Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

Truck accidents are often preventable - but only if truck drivers and the trucking companies follow known safety precautions. One aspect of safe operation that is often overlooked is the physical health of the truck drivers themselves.

Kelly Fredrix, of the Associated Press, reported recently on how the health of truck drivers has an impact not only on their own safety, but on the safety of all of us out on the roadways. The story was picked up by The State newspaper here in South Carolina, and you can read the article in its entirety here.

Here is a quick roundup of some of the facts Fredrix is reporting:

* There are about 1,300,000 long-haul truck drivers in the United States.
* Compared to all other job categories in this country, truck drivers report more injuries than anyone else.
* Truck drivers dying on the job account for almost fifteen percent of work-related deaths in the United States. That means that trucking easily has more fatalities than any other occupation in the United States.
* Commercial drivers licenses (CDLs) generally cannot be issued if the driver has severe health issues like high blood pressure or advanced heart conditions.
* Obesity among truck drivers is a very common problem.
* Nearly one in four truck drivers have sleep apnea. (A big potential source of driver fatigue truck accidents).
* About half of all truck drivers smoke.
* The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is looking at tighter rules regarding truck driver physical health. A review board is meeting later this month, but any changes wouldn't take place for at least a year.
* Some trucking companies are working to improve truck driver health, due to high health care and workers compensation costs.