To try and sum it up, ive had my own route for about 2 years now. Been a driver for 9 yrs. Its a heavy commercial route, 75% businesses 25% residential. A few drivers ahead of me passed on it because they didnt want to deal with all the bulk. It goes out super heavy, and comes back heavy maybe 2 or 3 times a week.
I started the route with it being around 100 stops, now my stop count is around 125ish give or take (210-230 pieces). Im a fit guy, just hit my 30s and ive been weight lifting for about 6 years now. In recent years its been on and off due to the physical demand of this route. My priority has changed from trying to look jacked all the time and lifting heavy in the gym 4 times a week, to lifting 2-3 times a week with just enough weight to maintain looking lean.
This route is slowly taking a toll on me physically, specifically my lower back and i feel im too young to be in this position. In the morning its load is usually jam full to the point where i have other drivers walk by and look at it stunned making comments about it. Its not so much the stop count, its more so it being so dam heavy. Its just a heavy industrial run with heavy ass stops. I understand the gym is a big fix in terms of back pain, but through my experience being on this run I find it very difficult to consistently live an active lifestyle where I have the ability to work out 3-4 times a week without having my lower back feeling weaker and prone to injury.
I have given the thought of resigning the route and going back to being a cover driver for routes that I use to do that are less taxing on the body, however im not a fan of the last second and inconsistent schedule as a cover driver and all the bs that comes with it occasionally being thrown on routes blind, not knowing what your doing, etc.
My current situation is manageable however its not sustainable.
How would you go about this situation that im in? I understand the whole process of slowing down, taking your lunch at a certain time and calling for help to the point where they are forced to adjust. However im not the type of guy to beat around the bush, id rather tackle the issue head on and explain the sustanibility of the route but with the way this company is run what would be the best scenario here?