Van drivers spend a month behind the wheel every year - and worry about healthy eating

Over a 3rd of van drivers consciousness restricted successful their eating options owed to their occupation and fearfulness relying connected unhealthy snacks whitethorn person semipermanent consequences for their wellbeing

A survey of 500 van-driving workers shows they're parked successful their vans for an mean of 3 hours daily, consequently, clocking up the hours equivalent to a full period each twelvemonth down the wheel.

This has pb to 1 successful 5 having worries astir the imaginable interaction connected their health.

The research, which saw fractional of the participants confess to eating connected the occupation astatine slightest 3 times a week, highlighted a penchant for accelerated nutrient among a 4th of them.

Over a 3rd of van drivers consciousness restricted successful their eating options owed to their job, often relying connected fast-food joints (43%), cafes (39%), and work stations (24%) for lunch.

Fiat Professional, who conducted the research,teamed up with Team GB's erstwhile prima and existent endurance manager for Paris 2024, James Thie, to motorboat a Van Driver Health Guide.

This usher is packed with tips for staying active, including spot step-ups, loading bay squats, and bumper triceps dips and it besides dishes retired dietary proposal for those pit stops astatine work stations.

James Thie, who's not lone coaching athletes but is besides reigning World Masters indoor Champion implicit 1500 metres, commented: "Driving a van for hours astatine a clip requires tons of attraction which is incredibly tiring, and this tin mean drivers are excessively fatigued to exercise."

A staggering 11% of radical assertion they simply don't person the clip to compression successful a workout, and erstwhile they bash drawback a infinitesimal to unwind, 44% walk it grabbing a wound oregon a drink.

Thie added, "Drivers are sitting successful 1 presumption for precise agelong periods of time, putting strain connected their bodies, peculiarly necks, shoulders and little backs."

"Being down the instrumentality tin intelligibly bounds wherever and erstwhile radical eat, meaning snacks are relied connected and meals are simply drawback and spell options which aren't often the healthiest."

"Planning up could see prepping nutrient truthful they don't person to skip meals, ensuring choices are suitable to devour connected the spell and redeeming wealth successful the agelong run. What mightiness look similar a inexpensive takeaway java and snack whitethorn not beryllium peculiarly nutritious and volition besides adhd up financially."

A important proportionality (32%) of respondents judge that steadfast options are scarce astatine petrol stations and work stations. Although 42% admit that making a packed luncheon would prevention them money, they conflict to find the clip to hole one.

Night displacement workers look their ain battles, with 35% struggling to instrumentality to a nutritious fare and 32% admitting to snacking much than they would during daylight hours.

FIAT Professional's managing director, Damien Dally, has weighed in: "While we bash everything we tin to marque our vans arsenic comfy arsenic possible, it's important that drivers instrumentality the accidental for regular breaks, getting retired of the driver's spot to determination around, loosen up and devour steadfast food."

He added: "It tin beryllium draining driving for hours astatine a clip and sitting successful 1 position, truthful people caffeine filled drinks and accelerated nutrient are a tempting option. Hopefully James' tips amusement however it is imaginable to inactive beryllium steadfast and consciousness amended for it successful the agelong term."