INDUSTRY BACKGROUND AND HAZARDS The trucking industry has been through many changes over the decades. Following a nationwide strike in the United States during the 1970s, the government began to recognize independent small truckers as a unit. Regulations were promulgated to fight corrupt truck inspection and lobbying practices and to revoke the national speed limit (for more information, visit History.com).

However, several problems are still prominent. According to the JTTM paper, worldwide shortages within the sector increased to 40 percent in 2022; in the U.S., women accounted for only 8 percent of the trucking workforce, and young people (aged 15 to 24 years) for just 6 percent of professional drivers. These shortages can be attributed to the lack of occupational support and demanding work conditions with low pay. The JTTM paper discusses how professional drivers quit their jobs due to chronic physical and mental health issues that derive from long hours, disruption in sleep patterns, unhealthy food choices, and being away from family.

Although trucking is a highly regulated industry, the regulations do not provide for physical and mental health wellness. Rest breaks mandated by the Department of Transportation often must be sacrificed to meet deadlines. If these deadlines are not met, drivers are usually reprimanded. This places drivers in conflict with regulations on one side and operational demands on the other. Such conflicts are known sources of stress.

Extended sitting comes with a cluster of health conditions encompassing high blood sugar levels, poor cholesterol levels, excess belly fat, and high blood pressure. The current research on activity levels and sitting time found that sitting for more than eight hours a day with little to no physical activity carries a risk of dying similar to that of smoking and obesity.

Drivers are often pressured to take routes and to avoid voicing concerns regarding stress and fatigue. Many do not feel psychologically safe to have these discussions. Often, the fear of being fired or reprimanded looms over these topics. Additionally, mental health stressors are prevalent due to strict deadlines, life away from family, and verbal abuse when deadlines cannot be met due to adverse weather conditions or delays. This pressure can create a cycle of sleep deprivation and mental health-related ailments, including untreated anxiety and depression.

The highway is a complex system; because it can change at any time, it is a challenging, dynamic work environment that requires adaptive responses. Moreover, driving in adverse weather conditions poses a significant risk to the driver’s safety and well-being. Heavy weather and hazardous driving terrain require heightened concentration and skill levels. Navigating these dangers can increase pressure to keep themselves and others around them safe. The life of a truck driver is a constant balancing of time, health, and safety, all while ensuring that they are meeting deadlines and staying in compliance with the many laws in place for commercial vehicle operation.

High levels of stress, impossible deadlines, the sacrifice of healthy eating habits, and diminished opportunities for personal care and physical wellness all contribute to the perception of driving as a less than attractive career choice. While there are many driver health programs that focus on nutrition and fitness, these goals cannot be met without adequate time at home, and drivers suffer the consequences of poor physical and mental health.

In terms of occupational disease, the impact of this unhealthy lifestyle is severe. Compared to the average life span of 75.1 years for the general population, male truck drivers who work independently live on average just 55.7 years while unionized male truckers can expect to live 63 years, according to research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. These statistics show that professional drivers need time for physical wellness, mental health, personal care, and the preparation of healthy meals. Although a significant research gap exists regarding the rate of illness and healthcare issues among truck drivers, the Journal of Transport & Health commentary observes that current statutes establish weekly and daily limits on vehicle operation to foster a safer environment for drivers.

ERGONOMICS AND BIOMECHANICS There is a pronounced need for the trucking industry to consider the importance of physical health. Without focused attention on this topic, the industry is vulnerable to driver shortages, illnesses that take drivers out of commission, accidents stemming from medical episodes, and other disruptions. These consequences also have a negative effect on economic stability and the function of the supply chain.

The work environment of a truck driver encompasses more than sitting in a vehicle and driving down a highway for eleven hours a day. Duties include lifting, strapping, bending, loading, and unloading, among other physical tasks. Prolonged sitting without stretching or moving can create a higher potential for injury when drivers suddenly move their muscles to make a delivery. Research published in PLoS One in 2018 showed that prolonged sitting can create stress in the body from poor blood circulation. The build-up of this stress can make injuries more likely when truckers begin to move, even while simply ascending and descending from the truck. An article on the Mayo Clinic website by Dr. Edward Laskowski states that the risk of dying from cancer and cardiovascular diseases increases with prolonged periods of sitting.

Survey results from a study of 107 truck drivers published in the Journal of Transport & Health showed that 57 percent complained of musculoskeletal pain. This can be attributed to sitting for long periods, posture, and undiagnosed medical conditions. The effects of extended sitting are worsened by the vibrations and bumps from their trucks. This problem is not just a personal health issue; it affects the industry’s efficiency and workers’ well-being.

Truck drivers face a significant risk of lumbar injuries, so it is important to study these injuries. We can learn a lot by looking at the damage to their backs, understanding how much force their backs can take, and finding out how injuries happen. Research into ergonomics is a step toward furthering safety programs for the trucking industry. A paper published in the Journal of Biomechanics in 1997 found that long exposure to vibrations can injure the spine. Another study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics shows how truck vibrations can harm the spine and cause injuries. Truck drivers often face vibration frequencies between 4.0 and 6.0 Hz, which strain their lower backs.

A biomechanical reconstruction can provide insights into this type of musculoskeletal injury and move toward the goal of prevention. The process of completing a biomechanical reconstruction includes examining the anatomical nature of injuries, analyzing the forces involved and their tolerances, elucidating the mechanisms of injury and human kinematics, and identifying prevention measures. In the case of truck driving, the focus would be on a trend in musculoskeletal disease that is prominent in the fleet.

To further understand vibration frequency and ergonomic items that can be added to vehicles, vibration tests can be explored during biomechanical reconstruction. These tests often use accelerometers to test for whole-body vibration (WBV). Additional testing of floor and wheel vibration could identify other ergonomic and engineering controls that prevent musculoskeletal disorders in drivers.

LEARNING-BASED SAFETY IN PROFESSIONAL DRIVING Learning-based approaches allow OEHS professionals to step into the driver’s seat and have a bird’s eye view of other industry challenges such as unfair pay, adverse weather, the high risk of accidents, chronic fatigue, stress, mechanical issues, and other factors.

Very few trucking organizations have adopted a learning-based approach. One exception is KTK Logistics LLC of Phoenix, Arizona. The safety consultant for KTK works together with the company’s owner to understand the complex environment of the highway. This approach has led to increased driver retention, reduced incidents, healthier schedules for dedicated drivers, and increased dialogue between all professionals in the office and field.

Through immersion in the experiences that a professional driver endures daily, learning-based safety provides a profound understanding of the challenges truckers face every day. OEHS professionals can interact with office staff and drivers, ask relevant questions, and gain a first-hand perspective of life on the road.

While learning-based safety provides important information regarding the driver’s experience, it has challenges and limitations. To fully comprehend the physical and mental toll that professional driving takes, individuals must accumulate years of experience on the highway. The wear and tear on the body is substantial. Drivers often face constant physical strain from long hours of sitting, repetitive motions, and the demands of loading and unloading cargo. Furthermore, the time spent conducting ride-alongs with drivers, which is an essential component of the learning-based safety approach, can significantly affect the productivity of administrative tasks. While having this experience with drivers can enhance understanding of the work environment, allocating the resources needed to complete this task can create logistical challenges that interfere with the efficient completion of office duties.

Learning-based safety ride-alongs represent a challenge for transportation companies that do not have the resources to provide coverage of routes and highlight the inherent limitations of relying solely on experiential knowledge. While a learning-based safety approach provides important insights into some aspects of the driver’s experience, it cannot stand alone as a comprehensive solution. An effective safety approach requires various types of knowledge, particularly from medical research and practice. The goal should be to cultivate an organization that can understand and prioritize the holistic needs of truck drivers. This requires an interdisciplinary approach incorporating medicine, psychology, and occupational health insights. OEHS professionals and company leaders should seek to partner with medical experts and researchers to conduct this learning-based approach and develop programs based on the psychological and physical aspects of driving.

Given the unique structure of a truck driver’s work environment, safety and health practices need to be woven into the fabric of programs being developed. As the topic of holistic wellness in trucking is explored, it becomes increasingly clear that more than a singular, isolated approach will be required. A collaborative model that blends learning-based safety with medical insights is essential. Various strategies, methodologies, and interdisciplinary partnerships can be employed to create a robust safety framework, one that genuinely addresses the complexities and nuances of a professional driver’s life on the highway.

A CULTURE OF TRUST Establishing an ergonomics program and learning-based safety approaches can help create tailored, holistic safety programs for the professional truck driving industry based on the work environment, musculoskeletal ailments, and psychological stresses truckers face on the highway. Incorporating these strategies can yield various benefits for logistics companies such as a reduction of injuries and an increase in production.

By developing this new culture of trust, teamwork, and inclusion, companies can create a learning environment that encourages employees to voice their concerns about work. Such an environment would promote participation and allow for dialogue that will lead to ergonomic solutions, health and wellness programs, and mental health resources. Creating a strong, proactive safety culture that can survive all climates in the ever-changing world of professional driving can transform the way tasks and procedures are developed, taking safety to the next level.

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