement. These moments matter.

Upgrade your food in small ways

A piece of fruit. A handful of nuts. A bottle of water between sugary drinks. Less about perfection and more about progress.

Speak up for better resources

Drivers have a voice. The more attention we bring to truck stop wellness the more pressure the industry feels to prioritize it.

Support driver-focused wellness programs

Programs like Mother Trucker Yoga help fill the gaps in truck stop wellness. When drivers have tools they can actually use they succeed.

A Message to the Industry

If we want healthier drivers and safer roads we cannot ignore the places where drivers live during their work week. Truck stops are part of a driver’s daily life. The NIOSH study shows that current conditions are not supporting truck stop wellness and that needs to change.

Drivers deserve clean safe supportive environments that allow them to take care of their bodies and their minds. This is good for drivers, good for companies and suitable for the entire supply chain.

Final Thoughts

Truck stops may not transform overnight. But your health can begin to shift today.

I believe in small steps. I believe in meeting drivers where they are. And I think that when drivers are given realistic wellness tools they make incredibly positive changes.

Let us keep raising awareness and raising expectations for truck stop wellness and for driver well-being as a whole.

You deserve that and so much more.

With wellness and gratitude

Hope Zvara

Mother Trucker Yoga

Small changes with big results