Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/34944
roadside attractions Different strokes After 18 years out of the water, Indiana resident Siphiwe Baleka could no longer resist a first love: competitive swimming. “It was something I decided: Let me see if I can be a long-haul truck driver and compete,” says Baleka, who sought out YMCAs for his training. Leased to Prime Inc., the owner- operator won championships at the 2011 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring Nationals in Mesa, Ariz., on April 29. Baleka, 40, placed first in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events. At 10, Baleka was already a champion swimmer in his home state, Illinois. In addition to playing multiple sports as a teen, he competed nationally in swimming. In college, he was on Yale University’s swim team. Taking initative is not unsual for Baleka, who changed his name from Tony Blake several years ago after he renewed ties to his African heritage. Consulting firm Fitness Trucking (fitnesstrucking.com), which he started last year, offers advice on nutrition, exercise and weight-loss plans for long-haul drivers. “For most truck drivers to be successful in any kind of nutrition or fitness program, it has to be convenient and it has to take little time,” he says. “What I teach most truck drivers is how to do a workout right outside of your truck, because you can do that anywhere.” For starters, Baleka says, replace soda with water, eat every three hours so the body’s metabolism doesn’t slow down, and exercise at least 15 minutes a day. Accidents are caused by driver Prime owner-operator Siphiwe Baleka won national swimming championships this year and is a driver fitness consultant. fatigue, Baleka says. “Just like you have to have a maintenance plan for the truck, you have to have different strategies for how to be a successful businessman,” he says. “You have to have some kind of plan for how you’re going to stay in shape on the road.” — Katherine Martin Deadly cities Los Angeles New York Chicago San Francisco 124 Fine particulate matter emissions from traffic congestion in the nation’s 83 largest urban areas led to more than 2,200 premature deaths last year and $18 billion in costs. The estimates were made by Harvard University’s School of Public Health. Fewer people are dying prematurely in recent years, the researchers say, due to more low-emission vehicles on the roads. Of the cities studied, Raleigh, N.C., is expected to experience the biggest rise in traffic congestion – 54 percent – in the next 20 years. 337 251 Reefer rates spike Premature deaths in 2010 attributed to traffic emissions 426 Spot market rates for reefer segments gained 19 cents from April to May, an increase analysts attribute in part to seasonal produce demand. Dry van rates rose 6 cents and flatbed increased 3 cents during the same period, accord- ing to Internet Truckstop. In mid- May, freight capacity reached its highest volume for one week in the last six months, TransCore says. $2.25 $2.00 $1.75 $1.50 $1.25 May 2009 May 2010 May 31, 2011 diesel price averages $3.96 Atlanta-Buffalo Chicago-Dallas Dallas-Jacksonville Houston-Mobile Los Angeles-Denver Memphis-Cleveland Philadelphia–Indianapolis St. Louis–Boston Seattle-Phoenix $3.91 $3.88 $3.84 $4.10 $3.88 $4.00 $4.02 $4.13 May 2011 DRY VAN FLATBED REEFER FUEL SURCHARGE INDEX (www.Fuel- SurchargeIndex. org) prices are col- lected daily from more than 5,500 truck stops and averaged along specific routes. 12 OVERDRIVE JULY 2011 G A UGE S