MeRV Mobile Provides Truck Driver Health Screening - Mar 24,2011

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Trucking Regulations Can Add to Driver Health Problems

In today’s safety-conscious environment for the trucking industry, the professional truck driver is facing the possibilities of more regulations, all in the name of safety.  Nobody will dispute the importance of safety, but a major aspect that is most often overlooked by these regulators is the effect these regulations can have on the overall health of the driver.

Truck driver health is an important issue that seldom receives the media attention that it deserves.  We are all familiar with the health problems that many drivers face, all due to the trucking lifestyle.

When you dig a little deeper, you will discover that most of these health issues can be attributed to one single factor: stress.  Dig even more, and you will find that truck driver health problems can be brought on by something as seemingly simple as a change or revision within a particular regulation.

Serious thought should be given by the FMCSA on the possible health risks that drivers may experience when a new regulation is being considered, such as the proposed hours of service (HOS) change.  We are all well informed on the various categories of illnesses that the trucking lifestyle brings, but one really only needs to look at one single element, the stress factor.

Clinical research has shown that stress causes as much as sixty to ninety percent of all illnesses.  The professional driver is already surrounded by a very stressful environment and perhaps the number one focus of any driver is finances.  When regulations are imposed that can cut into the drivers’ ability to earn a living, financial stress and worry can lead to serious health complications.

Stress has been shown to be directly related to physical complications such as:

High Blood PressureDiabetesSleep DisordersHeart DiseaseEating DisordersObesity

Stress is also the determining factor in other health issues including :  chronic unexplained pain, ulcers, heartburn, increased asthma attacks, migraines,  Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Autoimmune Diseases.  Nearly all of the health complications that are seen in the professional trucker can be directly linked to stress, and women truck drivers are also not immune to its effects.

Stress in women can lead to health issues including:

Eating disorders such as Anorexia and Bulimia which are 10 times more common in women than in menStomach ailments such as cramps, bloating, heartburn and IBS which can lead to weight loss or gainEmotional conditions including depression which strikes women twice as often as their male counterpartsSleep problems including insomniaDifficulty in concentrationLowered immune response

The effects of stress on women can have even further health complications such as changes in menstrual patterns, skin reactions including rashes and hives, infertility and even cancer of the breast and ovaries.  An entire array of illnesses and health problems, many associated with the professional truck driver and all brought on by stress.

As I receive many emails from drivers who are concerned with the impending HOS rule change, I find that they all have one aspect in common . . . all are worried about the financial stress that the new regulation will place on them.  Will they be able to get enough miles to pay their bills and support their loved ones?   This is the common denominator that I am finding in the emails and phone calls received by long haul truckers across the country.

Trucking regulations that overlap others, such as the HOS rules, speed limiters and EOBR’s, can only enhance the level of stress in truck drivers who are already fighting against low miles and cheap freight.  Regulations, even with good intentions, for many drivers will turn out adding to the already serious health issue that drivers’ face.

For the FMCSA,  it can appear to only be a simple change or revision to the hours of service rule . . . for the professional truck driver, it can be a direct assault to their livelihood and one that could lead to further health problems all brought on by a scientifically proven killer called stress.

© 2011, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: FMCSA, health, hos, HOS rule change, hours of service, stress, truck driver, truck driver health, trucking, trucking regulation, women stress

Tagged with: FMCSA • health • hos • HOS rule change • hours of service • stress • truck driver • truck driver health • trucking • trucking regulation • women stress

Filed under: FMCSA • Jobs and Careers • Safety • Truck Driving Jobs • Truckers Health • Woman Truckers • otr trucking • trucking • trucking life

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Health Care Reform for the Trucking Industry - Oct 01,2009

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GLUTATHIONE - Trucking to Better Health - Jan 28,2009

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Trucking to Better Health - The Importance of Glutathione - Dec 07,2008

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No Truck Idle Risking Health and Safety of Truck Drivers

Smart Way EPA

The last year for the professional truck driver has been filled with many challenges.  The recession has caused many drivers to take a significant cut in pay, drivers still endure negative retaliatory DAC comments by former employers, “fleecing” scams still exist, owner operators maintain their struggle with high fuel costs, HOS rules that cause conflict with shipper and receiver appointment times (creating fatigue from lack of sleep), the talk of new DOT medical requirements, and lets not forget CSA 2010, which has the entire industry buzzing.

With all these issues to contend with, I find none more inhumane than the “no idle” and “limited idle” laws and rules which are being enforced for large trucks by either the states or the trucking companies.  These regulations are disguised  as “being green” and “environmentally friendly,” attracting praise and recognition  from the general public towards the trucking companies  who voluntarily enforce them.

These trucking companies are more than happy to enforce  such idling regulations, as it not only gives a positive recognition from the general public and the conscientious “go green” advocates, but it also creates a larger profit and bottom line. How perfect is that?

Trucking companies are so concerned with the environment that they have teamed up with the  Smart way EPA program, creating their own strict limited idling rules for their drivers. This program gives awards to companies that are most compliant and “eco friendly”, and many times you will see these company trucks proudly displaying their partnership with Smart Way, sharing their enthusiasm for caring for “Mother Earth” and fuel conservation….But here comes the truth….the other side of the coin.

What the general public doesn’t realize is that by carriers creating limited idling rules, truck drivers health and safety is being placed in harms way. I don’t need to tell you what it feels like to be in your vehicle when it is either extremely cold or hot. Many of us turn on the ignition and cannot even wait the 5 minutes that it takes for the air or heater to work, and yet these laws and “carrier idle driver rules” are being enforced against their drivers, expecting them to sleep in 90+ degrees and sub-freezing temperatures without air or heat.

There are some companies that have trucks with an APU ( Auxiliary Power Unit)  on board for their drivers, but not all companies and not all of their trucks.  If you think about it, why would they?  The APU’s are too expensive.   After all, they do not have to sleep in these inhumane temperatures, right?  It is only the dog sleeping in there, I mean the driver . . . wait, I forgot, you are not allowed to have an animal in the truck under those conditions . . . drivers ok, pets not ok . . . what’s wrong with this picture?

Many of the Smart Way Partners are winning awards for being the “best ” in compliance ( SMART WAY EPA AWARDS), by forcing their drivers to abide by limited idle rules so they can receive and be recognized for their gallant efforts towards improving the environment and conserving fuel.  Yet, they are risking the health and safety of their driver employees.

So the next time you see a truck proudly displaying their Smart Way Partnership, give them a call and ask them what percentage of their trucks have an APU for their drivers, ensuring their drivers’ health and safety?  It is  just another way of asking them, ” Do you treat your drivers humanely?”

Many others within the trucking industry are concerned about this limited and “no idle” enforcement. Here’s another post by TruckerDesiree  of RealWomenInTrucking who has also written in detail about it.

Also Rhianna Weir, the Madison Trucking Examiner, has an interesting challenge for those of you  who may or may not believe just how serious a problem this is.

2010-  The Year of Safety!!!

For your additional reading enjoyment I wanted to share this article in the McDowell News, ” New State Rules Have Truckers Sweating.”

The article explains new rules in the state of North Carolina:  The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission now requires that operators of heavy-duty trucks refrain from idling their engines.   I wrote a lengthy response to the article, however, it was not posted, so I’ll post my response here.

Response 7/17/10  by Allen Smith

“I find it always amazing that those who wish to appear to be advocates of various causes or missions, will often do so at the sacrifice and expense of others, not to mention the total lack of respect and the disregard of another human life.

I wonder if Sheila Holman would be quite as emphatic and passionate about her remark, “Exhaust from idling trucks is a significant source of air pollution that we can’t ignore,” … “The idle rule will help improve air quality while conserving large amounts of fuel”,  if she or her family and friends were the recipients of the sacrifices required to reach these goals. In other words, I would like to know how she would feel if she and her children were made to sleep in a 100 degree closed truck ( 60 days consecutively) and then be expected to work a 14 hour day, driving 80,000 pounds down the highway safely and alertly.

Tell me Ms. Holman, would you be quite as worried about the air quality or saving fuel then?  Answer:  I DOUBT IT.  How easy it is though, for Sheila Holman, National director of the NC division of Air Quality, to so boldly, proudly and confidently share this air quality improvement solution with so many, accepting applause and recognition for doing such a marvelous and sacrificial job as she rides off in her air conditioned car and sleeps in her air conditioned home.

My suggestion to her is that if she truly believes this is the way to improve air quality, then she should request that herself, her staff, her family and friends, refrain from turning on the air at night, so they may also share in this much needed conservation and sacrifice.

Now, as far as the other statements:

“The EMC points out that some truck stops have power connections, so truckers can plug in their rigs and not have to idle the engine to keep warm or cool.  The release also points out that a truck can have more than one source of power installed.”

Let’s start with the “some stops have power connections”. Well EMC, that means that “some do not.  It also means that the driver pays for that, not the trucking company. . . Which brings up another fact that the general public should be aware of . . . drivers continually survive on limited wages, which by the way, the trucking companies have significantly reduced further because of the recent economic recession. Many of these drivers are new drivers, receiving sometimes as low as 18 cents per mile (between 200-400 dollars per week, depending on how many miles they drive).  Figuring that many send home most of this to their families, how much do you feel they would be able to spend keeping themselves cool or warm, depending on the weather?  I doubt many can even afford the 10-15 dollars per night for these luxuries of heat and warmth, let alone a motel room, which some extremely ignorant and naive folks have even suggested.

Let’s move on to the APU units which would solve all the idle problems, right?  Well yes they would, in a perfect world that is.  Company drivers have no authority over this. The Carrier decides whether or not they want to place APU’s in their trucks in order to accommodate their drivers health and comfort. MOST DO NOT!!  Yet, many of these companies are receiving awards for their “green efforts” again, on the backs and sacrifices of others while they themselves enjoy the comforts and luxuries of daily life.

I will end with this:  It is this kind of inhumane thinking and treatment which contributes to the former 128% turnover rate of drivers as an ongoing problem. Many people do not stay in trucking, or bounce from company to company, hoping to find a “good company”.  What is ironic, is that they define good as one which will not exploit or abuse them.

What keeps the trucking industry moving is the continuous influx of new drivers, those who do not know that they will be treated badly because they have been told the sugar coated “happily ever after” recruitment story. Many of these drivers leave the industry, and so the truck driver turnover rate continues.  One day, drivers may get fed up . . . and God help us all if that happens. Think about it, and then be concerned: No food, medicine, NOTHING!

What’s the saying?  “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”  Furthermore, stop telling truck drivers want they can or should do, until you have lived their life.

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: Smart Way, Smart Way Awards, smart way epa program, truck driver health, truck drivers, trucking companies, trucking safety

Tagged with: Smart Way • Smart Way Awards • smart way epa program • truck driver health • truck drivers • trucking companies • trucking safety

Filed under: Fuel Costs • Politics • Safety • Truckers Health • Woman Truckers • trucking companies

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Truck Drivers Health and Safety Concerns with the No Idle Law

No Idle Law on Blog Talk Radio

Truth About Trucking “LIVE” talk radio show discussed the safety and health concerns that truck drivers face with the no idle law, on Thursday, July 29th, 2010.

Rules and policy makers suggest that professional truckers can simply “plug in” at the truck stops or get a motel room . . . the problem, however, is that the majority of truck stops across America do not have plug in locations and those that do charge a fee which comes out of the drivers’ own pocket.  Furthermore, the reason semi tractors have a sleeper, is so the driver does not have to obtain a motel room . . . which,  by the way, also would come out of their pocket.

The no idle law is being pushed by the Smart Way EPA program and many trucking companies are beginning to instigate their own policies on this issue, placing all of the burden and expense on the truck driver.  Is it really all about the green movement and protecting the environment, or is it more about greed?

Any driver who has been driving long enough has experienced the ordeal of spending a night in the sleeper birth with no air or heat until they could get to a repair shop and have the problem fixed.  Try sleeping in 100 degree heat or -25 below zero, without the proper comfort devices . . . at the same time, truck drivers are expected to get the rest and sleep needed . . . after all, this year has been declared as the “Year of Safety,”  right?

Some drivers have pointed to an amendment to the no idle law which allows the truck to idle if the driver has a pet in the cab of the truck with them.  Perhaps this is the way for truck drivers to get around this law?  It is OK for the driver to suffer in immense heat or cold, but for an animal . . . absolutely not!  However, this may not be the case in all states.  California, for instance, has stated that as of January 1st, 2009, that a driver can no longer use a pet for an excuse to idle.

All of the shows are archived, or in case you missed it . . . you can catch it here:

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: no idle law, smart way epa, truck driver health, truck driving safety, trucking

Tagged with: no idle law • smart way epa • truck driver health • truck driving safety • trucking

Filed under: Fuel Costs • Politics • Safety • Talk Radio Show • Truckers Health • otr trucking • trucking • trucking companies • trucking life

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