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Survey Says Staying Healthy Poses Major Challenge

Staying healthy on the road is the biggest challenge drivers face according to a recent survey of 340 Atlas Van Lines operators representing 43 states. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the biggest challenge of life on the road. Fifty-six percent said eating right was their greatest hurdle, while another 24 percent said getting enough exercise was their biggest challenge.

The survey indicates many van operators are doing what they can to stay fit by walking/running at truck stops (37 percent) and choosing water (71 percent) and fresh fruit (36 percent) as their No. 1 drink and snack. They're also eating healthier. Subway, which is promoted as a healthy fast-food alternative, was the most popular restaurant by far.

The survey also revealed that as more and more Americans are going green, Atlas professional van operators, too, are doing their part to reduce their carbon footprints. Nearly all respondents (94 percent) reported doing more to protect the environment, including recycling whenever possible (38 percent), drinking from reusable containers (28 percent) and using biodiesel fuel (12 percent). One-third of respondents use systems designed to reduce engine idling time.

 The modern van operator is also tech savvy, according to the survey. The days of the CB radio are fading, replaced by cell phones, which nearly all (95 percent) respondents reported as their preferred method of communication. Over one-third of van operators have daily access to a computer, and more than half use a computer once a week or more. Blackberries and other mobile devices, a staple of the modern boardroom, are gaining popularity on the highways, too -- 14 percent of van operators said they use these devices, up from 7 percent a year ago.

Atlas has conducted its annual King of the Road survey since 2003. For complete survey results, visit www.atlasworldgroup.com/survey.

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