Truck drivers life expectancy rate wheres the proof. For years, we have heard that truck drivers have a life expectancy rate that is ten to sixteen years shorter than the average person. Indicative of the challenges facing this population, the average life expectancy of drivers is 61 years global insight may 2005. The average life expectancy of a commercial truck driver is only 61 years. The mortality age of an overtheroad driver should not be shorter than any other profession. Truck drivers life expectancy is 61, which is 16 years shorter than the us average.
Apr 16, 2011 where is the proof that truck drivers life expectancy is shortened by their occupation. Many people speculate about what the life of a truck driver is really like. In 2010, niosh surveyed longhaul truck drivers in the united states to determine national estimates of workrelated safety and health conditions. According to the cdc center for disease and prevention, the average life expectancy of a truck driver is 61 years, which is very less compared to the national average. Quartz daily brief subscribe to the daily brief, our morning email with news and insights you need to. That is the trucking lifestyle in a nutshell, there is much more to being a truck driver than what i described and i could go on forever but i know this is already a long. In fact, the center for disease control and prevention in an article on truck driver life expectancy cdc provides this information has said that the average life expectancy for a commercial truck driver is 61 years, which is 16 years lower than the national average. According to the centers for disease control, the average life expectancy for a commercial truck driver is only 61 years old which is 16 years lower than the national average.
Average life expectancy for professional drivers find a. Truck driving isnt for everyone but it could be for you. But just because these statistics exist doesnt mean you have to become one. Its demands, particularly upward of 300 days per year on the road, will certainly limit what time you spend at home, thus. Apr 30, 2014 this 15 year difference is very disturbing. The 10 longestlasting and 10 shortestlasting pickup trucks. Logic tells us all that the lifestyle of the professional trucker is one of poor eating habits, lack of exercise and terrible sleep habits. Life cycles for dpwfss vehicles and equipment the following is a listing of equipment arranged in alphabetical order, along with its reasonably expected life span. The difference between a car and a truck is like night and day.
Looking at trucking through the eyes of veteran road warriors versus the newbie truck driver, the article, clash of the generations gives an insight into how the two generations of truckers see each other. The life expectancy of an average american has increased by 30 years since the last century. A truck is pictured in the road trench of the a14 highway near cambs in mecklenburgwest pomerania, northern germany on january, 2017. The centers for disease control released last week a report on truck driver health risks related to irregular schedules, long hours of work, poor diet and nutrition, and the stress of driving in heavy traffic and bad weather the cdc reported. Mar 14, 20 truck drivers life expectancy is 61, which is 16 years shorter than the us average. Statistics from the national institute of health show that more than 50 percent of truck drivers are obese, compared to the national rate of 26. If you are considering becoming a truck driver, or youre already one, it can be intimidating to think about the numbers and the risks. The grueling life of a longhaul trucker popular mechanics. Check out the articles that were read the most during the past year and become a more wellrounded truck driver and business owner. Its easy to understand why a truck driver would wonder about how life insurance is affected by their occupation. With reports flying all over the place stating that truck drivers now have a life expectancy of 61 years. Dots truck driver life expectancy statistic is in question. Shorter life expectancy of truck drivers dot physicals.
Being in the truck driving profession contributes to a shorter lifespan for truck drivers shorter than for others in other occupations. Jul 16, 2018 truck driving is also a vital need in our industrialized society, so many drivers feel proud to contribute to americas commercial network. Truck driver health issues shorten life expectancy 16. Most major companies sell the trucks around 400600k at which pooint smaller operators buy them. This trucking blog features updated articles with helpful advice for truck life. I read in a medical journal a couple of years ago that the average lifespan of a career driver is only 64 years old. Truck drivers and delivery workers had the highest number of workplace fatalities in 2016, more than any other occupation, according to data from the bureau of labor statistics. Who wants to leave this beautiful world early, i think, no one. Roemer said the study found that truck drivers have a 10 to 15year lower life expectancy than the average american male, who lives on average to age 76. Determining the optimal lifecycle for truck fleets.
Trucking lifestyle blog life of a truck driver truck life. There are many perks that come with a truck drivers schedule, not the least of which is a unique view of the country, as well as camaraderie among your peers. The truck though only has two doors and is not something you would want to haul your family in. Since the mean life expectancy for an american is about 78 years, that number falls a. Its demands, particularly upward of 300 days per year on the road, will certainly limit. In fact, it has been said a truck drivers life span can have as much as 16 years cut off of a normal life expectancy as compared to others. Jul 21, 2010 in years past, the old dogs of trucking accepted the quality of life for truck drivers. A day in the life of a truck driver trucking career info. These men and women are essential to the transportation of goods in the united states, but high job demands and low control e.
It truly is a different world driving a truck than it is driving a car. Nov 18, 2014 if you apply that percentage to the 2009 truck at 16 mpg combined, that truck is likely performing at 14. Longhaul truck drivers operate heavy trucks and tractortrailers with a capacity of at least 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. What is the life expectancy of a truck driver, and why is it so low compared that of the average american. Truck driving is exhausting and often can be, a dangerous business. There are select occupations you ought to first discuss with loved ones before even considering applying for a job in the field. In fact, the center for disease control and prevention in an article on truck driver. A key component of any successful fleet management program is a planned replacement strategy. Since the mean life expectancy for an american is about 78 years, that number falls a significant 17 years short. If truck driving is something you really want to do, then go for it. Otr truck driving jobs what you should know before signing up. What is the life of a commercial truck driver like.
Life moves much slower for a truck than it does for a car in the big city. One perk of this truck is that you can take the top off and catch some wind. Educate the person who is thinking about becoming a truck driver so that he or she will know what to expect. Fmcsa answers questions about driver life expectancy. Truck driving is also a vital need in our industrialized society, so many drivers feel proud to contribute to americas commercial network. I put on 30000 40000km per year, and would to drive this truck to 810 years. Companies keep on screaming truck driver shortage instead of fixing these things. Truck driver health issues shorten life expectancy 16 years. That is the trucking lifestyle in a nutshell, there is much more to being a truck driver than what i described and i could go on forever but i know this is already a long post. After he was assigned to a truck company, he heard that the life expectancy of a wartime truck driver was three days. According to recent driver health studies, the average lifespan of a professional truck driver is 61 years of age. One is a note in the march 2008 edition of the roemer report, which cites a study by toronto researcher dr.
Again, this varies based on maintenance practices, operating conditions and the type of equipment used. It is an industry that operates on razor thin margins, has enormous fixed costs and chews up and spits out new entrants at all levels at an. Ill give you proof all fo the missing drivers found deceased in the cabs of the truck on average they are all below the age of 60. Life is a shorter highway when youre a truck driver quartz.
If you like your own company, its great, however it can also be a lonely, alienating and unrewarding job. However, where you can run into problems is if the truck driving lifestyle has caught up to. Drivers, trucking industry, trucks by jurica magoci february 9, 2017 14 min comments life as a truck driver can be challenging, it takes a unique individual to willingly make the vehicle or in other words the trucks cab, a home and office. It is just a glimpse of a few days in the life of a truck driver. Surprisingly there isnt much to worry about when it comes to being a truck driver and life insurance approval. Discussion in heavy duty diesel truck mechanics forum started by gregr70, dec 28, 2019. Life as a truck driver balance between highway and home. What is it about trucking that creates a shorter life expectancy. Jan 31, 2015 but the average big truck can last up to 1,000,000 miles or more if you take care of it. The life span analogy or why cars dont understand trucks. That breaks down to around 2,500 miles a week, which equates to 500 miles a day. Learning to control the truck and trailer that he or she will be operating may be one of the biggest physical challenges of the job.
The performance of this truck was lacking for a vehicle that has a 5. American crisis health of our nations truck drivers. The inability to participate in daily life and the solitude can take a toll on anyone. Life as a truck driver balance between highway and home posted in category. Purpose of life as a trucker my purpose of lifeasatrucker. Most rigs last 1million miles before major engine work is needed.
Most drivers are expected to cover 125,000 miles per annum. The problem however, is the inability to locate the actual studies. The cdc recently released a report that put the life expectancy for commercial truck drivers as much as 16 years lower than the national average. In fact, it has been said a truck driver s life span can have as much as 16 years cut off of a normal life expectancy as compared to others. Topics include providing for your family and maximizing earnings, making the most of the opportunity to travel the country, selecting the best equipment, and maintaining your overall health and wellness. Truck driver health issues shorten life expectancy 16 years by ken shigley the centers for disease control released last week a report on truck driver health risks related to irregular schedules, long hours of work, poor diet and nutrition, and the stress of driving in heavy traffic and bad weather. Truck driver life expectancy may be shorter than the norm, but the sources fmcsa cited do not support the figure of 16 years shorter. This might seem like slow progress, but the effects are becoming increasingly apparent as more and more people work past. Survey results, published in 2014, suggest a need for a tailored approach to prevent injury and illness among longhaul truck drivers to improve overall driver health. As with any newer generation that is set in their own way of thinking, this quality of life will have to change in order to meet the newer demands of todays younger drivers. One of the primary beliefs behind this statistic, dr.
In fact, around 10% of active truck drivers are over the age of 65. They generally run them untill an over haul is needed and either do it or retire the. The july, 2010 edition of truckers news has a great article by carolyn magner and misty bell about the generation gap between the modern day truck drivers. Cdc longhaul truck drivers safety and health studies. The phrase, studies have shown is all across the internet and publications alike.
Most life insurance companies dont view this occupation as hazardous. Smoking contributes to health problems such as heart disease, lung cancer and others. Jan 26, 2019 companies keep on screaming truck driver shortage instead of fixing these things. If you apply that percentage to the 2009 truck at 16 mpg combined, that truck is likely performing at 14. Realistically this truck wont make it much past the maximum warranty i can buy. Makes way for older truck drivers by taylor brundage september 22, 2016 cdl drivers, employers, job seekers the life expectancy of an average american has increased by 30 years since the last century. It is an epa truck engine so just do your home work if you want some serious life out of it chubby fly, dec 29, 2019. I do t mind some larger maintenance items near the end but dont want to replace an engine.
This will bring better quality drivers to the industry because they will have the information about transportation logistics and life on the road to make informed decision before getting on the road. In many ways, being an otr overtheroad or cdl driver is more a lifestyle than a job. Every drivers experience of truck driving is different, of course. It just isnt right, and it doesnt have to be that way. Some studies indicate that over 50% of commercial drivers are overweight or obese. And what happens is that truck drivers tend to overeat, smoke a lot, and sit in a sedentary position for 11 or 12 hours a day and that takes its toll on the human condition. Survey results, published in 2014, suggest a need for a tailored approach to prevent injury and illness among. The average life expectancy of truckers is just that an average. Jun 14, 2017 the average life expectancy of a commercial truck driver is only 61 years. As a general rule, forklifts have an economic life of approximately 10,000 to 12,000 hours.