Hearing Loss from Cab Noise ???
 

Is it possible to lose hearing, (go slightly deaf) from the typical cab noise hittiing your ears 11 hours a day ?

I drive 2004 to 2006 Volvo's 10 to 11 hours a day, and some are louder than others. If you get stuck in a loud one, you're there for 11 hours.

I had lousy hearing before I started trucking, and I just want to save the hearing I have left.


Thanks

I would think so.... When I'm fighting a head wind it gets LOUD in my cab..'07 T-800, I have been making paper ear plugs to dull the noise, mind you I don't use real ear plugs as that I believe would be illegal, just like wearing ear phones, they are not legal nor safe as you can't hear any noises from your truck that you should be listening for :shock: I guess we're caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to cab noise...

I had an exhaust break on me one day in an ooooold ford daycab truck. I only drove about 15 miles with the broken exhaust, which ended directly under/behind the drivers side. By the time I got into the shop, I couldn't hear anything and my hearing wasn't right for about 2 weeks.

volvos are pretty good when it comes to sound. they are very quick except in heavy wind. if you drove an older truck or maybe a FL than i would say it could hurt your hearing.

Straight pipes that come right by the cab can cause hearing loss especially in left ear. Late husband loved his straight pipes but after a few years he did have a recordable hearing loss in his left ear. It comes on slowly and you really never notice the loss till years later when the accumuated effect catches up with you.

Soladad

What did you say, I didn't quite hear? If I go deaf it won't be from cab noise, but from playing my music too loud.

Well I found the cause of my noise in my '07 T-800, a defective seal on the passenger side windshield :shock: The dealer is going to replace it... I thought dang alot of wind noise for a new truck :D

Hmmmm... maybe those little plastic earplugs that supposedly reduce the noise by only 30 decibels would be legal. You could still hear any loud noises.

Do what you have to do to protect your hearing! The turbo-whistle is specially dangerous!

Yes, the cab noise can ruin your hearing.
I drive a Freightliner XL Classic powered with a Cat 400. This bloody thing gets extremely loud when pulling a full tank load of gas or diesel from a dead stop or gets into a hard pull that the cab noise is just about unbearable.

Maybe not as bad as the old B and R model Macks of long ago but comes damn near close and yes, my hearing has been affected!!!

I can't rember the exact DB level at which hearing damage takes place ...But I have yet to be in the cab of any truck that was what I would consider loud ,as the noise I do get in the cab is at most the same volume as normal conversation , Which is not going to cause hearing loss ...I can't speak for modified trucks or old trucks with nosier cabs , But I have driven the following pete 387,379, KW T-600 Freightliner Classic and Century , and none of these had any notable cab noise at a DB level that would contibute to hearing loss.

Same here.

I would use ear plugs, the type required in many factories, but it is too late now. If you use them, be sure the low air warning buzzer is loud.

I wish you guys would use all caps, or boldface type. My eyes are getting bad, and sometimes, I can't hear a word you are typing! :wink:

Yes, I use to work at a Tool and Die shop and we were tested once a year for hearing loss. I had hearing damage in my left ear and they guy who tested asked if I drive with my window down often. He also added that truck drivers he tested often had hearing damage mostly in thier left ear due to driving with the window down.

I just started using a pair by AO Safety, I can still hear everything just sounds muffled (sp) but the wind noise is gone! When I take them out as I pull into a scale or stop I notice that the cab noise is quite loud now.. They are helping alot :D