Is My Job Making Me Sick

Do Commercial Drivers License (CDL) drivers believe there is a relationship between being a CDL driver and having certain health problems? Do they believe that their careers have a negative impact on their health? Do they believe it is possible to get proper rest, exercise and diet on the road?

Based on my research, the presumption has been made that there is a relationship between a career as a CDL driver and good health. The majority of drivers and researchers agree that there is a relationship between certain health problems, such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep disorders and back problems and a career as a CDL driver.

Education regarding proper rest, diet and mechanisms for handling stress would be beneficial in helping to have long, successful, safe careers as CDL drivers. Educating drivers would help companies to maintain their good employees for longer periods of time, reducing their turnover and accidents and making the roads safer for everyone.

My recommendations based on research and my survey results are:

1) Educate drivers on the importance of getting enough sleep. Make this information part of orientation classes for new hires. Have safety meetings once a month or quarterly to educate existing employees on the importance of proper rest and diet. The industry and transportation companies could educate drivers about health issues by adding health tips to their monthly or quarterly publications.

2) Time is always an issue for CDL drivers, in the truck or out. Access to healthcare could on occasion cause a problem for some, and many drivers live in rural areas. During driver appreciation week, companies and truck stops should provide health fairs on company property, which would provide an opportunity to have blood pressure checks, diabetes testing, and provide information on health related issues that concern drivers.

3) Trucking being the complex industry that it is, all drivers will never be able to sleep the same hours, or the same number of hours daily. However, changes can be made where trucking companies could run meets, where a driver from the origin terminal and one from the destination terminal meet halfway on loads that run daily which would increase sleeping the same hours and possibly the same number of hours daily.

4) Companies could invest in better seats in their trucks and possibly consider changing them out after a period of time. If a seat is defective, it would be less expensive to replace an air ride seat than to pay worker compensation claims for employees suffering from back problems.

Knowledge is the key, it is necessary to get drivers talking about their health and safety. As much as they like to talk, if they are educated about the issues that concern them, they have an opportunity to act on the information and spread the word. Education is the key to healthier drivers and safer roadways.

Suggestionsandadvice.com, Suggestions and recommendations from a biblical perspective. The mission of suggestions and advice.com is not to tell you what to do, but offer a different way of thinking about things. Suggestions and recommendation and encouragement from someone who is not close to the situation. Email Crystal [@] suggestionsandadvice.com Also visit my blog at IsYourMouthMoving.blogspot.com

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