Health concerns have been front and center on Trucker to Trucker's Trucker Talk lately and with good reason. For men and women who have one of the most hazardous jobs in the U.S., we're not taking care of ourselves. Among truckers obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, exhaustion, depression and smoking take a heavy toll on health. A trucker's lifespan is 5 to 10 years less than the average American's. Fully 17% of Americans who die on the job are truckers. Truckers account for the highest number of highway fatalities and many of us don't even bother to strap on our seatbelts -- too tough to get it over our guts!

"Drivers have few opportunities for exercise and limited choices for meals," said Scott Madar of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. If your only option is fast food and there's no chance for exercise, you're on the fast track for obesity, hearth disease and other ailments."

Trucker health is at the top of the agenda at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration which is considering tightening rules about driving with diabetes and high blood pressure. (It will take a year of study and discussion before substantive changes are implemented.) Trucking companies concerned about rising health plan costs, driver turnover and growing driver shortages are moving to help drivers improve their health. Melton Truck Lines out or Tulsa, OK is one of several companies that offers a weight-loss program and wellness training for its drivers.

"It takes a while to undo years and years and years of unhealthy behavior," said Christie Cullinan of the American Trucking Association. "But I think companies are having to look at this because of the skyrocketing health-care costs and related workers' compensation costs."

Some of the most important health issues facing truckers are:

• obesity and stress which can lead to high blood pressure and diabetes
• poorly designed work spaces (truck cabs) which can cause back and neck injuries
• highest rate of musculoskeletal injuries among US workers, often from loading/unloading
• exposure to hazardous chemicals
• work atmosphere laced with diesel fumes which can cause chronic lung problems
• smoking which can cause cancer and chronic lung problems
• high number of fatal injuries, 2/3 caused by highway accidents
• extreme fatigue, 1/3 of trucker accidents caused by dozing at the wheel
• dependence on stimulants to stay awake
• depression and loneliness from isolation on the job
• divorce rate higher than the national average

In order to maintain their licenses, drivers must pass a physical every two years. Commercial drivers with severe high blood pressure or severe heart conditions lose their licenses, but other health issues like weight and smoking aren't regulated. The government has begun a new effort to educate drivers about the link between good health and safe driving. Trucking companies are starting to sit up and take notice. It's past time we did too.

Stay tuned. In our next posts we'll take a look at what trucking companies are doing to address health issues and what you can do to live a healthier lifestyle.