By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: The Importance of Truck Driver Health and Safety
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Wellness > The Importance of Truck Driver Health and Safety
Wellness

The Importance of Truck Driver Health and Safety

Truckers have very important jobs but they can also face a slew of health concerns if they aren't careful.

Alice Jackson
Alice Jackson
Share
4 Min Read
trucker healthy living
Shutterstock Licensed Photo - 1990711376 | Virrage Images
SHARE

Long-haul trucking is the backbone of the American distribution and supply chain network. But despite the hard work and important contributions that truckers make to the US economy, they suffer many health problems and occupational hazards that often go overlooked and unaddressed. It’s important to stay healthy on the road, and many common health problems can easily be avoided and treated if given the proper care and attention.

Contents
  • Common Health Problems
  • How to Prevent Illness and Injury
  • Why It’s Important to Stay Healthy

Common Health Problems

Trucking is demanding because it requires long periods of sedentary sitting, punctuated by brief periods of heavy and potentially dangerous work. Truckers can legally drive for up to 15 hours at a time if they take a thirty-minute break. That is not nearly enough time to stretch, exercise, and care for the body.

These long hours of uninterrupted sitting lead to heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, and tension, pain, and stiffness in the muscles, back, and neck. Truckers also contract diabetes twice as much as the general population. 14% of truckers are diabetic, compared to 7% of regular society. When truckers aren’t sitting, they’re changing heavy tires on the side of the road, moving bulky cargo, pumping toxic gas, or fixing tough-to-move parts on their truck. This puts extreme stress on their body and leads to frequent injuries, accidents, and long-term health problems.

Truckers also suffer mentally and emotionally. Truckers can develop extreme fatigue, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, and addictions from hours of loneliness in an isolated, boring, repetitive, and physically taxing job. Unfortunately, studies have reported higher drug use among truckers. The DOT requires all commercial truck drivers to pass random drug tests to prevent drivers from putting themselves and other in harm’s way.

More Read

Diet And Fitness Advice: What Should You Eat To Be Healthy?
How Physician Offices Can Improve Patient Health Care
How To Get Rid Of Belly Fat: The Roles Diet, Stress, And Exercise Play In Belly Fat Reduction (Part 3)
Essential Guidelines for Improving Workplace Hygiene
The Healthcare Costs Associated with Alcohol Addiction

How to Prevent Illness and Injury

Fortunately, there are ways to significantly reduce the risks of physical, mental, and emotional illness among truck drivers. Healthy habits such as 30 minutes of daily stretching and exercise, a cleaner diet with less processed foods and more fresh fruits and vegetables, eight hours of sleep, more time spent socializing, and refraining from drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and stimulants on and off the road can greatly reduce the health and injury risks associated with trucking.

These habits can help prevent and also reverse certain health conditions, leading to a fit, healthy, and sustainable lifestyle even in a challenging industry. These habits may not seem significant. However, engaging in supportive and healthy behaviors consistently over time can make drastic statistical and practical differences.

Finally, truckers tend to put off or ignore health problems and are often overlooked and underserved by healthcare providers. Truckers need adequate medical coverage and encouragement to seek medical attention and routine checkups to identify and treat potential health problems before they become serious issues.

Why It’s Important to Stay Healthy

Trucking is a physically demanding job, and truckers need to stay fit since they have a sedentary job to make money and enjoy life with their friends, families, and communities. Nobody should have to suffer just to make a living. And there is no point in succumbing to illnesses, injuries, and preventable health problems if help, prevention, and treatment are available.

Truckers support our country’s economy. They should not do so at the expense of their well-being and physical health. Truckers deserve support, admiration, respect, and encouragement to take care of themselves using available resources and methods. Truckers need to know their contributions matter, and that their health is a priority. If truckers take care of themselves, they can take care of business – and keep on trucking!

TAGGED:healthy living
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Alice Jackson
Follow:
Alice Jackson is a business consultant, blogger, social media enthusiast, online market analyst, amateur designer and an avid author at Designhill. She has written on several topics including social media marketing, SEO, content marketing, startup strategies and e-commerce. When she’s not writing, she loves spending her time reading romantic novels. Connect with her on Twitter: @jackson_alice1

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

Corn progression
Policy & LawTechnologyWellness

GMO: The Real Story

May 8, 2013
Health careWellness

Try These 9 Superfoods To Keep Your Mind Strong

April 30, 2019
Health ReformPublic HealthWellness

When The RN Needs To Relax: Solutions To Help Nurses Manage Stress

May 20, 2019
Glucose monitoring
Home HealthMedical DevicesWellness

Glucose Monitoring Research Drives More Promises Than Answers

June 17, 2014
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?