Long hours behind the wheel. Unpredictable schedules. Fast food stops.

As a Safety Manager at Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), with a background as a trucker myself, I know that life on the road takes a toll, and for America's drivers, staying healthy on the road often feels impossible. That's why Project 61 was created: to make staying healthy simple, free, and realistic for truck drivers everywhere.

Through a partnership with the Offshift app, Project 61 makes it easy for you to take control of your wellbeing right from your fingertips, no matter where the road takes you. From quick truck-cab workouts to simple nutrition hacks, Offshift is designed to fit real life on the road.

And here's the best part: it's 100% free for you and your family. No gimmicks. No subscriptions. Just real tools for better health, built for drivers by people who understand what life on the road is really like.

Key Points to Consider with Project 61

• Project 61 is a free health program for truck drivers and their families: no fees or gimmicks
• Project 61's Offshift app provides workouts, nutrition tips, and stress relief tools made for life on the road
• The program supports better DOT physicals, reduces accidents and turnover, and promotes long-term health
  
  

What Is Project 61?

Project 61 is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and longevity of America's truck drivers. The program's name reflects a sobering truth: the average life expectancy for a commercial driver is just 61 years.

That statistic, stark as it is, drives the mission. Truck drivers like you keep America moving. You work under constant pressure, facing tight delivery schedules and long hours away from home, and most of that's done while sitting. That lifestyle takes its toll, and can lead to:

• Fatigue
• Back pain
• Poor sleep
• Weight gain
• Chronic conditions, like heart disease or diabetes

Project 61 exists to change this narrative by giving drivers the tools they need to live longer, feel better, and take control of their health.

It works by connecting you to the Offshift app, a wellness platform designed specifically for the trucking lifestyle that gives you instant access to:

• Simple workouts
• On-the-go nutrition advice
• Stress and sleep support
• A community of other drivers focused on doing better together

It's easy to start, easy to use, and easy to stick with.

Health Made Easy for Drivers

The Offshift app was made for drivers who live on the move. In fact, most of its features can be accessed offline, so you don't even necessarily need Wi-Fi. It's simple and practical, for whether you're parked at a rest stop or winding down after a long haul. Here's a little preview of what you can expect to find in the app:

• Exercise on (and off) the road: no fancy equipment (or even much space) required. Offshift gives you short, effective workouts you can do anywhere, helping you move more and feel better.
  
  
• Healthy eating options, wherever you drive: This is a struggle for many truck drivers. You're on tight schedules and need to eat quickly. But that doesn't mean it has to be unhealthy. This app gives you on-the-go nutrition hacks, including:
  • Smart truck stop food guides
  • Simple recipes you can prep in your cab
  • Tips for healthier fast-food choices
  • Ways to fuel up for energy and focus

When you eat better, you sleep better, feel better, and drive better. It's just science.

• Stress, sleep, and recovery tools: Long days. Late nights. Stress. None of that's great for sleep; not to mention your physical and mental health. The Offshift app helps you reset and recharge with:
  
  • Quick breathing exercises
  • Stress relief strategies (don't take it out on your dispatcher or driver manager!)
  • Helpful sleep routines

It's not complicated. Just simple habits for real drivers.

How Do I Get Started?

For starters, you can put that pocketbook away! Project 61 is funded by donations from individuals and corporate sponsors who believe in providing drivers with better health resources, so it's completely free! No sign-up fees or upsells, and the process to get started couldn't be easier:

• Visit project-61.org/download
• Download the Offshift app
• Create your free account and join the ATS team
• Start tracking workouts, healthy habits, and stress resets

You'll even earn points for completing health activities! It's a fun, low-pressure way to hold yourself accountable and maybe have a little fun competition with friends, colleagues, and others in the truck driving community.

Why Driver Health Matters

It can't be stressed enough: professional truck drivers are the backbone, the heartbeat, or whatever other vital system you want to use, of America's supply chain. But there's no sugar-coating it, either: it's a tough gig. An average day on the road can look something like:

• Sitting for 10+ hours
• Constant schedule changes/reroutes
• Sleep disruptions and stress
• Limited access to (or time for) gyms or healthy meals

Often, all of the above. So it's no wonder drivers are at higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and fatigue. But we, and Project 61, believe that it doesn't have to be this way. With the Offshift app, everything you need to improve your health is right in your pocket. And healthier drivers mean:

• Fewer accidents
• Less downtime
• Improved DOT physicals
• Less turnover
• Stronger teams

Last Stop: Let Your Health Take the Driver's Seat

Lao Tzu famously wrote, "A journey of a thousand miles starts under one's feet." That's a good way to think of Project 61. Your long-term health and wellness all start with one click or tap. You don't have to overhaul your entire lifestyle overnight, and you don't even need a lot of time. All it takes is a few minutes a day to start moving more, feeling better, and living stronger.

You take care of freight, customers, and schedules every day, but taking care of yourself can get lost in the shuffle. Your health doesn't have to be the price you pay for doing your job. 

Download the Offshift app by Project 61 today and join thousands of other professional drivers who are taking control of their health on their own terms. This is the year!

Thanks for all you do, stay safe out there, and here's to happy (and healthy) driving!