February 2025

March is National Nutrition Month, and while the focus is on making informed food choices, the reality for traveling technicians is that eating healthy isn’t always easy. Fast food is convenient. Gas stations are everywhere. And when time is tight and budgets are stretched thin, a dollar menu burger is a lot more accessible than a fresh, home-cooked meal.

At the same time, food costs are rising. Grocery bills are climbing higher every month, and yet there’s a massive push to make food both healthier and more affordable. The goal is good, but for those working long hours on the road, change isn’t happening fast enough. The question remains: How do you eat well when you don’t have the time, the money, or the kitchen to make it happen?

The Challenge of Healthy Eating on the Road

If you’re a FlexTrades technician, chances are you’re bouncing from one assignment to the next, working long shifts in unfamiliar places. That means no regular grocery trips, no stocked pantry, and limited access to fresh ingredients. Instead, you’re left with whatever the nearest convenience store, drive-thru, or hotel vending machine has to offer.

And while it’s easy to grab a greasy burger or a gas station hot dog, the reality is that your food choices impact everything. Energy. Focus. Strength. Even your ability to handle stress. If you’re running on fast food and energy drinks, you’re going to feel it. And not in a good way.

Making Smart Choices When Options Are Limited

Eating healthy doesn’t mean following some strict, unrealistic diet. It means making small changes that actually fit your lifestyle.

When You’re Stuck With Fast Food

Grilled over fried. Always.
Ditch the soda. Water is free. Iced tea is better.
Add veggies where you can. It’s not a salad, but extra lettuce and tomato are better than nothing.
Skip the mayo and heavy sauces. They add unnecessary calories without adding much flavor.

When You’re Grocery Shopping for a Short Stay

Go for shelf-stable, high-protein options. Think nuts, peanut butter, canned tuna, and protein bars.
Stock up on easy-to-eat fruits. Apples, bananas, and oranges travel well and don’t need refrigeration.
Greek yogurt over regular. More protein. Less sugar. Better for you all around.
Oatmeal packets. Cheap, filling, and only need hot water.

When You Have a Hotel Room With a Microwave

Microwaveable brown rice + rotisserie chicken + pre-cut veggies. That’s dinner in five minutes.
Eggs. Scramble them in a mug. It’s not gourmet, but it works.
Frozen veggies. Steam them in the bag for a quick side dish.

Superfoods That Keep You Fueled

You don’t need some overpriced organic smoothie to get the benefits of superfoods. The best ones are simple, affordable, and available almost anywhere.

Oats: Fiber, protein, and easy to prep.
Eggs: Packed with protein, easy to cook.
Nuts & Seeds: Healthy fats, great for snacking.
Greek Yogurt: High in protein, good for digestion.
Leafy Greens: When in doubt, add spinach to whatever you’re eating.
Lean Proteins: Chicken, turkey, fish. Even canned options are solid choices.

Healthy Eating Meets Pop Culture: Food Movies That Inspire Better Choices

March is also award season, and some of the best movies revolve around food. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, these films might just change the way you think about what’s on your plate.

Ratatouille (2007): Proof that simple, fresh ingredients can make the best meals.
Chef (2014): Watch this and try making your own Cuban sandwich.
Julie & Julia (2009): Classic French cooking, but start with an omelet instead of coq au vin.

Why This Matters

At the end of the day, this isn’t about perfection. No one is expecting you to meal prep for a week when you barely have time to grab lunch. But your body is the tool that keeps you working, and what you put into it determines how well it runs. National Nutrition Month is a reminder to make better choices, even if they’re small.

FlexTrades knows the challenges that come with life on the road. We see the hours you put in, the dedication you bring to every job, and the sacrifices you make to keep manufacturing moving. That’s why we’re here to support you… not just in your work, but in your well-being too.

Need more resources for thriving as a traveling technician? Explore the FlexTrades’ blog, and dive in to tools, tips, and career opportunities designed with you in mind.

Finding experienced engineers can be a major challenge for manufacturers, especially in specialized fields like aerospace. Recently, an aerospace manufacturer reached out to us facing precisely this difficulty: a shortage of qualified local talent. FlexTrades stepped in with a solution that not only addressed their immediate need but also led to remarkable, long-term improvements for the company.

We assigned Ryan, a highly skilled Project Engineer, to the manufacturer. Ryan quickly immersed himself in their operations, working diligently to streamline processes and update procedures to align with the latest ISO standards. His impact was immediate and significant.

Within just a few weeks, the client was so impressed with Ryan’s progress and expertise that they offered him a pivotal role: leading an international project. This was a testament to Ryan’s capabilities and the value FlexTrades brings to its clients.

In his new leadership position, Ryan continued to excel, delivering impressive results across multiple areas:

Dramatically Reduced Machine Downtime: Ryan tackled a critical issue, reducing machine downtime from weeks to mere hours. This improvement alone had a massive impact on productivity and efficiency.
Improved Project Timelines: By optimizing workflows and implementing effective project management strategies, Ryan significantly improved project timelines, ensuring projects were completed on time and within budget.
Spearheaded Internal Training Initiatives: Recognizing the importance of knowledge sharing and continuous improvement, Ryan spearheaded internal training initiatives, empowering the company’s workforce with new skills and expertise.

Ryan’s success story highlights the power of connecting businesses with the right people. By providing highly skilled and adaptable engineers like Ryan, FlexTrades helps manufacturers overcome production challenges, improve operations, and achieve significant business outcomes.

Struggling to find skilled engineers to keep your manufacturing operations running smoothly? FlexTrades connects you with top-tier talent ready to make an immediate impact. Contact us today to find the right workforce solution for your business!

A leading agricultural and construction equipment manufacturer was struggling to maintain adequate staffing levels for their second shift. High turnover rates and a limited local talent pool had created a significant bottleneck in their production. Despite exhausting traditional staffing channels, the company was unable to find the skilled welders they needed. To address this pressing issue, the company turned to FlexTrades for assistance. We rapidly deployed six experienced welders, including Brooklyn.

Within just one month, Brooklyn and the other welders were able to make significant progress in clearing the company’s 600-unit backlog. Their expertise and efficiency were instrumental in accelerating production and overcoming the staffing challenges. By partnering with FlexTrades, the company was not only able to address the immediate production issue but also gained the time and resources needed to recruit for their in-house workforce. This strategic approach allowed the company to build a sustainable solution for future staffing needs while maintaining production efficiency.

Key Benefits

Rapid Deployment: FlexTrades’ ability to quickly mobilize skilled tradespeople ensured that the client’s production needs were met promptly.
Enhanced Efficiency: The team of welders demonstrated exceptional productivity and efficiency, helping to clear the backlog.
Sustainable Solution: By addressing the immediate staffing challenge and providing time for in-house recruitment, FlexTrades helped the company build a sustainable solution for future needs.

Conclusion

The case study demonstrates the value of partnering with a production solutions provider like FlexTrades. By leveraging the expertise of Brooklyn and the other welders, the agricultural and construction equipment manufacturer was able to overcome production challenges, improve efficiency, and build a sustainable solution for future workforce needs.

Struggling with staffing shortages and production bottlenecks? FlexTrades delivers skilled tradespeople when and where you need them. Let us help you boost efficiency, reduce backlogs, and build a sustainable workforce. Contact us today to get started!

In the fast-paced manufacturing world, lifelong learning is key to staying competitive. By promoting ongoing education, employers ensure their teams are equipped to optimize processes and drive efficiency for production. Continuous workforce development also strengthens both individual worker performance and overall company adaptability by reinforcing to every employee that their personal career journeys matter too. Onboarding FlexTrades technicians can help manufacturers implement training and development programs to keep their workforce ahead of any learning curve.

Why Upskill?

The goal of upskilling technicians is not just about getting faster output and higher-quality results. By investing in workforce development and helping employees achieve growth in their careers, employers demonstrate a commitment to both personal and professional development. This not only enhances individual skills but also builds trust, motivation, and a deeper connection to company goals. These benefits create a more engaged and productive workforce while increasing employee retention.

How Does FlexTrades Help?

FlexTrades has a deep roster of technicians specializing in everything from assembly, fabrication, machining, maintenance, inspection, welding, and more. Many of our traveling skilled trades pros have built their expertise across multiple FlexTrades assignments, gaining valuable experience in various manufacturing sectors, including aerospace, automotive, food, and chemical. This diversified experience, combined with high-level technical and soft skills, results in technicians ideally suited to help develop, perfect, and deliver training to any manufacturer’s in-house workforce.

The technicians we deploy have superior skill sets, but not superior mindsets. They integrate easily into any manufacturing workforce and can boost internal training of full-time staff seamlessly. Because of their wide range of training and experience, FlexTrades technicians bring a unique perspective that adds value to any training program. From safety standards to quality inspection best practices to optimizing production processes, our technicians can help improve training in ways that enhance real-world output and streamline operations for peak efficiency.

A Strategic Workforce Solution

Partnering with FlexTrades for your manufacturing business not only delivers skilled, dedicated, and experienced technicians to fill your production gaps but also adds a unique asset to your workforce toolbox. The mentoring that happens naturally with our technicians, whether they are deployed in true trainer roles or not, leads to increased productivity, reduced downtime, improved employee retention, and an overall boost to your facility’s preparedness for any production hurdle or spike in demand.

Your workforce is your greatest asset. Invest in its growth, optimize efficiency, and build a stronger future with FlexTrades. Connect with our team today to explore tailored solutions for your manufacturing needs.

Something big is happening in U.S. manufacturing.

ArcelorMittal, the second-largest steel producer in the world, just announced a $0.9 billion investment in a new steel manufacturing facility in Calvert, Alabama. The plant is set to open in 2027 and will produce 150 kilotons of non-grain-oriented electrical steel (NOES) every year. If that sounds technical, here’s what matters. This type of steel is critical for producing full-size pickups, SUVs, and other larger vehicles, and with hybrid sales climbing to a five-year high, demand is only growing.

Manufacturers are spending billions to expand production and secure supply chains, but no one is talking about the most important factor in all of this. Labor.

Steel plants do not run on investments alone. Manufacturing does not move without skilled tradespeople. It takes machinists, welders, millwrights, CNC programmers, and industrial maintenance technicians to bring these billion-dollar projects to life.

Right now, there aren’t enough of them to meet the demand.

Manufacturing is Surging. The Workforce is Not.

The U.S. automotive sector is booming. Automakers are building more. Supply chains are stretching farther. Investments like ArcelorMittal’s are only the beginning. That is all great news for the industry, but it exposes a problem that keeps getting worse. There are not enough skilled workers to keep up.

A lack of available talent means missed deadlines, supply chain disruptions, and production delays. When major manufacturing expansions happen, companies need highly trained, ready-to-go technicians who can hit the ground running. That is where FlexTrades steps in.

We specialize in solving workforce gaps before they become production problems. We do not just place people in jobs. We deploy skilled tradespeople exactly where and when they are needed. That is the difference between keeping up with demand and falling behind.

The Future of U.S. Manufacturing is Skilled Labor

ArcelorMittal’s $0.9 billion plant is a bet on the future of U.S. manufacturing. It is proof that production is not slowing down. It is also a reminder that technology and infrastructure are only part of the equation. A factory filled with state-of-the-art machines is worthless if there is no one to run them.

Manufacturers must shift the way they think about workforce strategy. Investing in the right people is just as important as investing in new plants, new equipment, and new technology. Without a scalable, flexible workforce, growth is nothing more than potential.

The companies that will thrive in this new era of U.S. manufacturing are the ones that prioritize skilled labor as a competitive advantage.

FlexTrades is already doing that.

Let’s Build the Future of U.S. Manufacturing Together

If you are a manufacturer looking for skilled tradespeople to meet growing demand, let’s talk. If you are a highly trained worker looking for opportunities to work on exciting projects across the country, we want to hear from you.

The future of manufacturing belongs to those who are ready to build it.