What Are the Biggest Safety Concerns for Truck Drivers?
Whether you are a truck driver or own a trucking company, safety needs to be a primary concern. Over-the-road truck drivers average between 80,000 and 110,000 miles per year on the road in the United States. That is a lot of miles behind the wheel and with every mile behind the wheel there is risk, and drivers and freight companies need to do what they can to improve safety. Owner-operators and trucking companies interested in improving safety may want to know — what are the biggest safety concerns for truck drivers? We may be able to help answer your questions at RIGGUARD.
Top 5 Safety Risks for Truck Drivers
Trucking and freight companies are a vital part of our economy in the United States — transporting 72.5% of cargo across the country. With that volume of work, there are always risks and safety concerns and the more aware you are as a driver or trucking company, the better equipped and better prepared you can be to protect yourself and your drivers.
Here is a closer look at key safety concerns for truck drivers in the United States:
1. Distracted Driving and Fatigue
Long hours and a lot of miles can get monotonous when you are behind the wheel and that monotony can lead to distraction and fatigue for drivers — which can be exacerbated by phone calls, text messages, food, or other potential distractions. Inattentive driving can contribute to additional risk of traffic accidents and vehicle damage. Drivers and companies can mitigate this risk by paying close attention to hours of service.
2. Slips, Trips, and Falls
Truck drivers may be in and out of their truck all day and up and down on loading docks. This increases the potential for slips, trips, and falls that can lead to injury. Bad weather can make steps on your cab slippery, loading docks may be icy, and climbing up and down from your truck are all real-world scenarios that can increase the risk to you as a driver. The right safety equipment and precautions can help combat this risk.
3. Back, Knee, and Leg Injuries
The long hours spent behind the wheel in an uncomfortable and non-ergonomic seat take a toll on the body for truckers and lifting and moving cargo can contribute to injuries. Musculoskeletal injuries to the back, knees, legs, arms, and hands are common in the trucking industry and include back pain, carpal tunnel, and more. Regularly stretching when possible and ergonomic assists like back support belts can help minimize the risk of injury for drivers.
4. Extreme Weather
When you drive cross country, you may encounter multiple different weather conditions within the same day and when you are driving a heavy, loaded truck, it can be a significant safety concern. Slick road conditions in snow or rain can make it difficult to stop in traffic and increase the risk of an accident with another vehicle or by sliding off the road. Truck drivers that are aware of these risks and slow down can mitigate the risks associated with extreme weather conditions.
5. Traffic Accidents
With the volume of semi trucks on the road each day and additional traffic, accidents and collisions are always a very real risk. An estimated 494,000 traffic accidents in 2021 involved large, commercial trucks and 22% resulted in injury with 1% resulting in a fatality. When you spend that many hours on the road in a large truck with a large blindspot and inconsiderate drivers in traffic, accidents are almost inevitable. Owner-operators and trucking companies can take steps to mitigate the risk of accidents by investing in high-quality grille guards that protect the truck and driver as well as investing in trucks with radar collision-avoidance systems.
READ MORE: What Will Semi Truck Grille Guards Protect Against?
What are the top safety concerns for truck drivers? If you are interested in improving safety for your drivers as a trucking company, it is important to understand the risks and we hope this overview will help you better protect your drivers. Contact RIGGUARD today to learn more about our semi truck grille guards and how they can improve safety for truckers!