It takes a lot of diesel fuel to move goods across the world, but there are others ways someone pays for our goods to be delivered. In this article, Emily Fredix writes about one of the hidden costs of our transportation infrastructure- The cost truckers pay in their own health.
I do a lot of driving and it is tiring, boring work. You have to pay attention all the time, but nothing happens most of the time.
Truck drivers account for 15% of all work-related deaths, but that is not all. Many are overweight and have the chronic diseases that come from being overweight: sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol.
They also have bad health habits like smoking, and I can understand why. When I traveled as a consultant for six months, I gained 30 pounds just because I ate hotel food 3 times a day and I didn’t know how to say “I’m full” and leave some on my plate (not that I know now either and I still have those 30 pounds thank you very much). Being away from friends and family is also hard and for someone driving all day I can see smoking as an easy habit to pick up.
Health programs are starting that save trucking company’s money and help lengthen and improve their truckers’ lives. But truck drivers are still 15% of all work-related fatalities. How can the goods delivery infrastructure be changed to make trucking safer? I am going to throw out some ideas.
Can you think of some more? Put them in a comment.
