Trucking companies are competing for the best drivers as a shortage of over-the-road interstate truckers in the U.S. persists. In 2018, the industry reached a 20-year peak for tonnage hauled, according to the American Trucking Association. Despite employing 3.5 million truck drivers, they estimate there is a shortage of 50,000 drivers. The pressure of delivering goods cross-country to meet “just in time” inventory schedules makes things even tougher for truckers. How can all of this not affect their health? It’s a fact that long-haul truckers run a very high risk of developing health problems for no other reason than their work environment. There are serious medical conditions (obesity, hypertension, and Type 2 diabetes to name a few) which affect many truckers’ ability to drive and could ultimately cost them their commercial driving license. A legacy series of surveys over the past several years by The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that long-haul truck drivers are more likely to smoke and be overweight and less likely to be physically active, compared to other U.S. workers. NIOSH’s initial 2010 trucker health survey served as the foundation for a recent study conducted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical School, published in December 2018. The UAB researchers interviewed 1,300 drivers across the country. They learned that an elevated number of sprains, strains, and other musculoskeletal injuries reported by long-haul truck drivers are to their arms, backs, or necks. The surveyors were careful to single-out only long-haul truckers. Results showed that 26% of drivers (the largest group of those surveyed) reported musculoskeletal injuries to their arms. Neck or back injuries came in second at 21%. The most common types of injuries were muscle sprains and ligament strains (60%) and fractures (11%). Most drivers (39%) said they were hurt because of a fall or due to contact with an object or equipment (34%). Of those injured, 53% had to take time off from work.
Other surveys by NIOSH in the last 10 years concluded that:
- Unrealistic deadlines threaten long-haul truckers' health.
- They’re more likely to be obese than other workers.
- They’re more fatigued.