The trucking industry, more specifically, its drivers, are the backbone of the transportation and delivery industries not only across our country but across the world. However, truck driving is one of the most challenging and demanding occupations as it requires long hours, irregular schedules, and constant exposure to various hazards. Because of this, many truck drivers face serious health issues that can affect their quality of life, productivity, and safety. Overlooking these serious risks do not only impact you or your company in terms of performance, but can also be reflected in how much you are paying for trucking insurance.
Alarming Health Statistics Among Truck Drivers
Being such a demanding profession, a great number of concerning health statistics have risen for those operating in the industry. Here are some important statistics that are important to keep in mind, according to a survey conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH):
- 70% of truck drivers are obese
- 51% are smokers
- 14% suffer from chronic joint pain
- Truck drivers are twice as likely to develop diabetes and cardiovascular disease compared to the general working population
- Truckers are highly prone to stress, anxiety, and depression due to the lonely nature and high pressure of their work
The consequences of these health issues can have a great impact on both drivers and the industry. Poor health can impair a driver’s ability to focus, react, and make decisions on the road, directly increasing the likelihood of accidents and injuries. This can reduce a driver’s work performance, reliability, and retention, leading to higher costs and lower profits for owner-operators and large companies equally. In addition, this influences the driver’s personal and family life by causing dissatisfaction, frustration, and unhappiness.
Driver Health and Its Impact on Trucking Insurance
Interestingly, the health of a driver also plays a significant role in determining trucking insurance rates. Similarly to health insurance, a healthy driver is perceived as a lesser risk, leading to lower insurance premiums. Studies, such as the one from the University of Utah, indicated that drivers with multiple medical conditions are up to four times more likely to be involved in accidents compared to their healthier counterparts. Statistics like these make it clear to insurance underwriters as to why they must take driver health into great consideration and offer better rates to those in good health.
The Need for a Shift in Perspective
Despite this, trucking companies, and truckers themselves, often overlook the importance of driver health and well-being. This has the potential to be detrimental for the company, no matter if its owner-operated or a fleet of 100 drivers, health and well-being should be a priority. By investing in your own health or the health of your drivers, not only does your reputation improve, so does your bottom-line as a company. Investing in health and well-being is not just a good humanitarian concern, but an extremely smart business move. By maintaining health, you’re guaranteeing a higher level of job performance, career longevity, and driver happiness.