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Mother Trucker Yoga Driver Spotlight Dean Key

We are continuing our Truck Driver Appreciation Spotlight. And we are so excited to feature another fantastic driver!

Each of the drivers we feature has been interviewed about their lives to help others see how unique and hard trucking is. And today is another significant share!

It’s our truck drivers who keep our great country running strong. Many of these men and women go unnoticed, not because they aren’t important, but because what they do doesn’t live in a fancy building or doesn’t require a cap and gown.

Our driver being spotlighted today started as in our Your Wellness Pitstop Program over a  year ago because he wanted to improve his life, and now he has become a personal friend and is one hell of a driver!

 

Meet Dean Key!

On Facebook & Insta, you can find him as Dean.key.67

And on Snapchat, Dean is known as lazerdino67

Dean Key

QUESTION 1: How long have you been driving?

Answer: Dean has been driving for 37 years! That’s a lot! WOW!

 

QUESTION 2: What do you love most about being a truck driver?

Answer: Driving those trucks and seeing the country!

 

DID YOU KNOW?

ATA Names 36 Professional Drivers as Finalists for 2022-23 America’s Road Team

American Trucking Associations released the list of 36 professional truck drivers named as finalists for the 2022-2023 term of America’s Road Team.

“These men and women were selected as finalists for America’s Road Team because they have outstanding safe driving records, share a passion for the trucking industry, and are role models among their peers,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “We owe these professional drivers our gratitude. Without them the American economy would come to a halt.”

America’s Road Team, a group of professional truck drivers with superior safety records, was created in 1986 to represent the trucking industry and is sponsored by Volvo Trucks. With support from their companies, captains dedicate a few days each month to attend industry events, speak at schools, or meet policymakers on behalf of the trucking industry.

AND DEAN KEY IS ONE OF THOSE FINALISTS!

For a list of all the finalists, you can visit ATA’s website for more information on America’s Road Team.

 

But Dean is a family man. He loves his wife Lori and spending time with his grandkids! We love that about you, Dean!

Dean Key Mother Trucker Yoga Driver Spotlight

 

QUESTION 3: Trucking is hard. Why do you keep on trucking?

Answer: Love them trucks! And, it’s pretty hard to replace the money.

QUESTION 4: What do you want to say to new upcoming drivers in the industry?

Always be a professional. Make good decisions and keep yourself and everyone around you safe. Sometimes you need to step away from a situation and let it go.
And knowing Dean personally, that is one thing I love about him, always professional, always nicely dressed, and ready for anything!

QUESTION: What is your favorite truck stop?

Answer: Dean is a fan of the Kwik Trip/Kwik Stars. They are nice and clean, and they carry a nice variety of grocery store items.

Dean, as a gal from Wisconsin, I couldn’t agree more! #kwiktripforlife

 

Find a Kwik Trip HERE

QUESTION 7: What would make trucking easier for you and other drivers?

ANSWER: If ALL drivers would respect and be kind to each other.

Kindness is such an excellent tool for overall happiness in our lives! Dean, great advice!

Dean Key and Hope Zvara Mother Trucker Yoga

That is excellent advice, and did you know Mother Trucker Yoga is teaming up with various players in the trucking industry to help streamline health and wellness for drivers! Make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter to get up-to-date information. 

 

QUESTION 8: What do you do, if anything, to try to stay healthy on the road?

ANSWER: I park in the back of the truck stop, and right now, I’m trying to cook in my truck, walk more and stretch more. I’m also trying to quit drinking soda and eating processed foods that are my biggest weakness.

 

Driver Tip:

Bringing food with you can seem daunting. But start small. What snacks and non-perishable foods can you travel with? Unsalted, raw nuts, seeds mixed with a small handful of dried fruits is a delicious way to stay complete with limited space on your truck. Are you worried about overeating? Prepackaged those nuts and seeds in snack-size bags or containers, so you don’t overeat out of boredom or stress.

Dean had a final thought he wanted everyone to know.

There is tons of negativity in our world today and in the trucking industry. You have to shake it off, make up your mind, and roll with it. Trucking has been good to me and many others. As with anything, it is what you make of it!

Please share with us!

What do you like most about the trucking industry?

Have a comment to share with Idella or our readers?

Please share it in the comments below!

 

Mother Trucker Yoga® wants to help 1 million drivers change lanes in their health and fitness by 2031.

To get involved with Mother Trucker Yoga’s mission and help drivers just like you incorporate driver fitness into their lives. Contact us!

Read our other Driver Spotlights:

VW Lady Trucker https://www.mothertruckeryoga.com/2021/09/14/mother-trucker-driver-spotlight-vw-lady-trucker/

Flatbed Foodie https://www.mothertruckeryoga.com/2021/10/10/mother-trucker-yoga-driver-spotlight-flatbed-foodie/

Marc Iverson https://www.mothertruckeryoga.com/2021/10/06/mother-trucker-yoga-driver-spotlight-mark-iverson/ 

Idella Hansen  https://www.mothertruckeryoga.com/2021/10/17/mother-trucker-yoga-driver-spotlight-idella-hansen/

Jame “Sweet Pea” https://www.mothertruckeryoga.com/2021/11/17/mother-trucker-yoga-driver-spotli-sweet-peaght/

MOTHER TRUCKER YOGA DRIVER SPOTLIGHT – SWEET PEA

We are continuing our Truck Driver Appreciation Spotlight. And we are so excited to feature another female driver!

Each of the drivers we feature has been interviewed about their lives to help others see how amazing and hard trucking is. And today is another great share!

It’s our truck drivers who keep our great country running strong. Many of these men and women go unnoticed, not because they aren’t important, but because what they do doesn’t live in a fancy building or doesn’t require a cap and gown.

There are roughly 10% women truck drivers out on our roads. And although that number is small, the women out there are mighty! And today is no exception!

Trucker Appreciation Jamie Estes Driver Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

Meet Jamie “Sweet Pea” Estes!

Although people call her Wild Flower Blazin Mary

 

QUESTION 1: How long have you been driving?

Answer: 4 years and drivers for National Carrier’s under the name Cow Gal Trans LLC (love that name).

 

QUESTION 2: What do you love most about being a truck driver?

Answer: I love traveling and meeting new people.

 

DID YOU KNOW?

Truck drivers can clock in anywhere from 80,000 to 110,000 miles annually. Although, there are certainly truckers on load boards who break closer to 125,000 a year. Free Freight Search noted that truck drivers are expected to drive between 285 and 430 miles per day, or 2,000 and 3,000 miles a week (in accordance with the restriction of 70-hour maximum over eight days in the U.S.). That’s a lot of miles.

 

 

QUESTION 3: Trucking is hard. Why do you keep on trucking?

Answer: Because nothing worthwhile in life is easy and you can’t quit when it gets hard.

QUESTION 4: What do you want to say to new upcoming drivers in the industry?

Keep going and never give up even if you feel like quitting, with Gods amazing grace there is nothing you can’t accomplish. Don’t be afraid to ask questions be a sponge and learn all you can and never stop learning. Be patient and respectful to shippers and receivers, they have the power to ruin your day if you are rude, stand up for yourself without being a jerk, firm yet polite. Don’t job hop when you get frustrated take a moment to calm yourself, remove emotion from the problem. Communicate with dispatch as much as possible don’t wait until the hill becomes a mountain.
That’s some good advice, Sweet Pea!

QUESTION: What is your favorite truck stop?

Answer: I’d have to say mom and pop truck stops you know that hole-in-the-wall places no one thinks about anymore. If not one of those it would be Sapp brothers if I’m in the area or ta/petro.

 

Sapp Brothers Logo
Find a Sapp Bros. near you. HERE

QUESTION 7: What would make trucking easier for you and other drivers?

ANSWER: There are a lot of things that would make it easier some of them are more parking, better driver education, and more respect for each other we are all out here for very different reasons and I think if we would all treat each other kindly and help each other it would make a huge difference in life out here. Also, more programs focusing on driver health and awareness I could go on and on but I’ll end that here.

 

That is great advice and did you know Mother Trucker Yoga is teaming up with various players in the trucking industry to help streamline health and wellness for drivers! Make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter to get up-to-date information. 

 

QUESTION 8: What do you do, if anything, to try to stay healthy on the road?

ANSWER: I park in the back of the truck stop and right now I’m trying to cook in my truck walk more and stretch more I’m also trying to quit drinking soda and eating processed foods that are my biggest weakness.

 

Driver Tip:

It can be easy to pick up those processed high sugar snacks when you are stressed and short on time. Try this. Next time you are in the truck stop, get in the habit of eating something healthy FIRST. Even if it’s an apple or a handful of nuts. Even if you still eat the other stuff, you have put good nutrition in your body. Remember, small simple changes!

Sweet Pea had a final thought he wanted everyone to know.

Just one more piece of advice, never think you have learned everything no matter how much experience you have. That’s all for me. Over and Out.

Share with us!

What do you like most about the trucking industry?

Have a comment to share with Idella or our readers?

Please share it in the comments below!

 

Mother Trucker Yoga® wants to help 1 million drivers change lanes in their health and fitness by 2031.

To get involved with Mother Trucker Yoga’s mission and help drivers just like you incorporate driver fitness into their lives.  Contact us!

Read our other Driver Spotlights:

VW Lady Trucker https://www.mothertruckeryoga.com/2021/09/14/mother-trucker-driver-spotlight-vw-lady-trucker/

Flatbed Foodie https://www.mothertruckeryoga.com/2021/10/10/mother-trucker-yoga-driver-spotlight-flatbed-foodie/

Marc Iverson https://www.mothertruckeryoga.com/2021/10/06/mother-trucker-yoga-driver-spotlight-mark-iverson/ 

Idella Hansen  https://www.mothertruckeryoga.com/2021/10/17/mother-trucker-yoga-driver-spotlight-idella-hansen/