There are probably as many excuses for not exercising regularly as there are calories in a banana split. Truckers have a great one — it's hard to get to a gym while you're on the road.

That dog won't hunt anymore, thanks to an enterprising and exercising trucker named Don Garvin, who drives for PDQ Transport. He and Dwayne DeRouen, who runs Powerhouse Total Fitness in Garvin's hometown of Arlington, Texas, have put together a plan to give members access to workout facilities nationwide.

The network includes Powerhouse and more than 600 other workout centers that are members of the International Physical Fitness Association (IPFA). Under the plan, truckers would pay $250 a year for workout privileges at any of the participating gyms. Members get an identification card and a booklet listing all the gyms where it can be used. There's no contract binding drivers to the group, and if they come off the road, they can transfer membership to a nearby participating gym, Garvin says.

The centers in this network are all located close to interstate exits and truckstops. Most are in or near shopping centers large enough for either a bobtail or a full rig to park.

The idea grew on Garvin over time, as he looked for places where he could work out while under load. The man throws some serious iron around in the weight room, and says exercise boosts his energy while he's on duty, and also helps him sleep better when he's off the clock.

In the past two years, he discovered another benefit of all the sweat. Garvin suffered two major injuries — a broken leg that happened in a fall, and, some months later, fractured ribs and vertebrae when he was hit by a car while he was trying to help a motorist. He healed fast from both, and says his doctors credited his conditioning for the speedy recovery.

For more information about the program, call Dwayne DeRouen at Powerhouse at (817) 478-5565, or write Powerhouse Total Fitness, 401 Southwest Plaza Suite 103, Arlington, TX 76016.