Truck Driver Health
It’s no secret that drivers can have health problems because of the on-the-road lifestyle. It takes discipline to get in sufficient exercise, balanced meals, and time to relax. Often we’re so focused on getting our loads where they need to go quickly and safely that our own needs take a backseat.
Many of these health problems facing drivers are due to obesity, a common problem for anyone with a sedentary routine and in an area where is can be more difficult to make good food choices. The recent study “Obesity and other risk factors: The National Survey of U.S. Long-Haul Truck Driver Health and Injury” found that 69% of long-haul truck drivers are obese, which is twice the average rates for the U.S. adult working population. Seventeen percent of long-haul drivers are morbidly obese. Sixty-one reported having two or more of the risk factors: hypertension, obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, no physical activity, six or fewer hours of sleep per 24-hour period.
Two of the biggest offenders for truck driver health issues are diabetes and sleep apnea, both of which can be aggravated by being sedentary and eating food that is not sufficiently nutritious. With the federal government and general public concerned about traffic safety and their loved ones who do the important job of keeping the US economy running through delivering goods, changes are coming to the trucking industry surrounding sleep apnea and diabetes management.
First, keeping truck drivers and motorists safe on the road means adequate education and training for drivers, but also good working conditions. Regulations for drivers dictate that enough time for sleep be taken so that drivers are alert and focused. Sleep apnea, a condition that causes interrupted breathing and even periods with no breathing, can lead to poor sleep and heavy fatigue even when drivers have attempted to get enough rest to be focused the next day. For this reason, a new law mandates that the trucking industry has to screen and test for sleep apnea in drivers suspected of having the condition. Read more from The City Wire on how these changes will be implemented as Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) researches the best way to screen for sleep apnea.
Second, diabetes management for truck drivers can also be a challenge. It’s important for drivers to stick to dietary guidelines, do regular testing, and often to inject insulin to manage their blood sugar. It wasn’t that long ago that people with diabetes were not allowed to operate commercial trucks. Now, advances in medicine are management of diabetes easier than ever through things like this Bionic Pancreas that works with a smartphone app to regulate insulin and glucagon.
As the industry moves forward and we find ways to promote good driver health with new technology, we will keep drivers updated on tools to help with common problems, and promote lifestyle changes that can help keep us healthier.