Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Larry Williams
Keiser University
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 2
Nothing moves in America without the truck driver; they drive from state to state,
hauling tons of products down the highway to their final destination. If there were no one to
deliver products, many of the companies in America would have an economic crisis.
In the first 24 hours U.S. mail and other packages would cease and service stations
would run out of fuel. Within one-day food shortages would begin to develop and gas prices
would skyrocket. Two to three days later automated teller machines would run out of cash and
banks would be unable to make transactions. Within a week automobile travel would decline
from the lack of fuel and as a result many people would be unable to go to work. Hospitals
would begin to use up all their oxygen supplies that many patients need in order to survive. The
secondary effects would be increased crime rates, violence and civil unrest. To be sure, this
dependency on truck drivers adds to the many other stressors placed on truck drivers themselves.
Many drivers are quitting and the trucking industry are having a hard time replacing them
The life of a truck driver is not an easy one. They do everything from eating, sleeping,
and working their full-time job from their truck. Many on the road truck drivers can be found at
one of the thousands of truck stops spread out through the United States of America. They may
either work for a trucking company or they may be independent drivers who work for
themselves. Many of these truck drivers like most people have families and when they are gone
Depending on the type of driver, a few truck drivers load and unload the gear that they
carry. This may provide them with a small form of physical activity but it is not enough to help
them lose weight. The majority of long haul truck drivers never touch the load and they will sit
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 3
in the truck until it is unloaded. Certain rules and regulations say that only the unloaders can
touch the equipment or gear thats inside the truck. Because of this, truck drivers will climb back
into their truck and wait until the truck is unladed. This may range from a few minutes to a few
hours. However, during those few minutes a driver can still manage to do some type of exercise.
Their lifestyle is considered very demanding due to time constraints when it comes to
meeting deadlines and shipping requirements. They are on the road for about 10-12 hours a day
and that is either daytime or nighttime driving. When they are not driving, most can be found
sleeping in their truck cabins at a truck stop. A majority of their food intake comes from the
food at the truck stop, which mostly consists of fast food restaurants. They are usually there until
a call from their dispatcher sends them out to another location and the cycle repeats itself. Years
of living this type of lifestyle will take a demand on the mind and body and leads to many issues
later on in life.
After years and years of driving their body starts to change due to the sedentary lifestyle
that they have grown accustomed to living. The result of this type of lifestyle has turned a large
portion of truck drivers overweight and obese. Without proper care and prevention, they risk the
possibility of developing many chronic diseases that come from being obese.
The purpose of this capstone is to identify the causes and consequences of obesity and
cardiovascular diseases in on the road truck drivers through peer reviewed research as well as to
provide information on how OTR drivers can minimize their risk for the development of this
disease through exercise intervention, nutritional guidance, and policy improvement on the part
of their employers.
There are over 3.5 million truck drivers in America. The median age for most truck
drivers is 49 years compared to just 42 years of all U.S. workers (Reports, Trends & Statistics,
2014). Ninety-four percent of the truck drivers are male (Causes of the Truck Driver Shortage,
2015). Because truck drivers lack proper nutrition and exercise, their obesity rate has risen to
sixty-nine percent (Sieber et al., 2014). Obesity is a condition of having an excess of body fat
defined by genetic or environmental factors. Obesity is also classified as having a Body Mass
Index (BMI) of over 30. There are many causes of obesity; ranging from improper nutrition and
living a sedentary lifestyle. The repercussions of being obese includes cardiovascular diseases
and sleep apnea which have been shown to cause major traffic accidents which will be discussed
later.
To break down the data to be more specific about CVD and obesity, the data shows that
truck drivers when compared to non-truck drivers the risks are much higher. According to the
National Institute of Occupational Safety Hazards (NIOSH) the prevalence of obesity is more
than twice as high (69% vs. 31%) in truck drivers. Morbid Obesity is higher in truckers as well
(17% vs. 7% in truck drivers). Diabetes is higher in truckers (14% vs. 7% in truck drivers).
Smoking is higher in truck drivers (51% vs. 19% in truck drivers) (National Survey of Long-
Haul Truck Driver Health and Injury, 2014). Based on the data it shows that truck drivers are
one of the most obese and prone to chronic diseases in the country.
The main causes of obesity of truck drivers are the lack of exercise and poor eating
habits. While working long hours, truck drivers are limited to eating un-healthy foods on the
road due to truck stops only having an assortment of fast food type options. Most of the truck
stops also have vending machines that the drivers can snack on for a quick meal. An audit was
done for 25 truck stops and the results termed these areas healthy living deserts because of the
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 5
structural and environmental factors that influence behavior (Apostolopoulos, Lemke, Snmez,
& Hege, 2016).). This basically means that a few truck stops are desolate and are far away from
Along with eating unhealthy foods, many truck drivers have become sedentary. A
sedentary lifestyle is defined as life with no physical activity. With the demanding lifestyle of
many truckers, they have become more sedentary and causing one of the many factors of obesity
When it comes to physical training, this is where it becomes harder for truck drivers.
There are no gyms or recreational parks at the majority of these truck stops so they are not
provided with opportunities to exercise. Most of the truck stops are located off of the main
interstates and highways so drivers can refuel, eat and sleep. Also, with being obese, many
drivers will not exercise from a self-belief that it will not help them. However, incorporating
some form of light exercise into their daily routine will help them stay stronger and live a
healthier lifestyle.
Since truck drivers come in all different shapes and sizes, some are just born big. Even if
drivers exercise, some may still have trouble due to their genetics. Genetic changes in human
populations occur too slowly to be responsible for the obesity epidemic (Adult Obesity Causes &
Consequences, 2015). However, genes do play a role in obesity when cardiovascular exercises
and a high intake of calories are added into ones lifestyle. An example could be two 250lb men
who are on the same workout plan and diet. One man will lose weight faster than the other man
and this is caused by his genetics and his bodys ability to lose weight faster.
Another genetic factor is caused by parents and grandparents being overweight or obese
and this trait passes down to subsequent generations. Even though families cannot change their
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 6
genes, they can change the way they eat and encourage healthy living. These changes can
improve the health of not only themselves but their family members as well.
Truck drivers also face another problem and that is no social support from their families.
Family members who do not understand the trucking lifestyle may not be as supportive because
they often find themselves alone all the time. An example would be when the trucker comes
home and wants to just rest but the family member wants to spend time with them. If there is no
balance in the family, then problems would arise and if not fixed will cause issues in the long
Issues that may affect truck drivers are stress, bills, pay, job security and family problems
are something that they may deal with daily. Social support is very important when maintaining
good physical and mental health. Positive social support can also help build resilience when it
comes to dealing with the many issues of stress (Ozbay et al., 2007). Employers who only care
about making money and product activity will not be involved in an employees health and
readiness.
Chronic Diseases
Chronic diseases are just one of the numerous diseases that truck drivers face while
maintaining years of unhealthy eating and lack of exercise. Cardiovascular disease generally
refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack
(Heart Disease, 2014). Cardiovascular diseases are high in truck drivers with diabetes at fourteen
percent to the seven percent of the general workforce (National Survey of Long-Haul Truck
Some of these diseases consists of heart attacks, high-blood pressure, strokes diabetes and
hypertension. A heart attack to a truck driver can lead to serious consequences, especially while
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 7
driving an 80,000lb truck down the road. Truck drivers who suffered from a heart attack may
find themselves unable to work and in some cases, lose their job.
Heart Attacks
In 2011, a trucker was securing a load to his flatbed truck when he had a heart attack. He
applied for workers compensation and his claim was denied by his employer. This led to him
filing a lawsuit against his employer. The case reached all the way to the Tennessee Supreme
court who ruled that his truck driving job was a contributing factor that led to his heart attack
(Kahaner, 2015). This cases opened up more discussion on connecting cardiovascular diseases to
Hypertension
Hypertension is another cardiovascular disease that truck drivers suffer from is high
blood pressure. High blood pressure is a condition in which the force of the blood against the
artery walls is too high. A study was conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety
Hazards in 2014 which showed that thirty-one percent of all truck drivers have high blood
pressure (National Survey of Long-Haul Truck Driver Health and Injury, 2014).
Strokes
Strokes among truck drivers higher than that of the general workforce. A stroke is caused
when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced (National Institutes of Health. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, 2016). A stroke can be caused by a blocked artery or
the bursting of a blood vessel. When this happens, the brain is deprived of oxygen and cells
begin to die. The risk factors of a stroke are, high blood pressure, diabetes and many circulatory
problems.
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 8
According to the American Heart Association, nearly 800,000 Americans have a stroke
every year (Heart and Stroke Association Statistics, 2015). Many strokes can be prevented by
living a healthy lifestyle and that comes from eating healthy, daily physical activity, quitting
tobacco products and doing annual check-ups with a physician. Due to the fact that truck drivers
have a higher rate for strokes, a special panel was created by the Department of Transportation.
The special panel was to come up with policies and regulations of what to do when a
truck driver has a stroke. The panel had decided that truck drivers should wait at least a year and
take a variety of health assessments before getting back on the road. This was met with
opposition from many truck drivers who felt that a year without work would cause them to be
unable to provide for their families. This caused the states to come up with their own policies and
most states passed a regulation that stated if a driver was cleared by a physician then he/she was
allowed to work again (Stroke and Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Safety, 2009).
Type II Diabetes
Along with strokes, drivers also develop Type II diabetes. Type II diabetes is when the
body is unable to use insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance and the pancreas has to
make extra insulin to make up for it. Over time, the body cannot make enough insulin to keep
Research has shown that fourteen percent of truck drivers have Type II diabetes
compared to seven percent of the general workforce (National Survey of Long-Haul Truck
Driver Health and Injury, 2014). The federal regulations that governs the CDL for truck drivers
is the Code of Federal Regulations Part 390.5. Truck drivers who have type 2 diabetes and do not
use insulin are not required to apply for an exemption on their CDL. However, if a truck driver
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 9
has type 2 diabetes and uses insulin then they must apply for an exemption (Frequently Asked
There are a few things truck drivers can do to help them prevent type 2 diabetes and ways
to control it. By doing those 4 simple things truck drivers can live a healthier an active lifestyle.
Smoking
Truck drivers work under conditions that make them more susceptible to many risk
factors of cardiovascular diseases, especially when smoking is added (Sangaleti, et al, 2014).
Smoking is the cause of many lung problems that will affect breathing and have been shown to
cause cancer. Nineteen percent of the average worker smokes compared to the fifty-one percent
of the truck drivers who do (National Survey of Long-Haul Truck Driver Health and Injury,
2014).
For many truck drivers, their truck is considered their home. They sleep, eat, drink and
travel in their truck for weeks at a time. The sedentary lifestyle of many truckers is one of the
main causes of obesity because many truck drivers are not exercising. Sitting in a seat for hours
and hours a day, theyre tired, hungry and when they get a chance to eat it is usually at a truck
stop. Once theyre done eating it is usually back on the road, waiting for the next load or
sleeping.
Musculoskeletal Problems
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 10
Sitting in a seated position and driving for many hours each day will also lead to postural
muscle imbalances (Widham, 2005). Postural muscle imbalance is simply defined as one muscle
being stronger than its opposing muscle. These imbalances will lead to a limited range of motion
or tight hamstrings, pectoral muscles and hip flexors. Truck drivers shoulders tend to be in a
forward position due to many of them leaning on the steering wheel while driving. They will
develop strained necks and shoulders due to excessive forward leaning. The results could also
lead to strains on the cervical vertebrae along with permanent muscle imbalances (Ergonomics
Another problem that many truck drivers face from sitting too long is the development of
back problems. Sitting puts more pressure on the spine than standing because when someone
stands; the upper body is being supported by the legs. When truck drivers are out driving for
many hours, the discs in their spine are compressed and this leads to the inability of them to
absorb nutrients. In addition, after sitting for long periods of time the abdominal muscles in the
body are not being used and that will lead to them becoming weak (National Survey of Long-
A study was done in 2015 among truck drivers that tested the long-term exposure to the
different seat designs, air-ride bus seat, air-ride truck seat and an electromagnetically active seat.
vibrations and 3 scenarios that used driving data on of roadways which consisted of a city street,
freeway and a section of a rough roadways. The results showed that WBV was higher in the
vertical direction than those in the lateral direction for each of the three road types and seats.
This study also demonstrated that seat suspensions designs have a higher effect on vibrations that
are transferred from the vehicle to the driver. The results may also provide useful to the design of
many future seat suspensions (Blood, Yost, Camp, & Ching, 2015).
It is very important that truck drivers sit up straight during long hours on the road so that
they do not develop any aches and pains. Some quick prevention methods would be to stretch
before and after getting out of the truck. Stretching the calves, hamstrings, quadriceps, upper and
lower back, arms and shoulders needs to be a daily habit. This is good advice, not only for truck
drivers but for many Americans who sit for long periods of time.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the breakdown of cartilage and bone within a joint and is most commonly found
in the hips, knees, hands and feet. The risk factors of osteoarthritis are: Over the age of 50, injury
to the joint, high bone mineral density, joint hypermobility and instability and obesity. (National
Accidents
The impact of disease on driving ability have been shown to link to obesity. Accidents
among truck drivers are very high due to cardiovascular diseases. Imagine driving an 80,000lb
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 12
truck load down the road and having a heart attack. The driver would be at risk for causing an
Due to the many hours on the road they are faced with the possibility of falling asleep
behind the wheel and getting into an accident. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety, 3,660 people died in 2014 from truck driving accidents. 16 percent of those deaths were
truck drivers. 68% were occupants of cars and 15% were pedestrians and motorcyclist (General
Statistics, 2014).
Falling asleep is a danger for anyone driving but it is worse when the driver is behind the
wheel of an 18-wheeler. A study was done to show if steering wheel motion could determine if a
driver was fatigued or not by using an algorithm. Each driver was told to stay awake for the
entire night before the test. The results showed that 12 out of the 17 drivers showed sleep
deprivation based on the algorithm and steering wheel motion. Those same 12 participants hit
road strips and showed a pattern of turning from right to left (Siegmund, King, & Mumford,
1996).
Sleep Apnea
Truck drivers also risk the chance of developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) from
years of driving. OSA is a sleep disorder in which breathing is obstructed by the soft tissue in the
hectic schedule of driving, many truck drivers biological sleep patterns are thrown off because
of the hours they work. This sleep deprivation creates additional issues for the drivers, especially
When truckers are not driving, or eating, they are likely sleeping in their truck cabins
which is called a sleeper. Sleep can be anywhere from a few hours to almost 12hours depending
on how tired they are. Truck drivers lose many hours of sleep due to the demands of shippers and
contracts that they must fulfill or they will lose money and possibly their job. Many have termed
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has regulated that truck
drivers can only work up to 70 hours a week (New Hours-of-Service Safety Regulations to
Reduce Truck Driver Fatigue, 2013). This is down from 82 hours a week that many truck
drivers were working. They have also regulated that truck drivers can only up to 14 hours a day.
This leaves them with 10 hours to rest until their next load. It is believed that these new
guidelines will limit the numbers or deaths, accidents and injuries each year.
from their families for many days and that can cause them to feel stress. Worrying about family
while being away when there is not much they can do about it. A struggling family with rising
bills can cause stress on both the truck driver and the family back home.
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 14
There has been shown that there is evidence of prolonged stress in truck drivers by a
2011 study that showed irregular shift hours being one of the causes that led to stress. Drivers
who worked irregular hours were shown to have sleep deprivation, lack of job demand and it
showed them having a higher BMI (Ulha et al., 2011). Chronic health issues have shown to
Knowing that they have a family back home who depend on them will cause many truck
drivers to work through their own personal issues in order to provide for their family. One of the
biggest issues truck drivers face is job security. When truck driving companies have to lay off
employees due to the economy many drivers are left without a job and no means to pay their
bills. Imagine being the only one who works in the family and finding out they have just been
laid off. This is what many truck drivers face every day in this country, not knowing if they will
Financial Cost
In America, the cost of obesity and chronic disease has also risen. It is expected that this
year alone healthcare will be $3.5 trillion dollars which works out to be an average of $10,345.00
for every man woman and child. This cost is however an average because many Americans do
not spend that much on health care (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2015).
The national estimated cost of obesity is very high, in 2008 the cost was 147 billion
dollars (Finkelstein, Trogdon, Cohen, & Dietz, 2008) and now has risen to 210 billion dollars per
year. Obesity also lowers work productivity and costs employers an average of $506.00 per
obese person that they employ. As a persons, BMI goes up, so does the number of sick days,
medical claims and healthcare costs. (Gates, Succop, & Brehm, 2008).
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 15
Not only is the cost of obesity high but a heart attack alone can cost to $38,501.00
following the first 90 days after a heart attack (Heart Disease Facts, 2015). According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about 610,000 people die each year from heart
disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. Approximately
795,000 people suffer from a heart attack each year (Stroke Statistics, 2015).
A study was done in 2006-2008 that identified 97,375 hospitalizations with a primary or
secondary diagnosis of a stroke. The average cost of a having a stroke for a truck driver will be
around $20,000.00 to $23,000.00 but this greatly increases depending on the type of stroke they
have. An ischemic stroke can cost up between $48,208.00 and $62,637.00 (Wang et al., 2014).
These results should be incorporated when coming up with cost-effective strategies to prevent
strokes.
Along with the cost of strokes, many drivers are suffering from Type II diabetes. The cost
of having Type II diabetes in America is around 322 billion dollars with an estimate of 3,835
Americans being diagnosed today with this disease (The Staggering Cost of Diabetes in
America, 2015). The average cost of an insulin shot to help control diabetes is around $736.00
and that is mostly with insurance. In 2016 the new insulin shots were introduced and they can
Repercussions
If nothing is being done by the truck driver in regards to their health, then they face the
very possibility of dying. As mentioned before, heart disease alone causes 610,000 deaths per
year. An estimated 300,00 people die every year from the obesity epidemic and that number
continues to rise. Strokes are the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States with an annual
death toll of 140,000 people. African American truck drivers are at a higher risk for having a
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 16
2005). Death from type 2 diabetes is 69,071 and is the 7th leading cause of death in the United
States (Statistics About Diabetes, 2016). Even when faced with these facts many truck drivers
tend to ignore their health and by the time they start to care it is too late.
If trucking companies do not provide certain healthcare benefits to their drivers, then the
truck drivers have to pay for their own insurance. If drivers cannot afford to pay for healthcare or
hospital visits, then most of them work through their sickness or illness to avoid their premiums
going up. This alone should be the reason for many truck drivers to change their lifestyle and
become healthier.
Physical Fitness
lifestyle habits by incorporating fitness and healthy eating. Physical fitness is the cornerstone and
remedy to control obesity, heart disease, diabetes and many other forms of cardiovascular
diseases. While many OTR truck drivers are constantly on the road they have very little access to
Strength training, cardiovascular exercises, agility and resistance band training can easily
be used to add fitness into their daily lives. By taking 15-20 minutes at the truck stop, a truck
driver can try setting up a station consisting of a fitness mat, 10 cones, 2 dumbbells and 2
resistance bands to set up a great workout. All of these items can be kept in a small bag that can
easily be stored in the truck. A sample truck stop workout would look like the following picture:
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 17
Before beginning this exercise, make sure that the driver is well hydrated and that they
conduct a proper self-myofascial release (SMR) and a dynamic warm-up. SMR is simply using a
foam roller or a tennis ball and rubbing it on the muscles that will be used. It is used to get all the
tight muscles to loosen up before exercise. A dynamic (stretching) warm up is basically warming
up the muscles that will be used. So, for this exercise we will focus on those muscles by warming
2. Side shuffle from one end of the cone to the next and then back again.
3. Donkey kicks from one end of the cone to the next and then back again.
4. Arm and shoulder circles to the front and back for 30 seconds.
Once the warmup is completed the exercise program can start. If at any time, the driver
feel dizzy or faint then they should stop exercising and rest. Drinking water throughout the
1. Station one consists of a mat that the drive will perform as many pushups as he can
for 30 seconds. If the driver cannot perform a push-up, then it is recommended that
they do them on their knees. If they still have issues, then they may perform a wall
2. Station 2 has 10 cones (5 on each side) that the driver will perform suicide drills.
Note: If the driver is unable to run then they should walk the drill instead. The goal is
3. Station 3 has two dumbbells that the driver will curl for 30 seconds. Depending on the
drivers muscle strength, dumbbells that can have their weight altered could be used.
This allows different weight to be used to build up the drivers strength. If dumbbells
4. Station 4 is a timed event also and the driver will jump in the air for 30 seconds. It is
important to note that if the driver has any stability or knee pains then they should
After station 4 is completed then rest for 1-2 minutes, more rest can be utilized
depending on the level of fitness. Once rested the driver will complete 3-4 more intervals of this
exercise. To add more variety to this, truck drivers can attach resistance bands to their truck to
perform many other types of exercises. Triceps pushdowns, back rows, shoulder raises and
Once the workout is complete it is very important that a proper cooldown is conducted.
healthy lifestyle, adding a nutrition plan and dieting to fitness will greatly approve a healthy
lifestyle. Currently, many truck drivers do not have the luxury of eating healthy foods while out
on the road. If they are not preparing their own healthy foods, then they must rely on eating from
Eating Habits
Many of the truck stops have fast food stores attached to them because many truck
drivers do not have a lot of time and want their food quick and cheap. The worlds largest truck
stop which is located in Walcott, Iowa is Iowa 80. This truck stop could be considered the
Disney World of truck stops due to the wide assortments of restaurants, stores and facilities.
The restaurants that server truck drivers at Iowa 80 are Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, Blimpie and
Iowa Kitchen which is open 24 hours a day that serves buffest style meals.
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 20
One of the things that Iowa 80 offers is an on-duty chiropractor to help truck drivers
reduce some of the pain that they may have developed. The chiropractor also offers certified
DOT physicals that truck drivers can have done to see where they stand on their health. Iowa 80
also offers a fitness facility that is open 24 hours a day that offers, free weights, machines and
cardio equipment that is available to truck drivers as well (Services and Amenities, n.d.)
In 2007 a study published in The Journal of the American Dietetic Association conducted
a survey showing long haul truck drivers want healthier meal options at truck stops. The
researchers hypothesis was that (a). obese/overweight drivers would place less importance on
healthful food option than those who were of optimal weight. (b). That the importance of healthy
food choices will be positively correlated. They conducted this study by doing a questionnaire
that included questions based on food choices, demographics and a National Attitude Survey.
They used a bioelectrical impedance assessment to gather data on weight, bodyfat and
body mass index. Out of the truck drivers who participated in this study, 79 were overweight and
52 were obese. The mean rating of importance of healthful choices was above average and
showed that obese and overweight truck drivers rated an average on healthy food choices.
Drivers who placed more importance on healthier food options had a positive attitude about
restaurants that would provide such foods. Overall, drivers said if given the choice they would
eat healthier foods if they were available (Jacobson, Prawitz, & Lukaszuk, 2007).
Even though some truck stops have unhealthy foods; there are also other ways to eat
healthy while out on the road. By eating foods consisting of whole grains, dairy, fruits and
vegetables will greatly increase the health of many drivers. One way a truck driver can avoid
eating fast food is becoming educated on the importance of meal planning. Meal planning is
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 21
basically preparing food to eliminate the chance of eating something else that may or may not be
Drivers would prepare 2-3 days worth of healthy foods that they can store in the trucks
cabin. Many truck drivers have mini refrigerators and those who do not, carry coolers to keep
their food and drinks cool. What many truck drivers do not realize is that if they have prepared
food then there is no need to spend money on truck stop food. This allows them to save money
while out on the road, money that could be used to purchase healthier food choices.
Regulations
There are certain policies and regulations that truck drivers must abide by to keep their
CDL. Truck drivers need to be sure that they are receiving their annual physicals. This physical
is mandatory and regulated by the Department of Transportation in order to issue a drive a CDL.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations: 49 CFR 391.41 a person is physical
2. Has no interference with hands, fingers that would interfere with prehension or power
grasping.
5. Has no medical history of any respiratory dysfunctions that are likely to interfere with
6. Has no medical history of having high blood pressure that will likely interfere with
orthopedic, muscular, neuromuscular disease which may interfere with the ability to
9. Has no mental or psychiatric disorder likely to interfere with the ability to drive a
motor vehicle.
10. Has distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye without corrective
lenses.
If any of those guidelines are not met, then there is a strong chance that a truck driver
Company Prevention
There are a few trucking companies that offer incentives to truck drivers who maintain a
healthy lifestyle and some even pay for their health screening. These companies believe in the
importance of taking care of their drivers to ensure they stay healthy. One of those trucking
companies is Prime Trucking which is based out of Springfield, MO. who conducted an
assessment from April to November 2015, Prime measured the body composition of over 100
drivers who enrolled in their Driver Health and Fitness (DHF) 13-Week Program.
Using a method called bio-electric impedance, the company measured each drivers
weight, body fat percentage, water weight, muscle mass, visceral fat, basal metabolic rate, bone
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 23
density, metabolic age, and physique rating. The average weight of all drivers, men and women,
was 268lbs with an average of forty percent bodyfat. 56% of our drivers are obese said a Prime
spokesperson. Programs were set up to reduce the average BMI of the fleet to less than thirty
percent, the percentage cut off for obesity. The average weight loss of drivers that have
completed the program was 20 lbs. and over 80 drivers have lost seven percent of their body
weight in 13 weeks without skipping meals (Prime, Inc. Studies the Body Composition and
Schneider National is a trucking company located in Green Bay, WI, was the first
trucking company to screen for OSA. 10,000 of its 15,000 drivers were tested for apnea, a
disorder that interferes with breathing during sleep and can leave the sufferer groggy and
exhausted. The company provided the 10 percent who had the disorder with special air masks to
help them sleep better (Schneider's Sleep Apnea Program Proven to Dramatically Reduce Risk
Con-way Freight from Ann Arbor, MI, saw annual workers compensation claims plunge
80 percent and lost work days drop 75 percent in Los Angeles after its trial of a wellness
program that was offered. In 2008, Con-way Freight launched a contest titled Choose to Lose
and employees that participated were periodically tested for weight loss. The winners and runner
ups were given $100.00, $50.00 and $25.00 gift cards (Con-way Freight Launches Major
Melton Trucking from Tulsa, OK took another approach to keeping their drivers healthy
by taking out all of their vending machines that included soda and replaced them with green tea
and water. Melton trucking has also built a 4000-square foot gym in their new corporate
headquarters, as well as having a gym for only women. A full-time nurse and a part-time
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 24
physician are all available to Melton employees at no extra cost to them (Pay and Benefits,
2016).
Celadon Group Inc. has stationed nurses at its main facility in Indianapolis and
encourages its 3,200 drivers in the U.S. and Canada to get blood pressure and cholesterol checks.
Celadon also pays all of the expenses so that their drivers are not paying out of pocket for simple
checkups. Celadon offers DOT physicals, drug screens, home sleep studies and work-related
care. Celadon also offers on site nutritionist that provide dietary, meal planning and weight loss
prevention programs. They also have a physical therapist on staff that their employees can use at
There are many options that companies and drivers can do to prevent many diseases that
come from being obese. If companies have dining facilities, they can incorporate more healthy
meals for the drivers to take with them. Healthy drivers are productive drivers and companies
should do all that they can to help them succeed. Not just on the job but in the care of their health
as well. Many drivers are not aware of the risk and dangers of being obese or having
cardiovascular diseases.
Education is the key to living a longer and healthier life by keeping employees well
informed on their health. Hosting wellness classes to educate drivers on the many issues
regarding their health will improve their well-being. Partnering with fitness facilities and giving
drivers incentives will motivate them to join a gym. Adding informational packets or flyers at
companies and truck stops will ensure the message is getting out to all of truck drivers.
The more we invest into the health the drivers, the more the body will invest in us.
With the obesity rate in truck drivers at 69% and diabetes at 14%, truck drivers still have
a long way to go. The drivers are dealing with muscles imbalances from sitting for hours at a
OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER 25
time and if not corrected would develop tight hip flexors. Long hours on the road and losing
sleep caused many accidents that often times end in a fatality. Getting family members more
involved in their lifestyle will give them the support that they need while out on the road.
Doing annual physicals to catch early signs of cardiovascular diseases will save a lot of
time and money. Especially with the cost of treatments that would add a burden to the already
growing problems. Even though there are ups and downs that come from being a truck driver
they still have the opportunity to change their lives. Truck driving companies that do not
incorporate wellness programs for their employees will risk losing many drivers due to health
problems.
If companies are not financially able to provide these accommodations, then they can
invite fitness and health professionals to their company to give health related briefings. Many of
these professionals offer free consultation services that companies can benefit from. By taking
these necessary preventative steps, companies would greatly increase the health of truck drivers.
Also, by living healthy and having support from family and the trucking industry will keep truck
drivers on the road. Taking care of truck drivers delivering products 365 days a year will keep
the economy strong and companies to stay in business. Resulting in the employment rate, and
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