Jeff Clark

Jeff is a professional, over-the-road driver

Mental breaks

Trucking is a tough job. Customers demand on-time performance. One mistake can destroy your career or end a life. We spend precious little time at home. Things there need to get done. Lower rates have increased economic pressure on us. Bottom line: truckers need a break.
    My breaks get me away from the industry. I leave industrial parks and truck stops behind for small towns and wooded trails. We need to spend time not looking at trucks. It is amazing how 30 minutes away can relieve some of the pressure. It washes away with a hot shower. Then you are ready to meet the rest of the day.
    One story in particular sticks out in my mind. The load delivered about five miles north of Green Bay. I keep my truck in Green Bay. My home is about 35 minutes from there. I wanted to deliver the load Friday morning. The broker insisted that the customer needed it there by noon on Thursday. That would make for a hard run. I would have all day Friday to do chores.
    At 11:30 a.m. on Thursday I was at the receiver's window. She told me that my appointment was for 11 a.m. on Friday. I explained to her that the broker insisted that I be there on Thursday morning. She told me to back into a dock and they would try to get to me in the afternoon. I thanked her and asked if it were OK to go run for an hour. She was surprised. "Truckers don't normally run." Then she said, fine, go ahead and take my time. It would be at least two hours.
    I started off running east on the shoulder of Lineville Road. Near the corner there was a sign for Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve. I headed towards it. It was beautiful. I ran for over an hour along the trail through the woods and along the shore of Green Bay. When I got back the green dock light was still on. I checked with the clerk and she handed me my bills. She saw my sweaty face and T-shirt and asked me where I went. I told her. She did not even know the place existed and said that she would check it out.
    There are great places for us to walk or run near truck stops and industrial parks. Many of the newer industrial parks have trails. We just need to get out and look for them. It can lower your blood pressure in two ways: exercise and relaxation.