Commercial truck driving is a high-demand job that requires lengthy hours and mental and physical alertness, which can take a toll on a driver’s health. Fatigue is a common issue that many truck drivers face, and it poses a significant risk to both their safety and the safety of everyone on the road. Fatigue can have major effects on a host of functions from reaction timing to decision-making, attention levels and reflex control, potentially contributing to heightened risk and accidents. This article offers a guide for truck drivers to manage fatigue and improve overall safety.
Drive Fatigue Explained
Truck driver fatigue is a physical and mental health condition that prohibits a driver’s ability to operate a commercial vehicle safely and effectively. Exhaustion occurs as a result of prolonged hours behind the wheel, poor sleep hygiene and insufficient breaks for rest and restoration. When a truck driver is tired, their reflexes slow down, their decision-making skills are poor, and they may even fall asleep while driving.
Signs of Driver Fatigue
Some common signs of driver fatigue include:
- Decreased alertness
- Slowed reaction times
- Difficulty concentrating
- Poor attentiveness
- Irritability or mood swings
- Yawning
- Swerving the wheel
- Erratic braking and acceleration
- Difficulty staying awake
- Loss of appetite
- Blurred vision
Causes of Driver Fatigue
In the absence of proper rest, drivers lose energy and experience decreased alertness and reaction times, which in turn increases the likelihood of an accident. Additionally, the physical weight of a commercial truck slows acceleration and drive times, which means drivers take longer to travel the needed distance of the job and therefore experience heightened fatigue. To operate safely, drivers should stay vigilant and remember to take the required number of breaks for rest.
Long distance truck drivers often experience fatigue as a result of professional stress and the natural monotony that can accompany their line of work. Constant driving for endless hours, overnight or in challenging conditions can disrupt a diver’s natural rhythms and, as a consequence, limits sleep.
Other factors such as prolonged periods of sitting and poor posture can lead to health issues and impact overall physical fitness and health, which result in fatigue.
Furthermore, drivers may also have to manage extra stress factors such as the difficulty of logistical planning, tight scheduling deadlines and client relations. Those unfamiliar with certain routes or roads, or drivers venturing through challenging weather conditions, may quickly deplete their energy over time.
Other contributing causes of driver fatigue include:
- Adhering to driving regulations
- Poor quality nutrition
- Dehydration
- Mental and physical exhaustion
- Erratic or inadequate rest breaks
Consequences of Driver Fatigue
Key consequences of driver fatigue encompass a variety of risks for businesses and individuals, these may include:
- Risks of accidents
- Reduced coordination
- Lack of motor control
- Increased stress levels
- Lower concentration levels
- Poor mental health
- Impaired vision
- Poor judgement
- Lack of focus
- Increased risk of disease and poor physical health
- Lower productivity
- Increased risk of accident and injury claims
- Failure to meet industry standards
How to Manage Driver Fatigue
Fatigue management is critical for any organisation, as it impacts the safety and well-being of employees, the quality of their work and the general population. Investing in high-quality fatigue management training will ensure that workers understand how long they are able to drive without losing concentration or impacting their health, which can result in errors or accidents. Fatigue management and employee testing protects drivers, companies, and everyone on the road. In the absence of proper training and assessments, drivers are more susceptible to the dangers and effects of fatigue.
With many professional resources available, companies are able to ensure their drivers receive proper education, information, and care to help manage fatigue. This can include comprehensive training before an employee begins to work on the road, functional workplace testing, educational seminars, ongoing employee health assessments and more. Partnering with an industry-leading expert such as Logic Health will set businesses up for success with tailored solutions, quality employee care, and testing, all designed to lift productivity and safety – across the board. Our team will work with you to support driver safety, meet your industry standards and regulations, and ensure ongoing success for your business.
Effective fatigue management identifies and addresses the adverse effects of lengthy working hours and the impact on the body’s natural rhythms. This should include a mix of various strategies to ensure health, safety, and performance across the workforce. A key component of fatigue management is the formulation of regular working and break cycles, with realistic and routine periods reserved for rest throughout the day. Other strategies can include:
- Adequate rest while on the road
- Healthy, balanced nutrition
- Light physical activity
- Adherence to fatigue management rules and regulations
Fatigue Management for Truck Drivers
Logic Health offers a comprehensive testing service profile to ensure that fatigue is effectively identified, treated and managed long term. Our offering includes a selection of dedicated assessments, including Medical, Audiometry, Spirometry, Drug, and Alcohol Screening and Functional Testing. While this is our fundamental selection of high-quality fatigue management for truck drivers, this can be tailored to seamlessly suit the needs, expectations, and goals of your business and your team. Explore our full suite of services, or contact us to discuss your options for a personalised plan that drives your business forward.
Discover fatigue management for safe, smooth operations in your business with the leading providers at Logic Health today.
