Halvor Lines Truckers Benefit from Health & Wellness Program

Special Report: Road Warriors Part 1

Truckers can get the reputation for many things and the stereotypes aren’t always positive.

In an effort to change that, truckers at Halvor Lines are taking charge.

“The stigma of truckers being lazy and third class citizens is coming to an end and it starts one driver at a time,” said Trucker Donny Sazama.

“Any health questions that they have, meals plans, grocery lists, day–to–day food, food idea tips,” said Katie Tarnowski, Health and Wellness Assistant at Halvor Lines, “As a company we’ve lost 3750 pounds overall within the last couple years.”

This life-changing program has been in effect since 2013.

“Halvor Lines has a 5K now that you know employees and their families can take part in,” explained Sazama.

Not only does the program aim to put lives on a healthy route, it also gives drivers a better opportunity for passing the Department of Transportation physicals.

“You have to be within range for blood pressure and for certain health things and health concerns,” said Tarnowski.

To make sure drivers meet the requirement, a “fit system” has been implemented in the trucks.

“It’s just a cable system. Basically a resistance bands, they go up to 100 pounds,” explained Tarnowski.

They also use stair steppers for a cardio workout.

“We actually can send videos to them over their qualcomm which is like a media messenger,” said Tarnowski.

Tarnowski can also help them with regular posts on a Facebook page, “I post different recipes and different health tips and we do various challenges for the drivers, too.”

But, it’s not just the workouts helping them achieve their goals.

“It’s a lot of canned stuff, a lot of chicken, tuna pouches, things like that,” said Tarnowski. “For them to do as much as they do you know it’s really amazing to me you know they don’t have a lot of time, they don’t have a lot of space.”

Meal plans also keep them on the right track.

“They have kind of a limited space for fridges and some of them have microwaves, and some of them don’t, so you have to kind of gauge with what they have in their truck and what they’re willing to take on,” said Tarnowski.

In a career field in need of new recruits, the focus on health is very attractive to the younger crowd.

“We see a lot of new drivers come in and really take advantage of the health and wellness program,” said Tarnowski.

Proving Halvor Lines is changing the way the public sees truckers every single day.

“I came here and my mind was changed you know I was wrong,” said Sazama.

Catch Part Two of “Road Warriors” Tuesday on FOX Sunrise.