Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/536679
Health Help 34 // OWNER OPERATOR // JULY 2015 THE CHANGING WORLD OF TRUCK DRIVER HEALTH AND ROADWAY SAFETY F or truck drivers, staying healthy isn't easy. They spend hours behind the wheel, get little exercise, and usually eat out of truck stops or fast food chains. While staying healthy may not be a truckers biggest concern, it should be. A report from the National Institute for Oc- cupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that long-haul truck drivers are twice as likely to be obese compared to the general U.S. adult working population. They are also more likely to suffer from risk factors for chronic disease, such as smoking. Additionally, 88% of long-haul truck drivers reported having at least one risk factor (hy- pertension, smoking, and obesity) for chronic disease, compared to only 54% of the general U.S. adult working population. However, the report wasn't eye-opening news. Truck drivers from across the country have been well aware of the possible health effects for many years. It's one of the many contribut- ing factors of the current driver shortage. However, staying fit and healthy has become important for more than just personal health. It can also deeply impact a driver's ability to earn a livelihood, due to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's tough new medical regulations.