The Life of a Driver

This driver stopped at a truck stop and never woke back up.
The average life expectancy for American men is 78. The average life expectancy for American truck drivers is 61.

Turnover is 90+%. Drivers face a lot of issues most people don't realize, or simply don't care to consider.
➡️They aren’t able to be with their loved ones for long stretches of time, and they may be in different time zones or in areas without cell reception. They may also miss important milestones in their children’s lives because they are gone for weeks at a time.
➡️ Discourteous, inconsiderate passenger vehicle drivers and traffic.
➡️ Stress of Regulations. Both ensure they're as compliant as possible and deal with enforcement constantly.
➡️ Equipment failure in general and poor equipment.
➡️ Poor dietary options and the consistent need to rush.
➡️ Subprime sleeping conditions. Think about sleeping in a box, then packing your belongings to walk in and get in line for a public shower.

To cope with the stress of being on the road, often in unsafe conditions, many truck drivers develop unhealthy coping mechanisms. Truck drivers have high rates of substance abuse. More than that, they have excessive health problems driven by poor food options and choices as well as a sedentary lifestyle. These can lead to early death and deadly accidents.

What can carriers do?
➡️Build a culture that puts drivers at the top. Make them a priority. Please provide them with better equipment and incentives.
➡️Be transparent and honest. Drivers aren't as dumb as some people think, they recognize faux culture, trash leadership, and BS more than you'd think.
➡️Create and incentivize wellness programs to educate drivers on wellness and foster a culture of overall wellness, health, and fitness. This includes mental health programs.
➡️Do what you can to make their life and job easier.
➡️Education programs to assist in possible future alternative placement.

I have videos of my driver's dying behind the wheel. One was a bus driver with a bus full of people. Others were truck drivers. From a policy, risk, and exposure standpoint, here are some things you can do to protect your company.

➡️ Create a minimum med cert criteria, such as a 12-month card minimum. If drivers can no longer meet that requirement, consider offering them alternative, non-driving placements. Some drivers make great management trainees and eventual managers.
➡️ For labor-intensive driving jobs, consider agility testing to ensure they're not only medically fit but physically fit for the job description they're being hired for. You don't want them hurt or disabled.

We ask a lot of drivers. We ask them to give more of themselves and their overall time than most other jobs. Help them. Give back.
hashtag#culture hashtag#people hashtag#health hashtag#leadership hashtag#mentalhealth hashtag#food hashtag#wellness hashtag#fitness hashtag#testing hashtag#driversafety