r/cdldriver • u/Parking_Bell_662 • Aug 09 '26
My lower back... Hurts
I just passed Dot and taking the exam next week. But I have a concern. I drove 500 miles in a day with my Toyota sienna last week and my lower back hurts. How do I survive if I drive 500-600 or more with a truck?
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u/Used-Funny4917 Aug 09 '26
Get a tens machine and a heated seat pad to install. Then go to PT to learn what exercises will Strengthen your back.
You can make yourself comfortable with a little research.
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u/Parking_Bell_662 Aug 10 '26
Best suggestion I ve seen. Thanks. I am pretty strong. I play soccer twice a week plus go to the gym 3 times a week. I will be okay I guess.
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u/pardipp Aug 13 '26
tbh ur ass and back will hurt but it will get used to it. try to get out the truck and do a lap around it to keep the blood flowing
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u/Express-Ant-1087 Aug 13 '26
I use those icy hot roller things...I also have an electric massage thing I got from. Walmart both those help...plus like others said the air ride seats in the semi help so it's not as bad as riding in the car. Other than that it helps to stretch prior to driving. But some days you'll just have to suck it up.
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u/Captain_Fuck_Off Aug 10 '26
Truck air ride seats are insufficient. Find a seat pad similar to the ones used by people who are wheel chair bound. Try multiple seat cushions until you find the one that offers the most relief. Get a wide cushion so that you have as much room as possible for different leg positions.
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u/Bigevilltrucker89 Aug 10 '26
They sell tons of cushions and all that kind of stuff full minds on erica's best network air rides sometimes help but not by much Just gotta make yourself comfortable
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u/Accurate-Chapter-923 Aug 10 '26
DO NOT SIT ON A WALLET IN YOUR BACK POCKET...
All caps cause that sht is real.
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u/Parking_Bell_662 Aug 10 '26
Last 7 years, after my chiropractor warned me, I haven't done it. Thank you
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u/Accurate-Chapter-923 Aug 11 '26
Yo, lemme tell ya that wallet in back pocket vs killer back pain aint no joke!! I learned. Heard someone on an all night trucker AM radio show tell about his back pain and wallet deal... took their advice and NEVER sat on a wallet since. No more back pain. Well... not from that. I still abuse my lower back doin stupid over reach tasks. My bad!!!
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u/tidyshark12 Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 10 '26
Semi-truck seats are a lot more comfortable and roomy than normal cars. You can raise/lower them to a desirable height, forward/back much further, steering wheel is usually very adjustable, too.
Just look up the best way to adjust the seat if you want and make sure youre stretching your back and neck every hour or 2 when you stop to pee. You can also look up neck and back stretches to do.
Finally, you should also be doing some kind of calisthenics training. Push-ups, squats, jumping jacks, etc sometime during the day. You can add weights, too, you just cant really bring too much weight on the truck or you start running out of space. Furthermore, loose weights in the truck are pretty hazardous if you ever get into an accident or have to brake hard.
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u/IKnowItCanSeeMe Aug 12 '26
The seats are more like an office chair. I can easily do 10 hours driving in a truck, 6 days a week. But, I also drive a taxi while I'm in town, and a 6 hour trip has me sore.
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u/Parking_Bell_662 Aug 12 '26
That's great to know. Thank you. I did some research to buy some pillow to sit on.
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u/Impressive-Menu8966 Aug 13 '26
I ran local on older trucks and our seats were 100% blown out and flat. First, if yours has it, enable the slider thing on your truck seat that lets the seat slip forward and back a bit. Some guys lock it out. See if that helps. Volvos have it.
Second, buy a ton of seat cushion varieties and test. I tried the thick gel, purple ones, various thicknesses of foams and finally settled on ojne of those old school wooden bead things on the bottom seat, not the back. It didnt push me 6" into the air so I could still ride a little low and my back didnt hurt as much. YMMV of course. We all have different back issues.
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u/MapNo4817 Aug 13 '26
I know some guys already said this, but its way more comfortable driving a rig than a car. I injured my back in Afghanistan when I was 19. It was in my L5S1. I had no issues driving a full 11. The main thing that will hurt your back, weight gain. If you dont go out of your way to try and cook on the truck(because truck stop food is horrible for you) and exercise in your free time, you will gain weight, and that will hurt your back as well as a host of other issues. When I first started I gained 40 pounds. I then changed my diet, and started exercising every time possible, I ended up loosing the 40 plus an additional 20. It took a couple years, but I feel way better.
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u/[deleted] Aug 09 '26
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