Truck driving is a great career. Trucking offers high levels of pay compared to other professions of similar education/training requirements, and unlike other professions, you get to experience areas all around the United States.
But one area where truck drivers have it tough is health and wellness.
In a recent study called “The Relationship between Demographics and Wellness in the Transportation Industry,” new analysis from Atlas Injury Prevention Solutions highlights the long-term side effects of working as a trucker.
Overview of the Study
From 2014 – 2018, Atlas collected data on working truck drivers and compared it to non-truckers. They primarily collected information related to the participants’ health and wellness throughout the study.
Healthcare professionals reviewed and recorded various metrics that you would find from the average annual check-up, such as the following:
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Waist circumference
- Body mass index
- Cholesterol
- Glucose
Approximately 9,200 non-drivers and almost 6,000 drivers participated. These numbers were picked based on the fact that 61% of the population work in occupations that are unrelated to truck driving.
Truck Driver Health Concerns
The study found that truckers generally had significantly more health issues than non-drivers. By about 80%!
Truck drivers are at special risk for the following health concerns:
- Increased Blood Pressure
- Massive Blood Sugar
- Excessive Body Fat Around the Waist
- High Cholesterol
- Big Triglyceride Levels
Individuals with at least 3 of the issues listed above are more likely to acquire a life-threatening illness, such as heart disease or stroke.
The sedentary lifestyle of a truck driver, as well as their reliance on truck stops for meals, is a key factor in increased risk for illness.
The study also revealed that truckers are more likely to smoke cigarettes than non-driver, which may play a role in the sizable health differences.
What Should Truck Drivers Do?
Class A Drivers has compiled a list of critical trucker health tips that you can read here.
Here are a few quick tricks that will improve your health considerably:
- Quit smoking
- Exercises such as jogging around a truck stop as well as doing sit-ups and push-ups.
- Bring and buy healthier food. Salads, veggies, and lean protein.
Trucking gives you an excellent opportunity to travel the country and get paid to do so. But this new research further proves that sitting for long periods of time does have a negative effect on your ability to exercise and eat properly.
Class A Drivers wants to see healthy and happy drivers, so follow our list of tips and stay well on the road.