The Health Risks of Truck Driving
Truck driving is widely recognized as one of the least healthy jobs in the U.S. due to the detrimental effects of unhealthy work environments and adverse working patterns. Many drivers face a variety of health issues throughout their careers, including obesity, sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, which result from sedentary lifestyles, limited meal choices on the road, and irregular hours. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average life expectancy for commercial truck drivers is just 61 years, a staggering 16 years shorter than the national average.
Resources for Health Improvement
Numerous articles and apps exist to guide drivers in maintaining their health. Additionally, a technology-driven medical services organization, Interstate Health Services (IHS), has recently initiated the development of a driver-centric clinic near a truck stop in Port Wentworth, Georgia. This facility is part of IHS’s initiative to offer urgent care, primary care, and telemedicine services along major highway routes, addressing the significant barrier drivers face in accessing healthcare due to limited off-time for scheduling appointments.
Healthcare Access and Financial Strain
While IHS plans to establish 300 clinics across the U.S. over the next six years to enhance drivers’ access to essential healthcare, they still confront financial challenges that significantly impact their livelihoods. A personal anecdote reflects the burden of medical debt, as my grandmother continued to receive bills for my grandfather’s hospital visits long after his passing. He, a lifelong truck driver, succumbed to heart failure and suffered from various health issues, never earning enough to retire, leaving his wife overwhelmed by overdue medical bills.
User Data on Medical Debt
The American Bankruptcy Institute identifies medical bills as the leading cause of bankruptcy among families in the U.S. Resolve, a service assisting patients in managing complex medical bills, reports that many truck drivers reach out seeking help due to overwhelming medical expenses. A representative shared that drivers often encounter insufficient insurance coverage for their medical care because their policies fail to provide benefits outside their coverage areas, resulting in high out-of-pocket costs.
The Insurance Dilemma
Some trucking firms do not offer any insurance to their drivers, while others do, with coverage varying based on the employer’s insurance plan. It’s crucial for companies to provide health insurance that is effective in terms of access. For instance, my cousin was thrilled to secure a job with health insurance after leaving her hometown where benefits were scarce, only to realize her new plan was not accepted by local healthcare providers.
Honesty in Job Recruitment
While providing health insurance can be an excellent recruitment strategy, companies should not mislead potential hires about the adequacy of their plans. Transparency about coverage value is essential. Ideally, trucking companies should offer policies that are widely accepted across the U.S. Though a higher premium might be involved, it ultimately leads to lower costs for drivers over time. Educating drivers about the advantages of such comprehensive plans is vital since employer-purchased policies often only cover local treatment, which can leave drivers facing exorbitant expenses when seeking care elsewhere.
The Consequences of Unaddressed Health Issues
If drivers, much like my grandfather, avoid medical care due to financial concerns, it could result in losing valuable workforce members to health issues prematurely, exacerbating the ongoing shortage of labor in the trucking industry.
Angel Coker Jones is a senior editor of Commercial Carrier Journal, focusing on technology, safety, and business areas. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, foraging for medicinal plants, and napping. She is also keen on traveling to new destinations to indulge in local cuisines, craft beers, and wines. Reach her at [email protected].
