Truck drivers face a variety of health risks due to their job, including an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, smoking-related illnesses such as lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, obesity, and exposure to diesel exhaust gas.
Truck drivers are more likely to smoke than other US workers and are twice as likely to be obese compared to other US workers. These health conditions can increase the risk of other health problems such as heart disease and stroke.
Truckers also face fatigue and distractions while driving, which can lead to accidents due to poor decision-making or lack of alertness. Weather and road conditions can also pose a risk for truckers, as well as slips and falls in the workplace due to improper guarding of grinding machinery or lack of personal protective equipment (PPE).
If truck drivers develop a serious health disorder due to their job conditions, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation. Treating health conditions can create safer working conditions for truck drivers by reducing the risk of motor vehicle accidents caused by fatigue or poor decision-making due to illness. You can visit the website for more information abot DOT safety compliance.
Injuries common in Trucking Industry
Common injuries experienced by truck drivers include back and neck injuries, broken bones, head and brain injuries, internal trauma, lacerations, burns, strains, and sprains. These injuries can be caused by highway accidents, lifting, and loading, falls from elevations, falls on the same level, and slips and falls while loading or unloading cargo.
Amputation injuries, head, and brain injuries, broken bones, and burn injuries are all considered catastrophic trucking injuries that can have life-changing consequences. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there are roughly 17 deaths and 7 non-fatal workplace injuries per 100,000 workers in the transportation, warehousing, and trucking industry each year.
How is insurance helpful for commercial trucking?
Commercial truck insurance helps protect businesses and owner-operators offering trucking services from various risks. It covers most damages from a wide range of perils, including collision and comprehensive coverage. Specialized commercial truck insurance options are available to cover additional hazards and specific liability issues.
Commercial truck insurance also provides motor truck cargo coverage, which protects against stolen goods, wet loads, refrigeration breakdown, debris removal, and other risks. Non-trucking liability coverage is also available to cover damages that occur to others while the truck is not in operation. Uninsured/underinsured motorists’ policies can provide coverage for repairs if someone were to hit your commercial truck without liability coverage.
The cost of commercial truck insurance depends on the type of policy chosen and the risk exposure of the business or individual. Generally, policyholders will pay a monthly premium to retain their insurance policy.