Transportation Department’s Claims on Truck Driver Life Expectancy Questioned
Recent statements from the Department of Transportation regarding the life expectancy of truck drivers are lacking in statistical support.
Conference Insights
At a conference on driver health in Baltimore on November 8, Anne Ferro, chief of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, claimed that commercial drivers live, on average, 16 years less than the general population. She described this statistic as “frightening and untenable,” attributing health issues as a significant contributing factor.
Disputed Statistics
Ferro cited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support her claim, a statement echoed by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in his September 2 Fast Lane blog. LaHood noted that the average life expectancy for truck drivers is 61 years, which is 16 years shorter than the national average, a gap he described as alarming.
Lack of Supporting Evidence
While it may be true that truck drivers have a shorter life expectancy, the sources cited by FMCSA do not verify the claim of a 16-year deficit. One source, from the March 2008 Roemer Report, refers to a study by Dr. Martin Moore-Ede, who reportedly indicated that truck drivers could have a life expectancy 10 to 15 years lower than the average American male, who lives to around 76. However, Moore-Ede himself stated to TruckingInfo that this information was incorrect and that he had not conducted such a study.
Historical Data Review
The second source comes from a 2003 conference on truck driver occupational safety and health, sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a division of the CDC. During this event, anecdotal evidence suggested that the average age of death for members of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is approximately 55.7 years, with Teamsters union drivers reportedly averaging a life expectancy of 63 years. The conference report emphasized the need for further investigation into these claims to determine their accuracy.
Health Issues Among Drivers
When asked about the 16-year life expectancy discrepancy, an FMCSA spokesperson stated that extensive medical research points to health concerns that affect the life expectancy of commercial drivers significantly. The International Conference on Commercial Driver Health and Wellness presented various studies highlighting troubling statistics related to drivers’ health.
Commitment to Improvement
Dr. Eric Wood from the University of Utah shared findings showing that 50% of long-haul drivers smoke, 28% have hypertension, and 55% are obese. FMCSA emphasized the importance of driver health and wellness, stating that the responsibility for safety lies with the driver when a commercial vehicle is in operation. The agency expressed eagerness to collaborate with the medical community to foster healthier lifestyles and ensure safer roadways.
