I’m excited to introduce our March FIT Driver of the Month, Eric Dawson.
Eric has over 26 years of experience as an over-the-road driver, including his early years as a Teamster driver and now, as the operator of Cozy Cruzin Transport LLC. During his years on the road, he’s learned that true safety goes far beyond policies and compliance.
As an NASM-certified personal trainer and digital creator, he believes in teaching holistic safety from inside the industry — not from behind a desk. He works every day to encourage transportation professionals to become comfortable practicing self-care, shifting the conversation from traditional safety rules to a more holistic approach to safety.
Safety begins with self-care.
Eric’s philosophy is simple: “Safety begins with self-care.” He works to remind drivers that physical health, mental awareness, emotional balance and informed decision-making all play a role in how safely they operate, both on and off the road.
His practical insights are grounded in first-hand experience, bridging the gap between corporate safety concepts and the real-life challenges drivers face daily.
Like his philosophy, Eric’s goal is simple: Help drivers protect themselves, preserve their well-being and redefine what real safety looks like from the driver’s seat.
It’s important to provide your body with the right fuel.
Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month? It’s the perfect time to start practicing self-care from the inside out! And even though tomorrow is the start of a new month, it’s important to practice healthy eating habits every day of every month.
Through his YouTube channel, Cozy Trucker, Eric enjoys sharing tips about making good food choices. When you stop to fill up your truck, it’s important to make sure you’re putting healthy “fuel” in your body, too!
He suggests packing your mini fridge with fresh fruit (his favorite is Fuji apples), steamable veggies, Greek yogurt and other “good for you” options. He also takes time to freeze individual servings of healthy home-cooked meals.
Eric says he’s had to discipline himself over the years to avoid overeating. He eventually found that daily intermittent fasting (going 16-18 hours a day with no solid food) and then eating a healthy dinner works best for him.
He treats his one meal as a reward after a long day on the road, and he has healthy snacks after fasting (usually around 1 p.m.) to stay energized.
In addition, he says, drinking plenty of water is key to keeping your body’s “battery” charged.
In short, he says, you don’t need the perfect diet; just focus on making better choices. Small changes in your personal nutrition can improve focus, mood and longevity both on and off the road.
As Eric says, “Safety begins with self-care.”
Bob Perry is a regular contributor to The Trucker. He has spent nearly the past four decades on a mission to educate professional drivers and share life-changing products and services to help them live healthier lives while on the road. Recognized throughout the transportation industry, from bus drivers to over-the-road professional drivers, Perry has played an important role in creating a paradigm shift helping regulatory agencies, private and public sector entities, and consumers understand the current health challenges of the professional driver. He has participated as a wellness advocate in several roundtable discussions, large audience groups and small forums as well as going “curbside” through a national truck stop tour.
Bob’s articles have been featured in The Trucker and a number of other national transportation industry publications and is the host of a weekly wellness call produced by Rolling Strong. Bob has been a regular guest on RedEye Radio and Land-Line Radio, and is often an invited guest on Sirius radio shows. He has been featured in the New York Times, Men’s Health Magazine, Drug Store News, American Road Magazine, WSJ, NPR, ABC National Radio, as well as hundreds of daily newspapers. He has appeared on television news shows across the nation, including a featured TV segment on ABC NightLine News.
