Hard-working people who deliver America’s goods and materials tend to shrug off adversity and focus on getting the job done. However, it’s essential for truck drivers to understand that persistent feelings of low energy and exhaustion could be more than routine tiredness or the result of a poor night’s sleep.
Truck driver burnout has historically been a significant reason for CDL professionals leaving the industry. The previous few years have exacerbated already challenging time management efforts by truckers. When the country went into lockdown during the height of the pandemic, America looked to truck drivers to work longer hours and keep the supply chains open. Compounding the stress associated with longer periods away from home and hours of service limits effectively waived, truckers operated in harm’s way traveling across the country as the virus spread. Constant stress, health risks, uncertainty, and fatigue came together like a perfect storm.
But leaving a good-paying occupation remains an unfortunate and avoidable consequence of the toll hard miles put on the body and state of mind. That’s why a candid discussion about truck driver burnout is critical to recognizing the following telltale signs CDL professionals may be experiencing burnout.
- Feeling Exhausted: One would expect fatigue to register as an almost certain sign that someone is in the midst of burnout. Nothing could be further from the truth. Everyday people have a habit of attributing fatigue to a wide range of other issues. These typically include disrupted sleep, staying up too late, having an extra drink the day before, lack of exercise, or eating something that didn’t agree with them. These excuses tend to minimize the possibility someone is experiencing early burnout symptoms. It’s crucial to not rule out a potentially serious condition.
- Alienation: The emotional toll of issues such as burnout tend to alter someone’s behavior. Rather than participate in usual group activities, the sufferer self-isolates. If you notice someone distancing themselves for seemingly uneven reasons, they may be experiencing burnout. If you find yourself declining invitations you typically accept, consider burnout symptoms as a possible reason.
- Reduced Productivity: When going that extra mile seems like a Herculean task, you may be feeling the impact of burnout. Although truckers deliver day-in and day-out without fail, overcoming adversity, stress, and long hours can wear you down faster than a re-tread. The fact that some CDL-holders earn by the mile while others remain on revolving shifts puts too many miles on the human odometer. When you can’t seem to log the same number of miles you used to, that could be a telltale sign of burnout.
When people across industries experience career burnout, they often suffer physical symptoms such as loss of appetite, headaches, difficulty going to the bathroom, and others. Although burnout remains a challenge for truckers, identifying these and other indicators remains the first step to addressing the problem.
Sources: workhound.com, smart-trucking.com
Maybe if we were treated with some kind of respect instead of another person there to hold the steering wheel there wouldn’t be a shortage.
lazy dispatchers,keep drivers from getting thru the house to be home more often…even to take a 10 hr break would make the difference….
What a useless article…how to tell if you hate your job, with no suggestions for improvement. Apply this to everyone under the face of the sun eventually.
I hit burn out 2 years ago after many many yours on the road. I was able to take a two-year hiatus & loved it although I didn’t plan on a full 2 years off but now I’m starting back with a local position home daily moving approximately 3 to 5 trailers a day to a 1 mile distance. No traffic, no GPS, no missing turns or difficulties finding my locations, no timetables to work by, no appointments, no parking issues, no sleeping in the truck, now getting run off from parking lots in the middle of the night etc. Very low stress & think I’m gonna love it !
Congratulations. I parked my stuff at home since last April. Just relaxing, doing things around home that didn’t get done, and working out, and enjoying life.
Going to go back at it in a month for another year or so, then get local work like you, and semi retire!
Talk about driver burnout! Low pay and expecting excessive miles on every run. 2000 miles in a weekend! 20,000 miles in a months time due to the COVID shortages. In my entire career of 30+ years I had never ran that hard in my life. But with every passing week they expected more even though they said one thing but looked the other way when you exceeded your hours of driving. Most loads we hauled were COVID exempt on HOS. Food loads had to go no matter what. After almost 2 years of pushing myself beyond my limits. I had to quit driving due to the stress and wear and tear it took on my body.
I’ve had burnout/fatigue for months now. It finally culminated physically a few weeks ago, when sciatica hit me, big time. Been off work foe almost 3 weeks now, but will get back tomorrow, still with some pain.
The irony is, a couple months ago the ceo of my company officially ‘forbade’ anyone from taking extra days off or leaves of absences. I haul fuel, so this is our ‘very’ busy time. This summer was the hottest on record. Weeks of no rain and near 100 degree temps without end. Not one word from upper ‘management’ about drivers taking breaks to avoid heat exhaustion, while they enjoyed their air-conditioned offices.
Quit whining, and just keep going until you have a nervous breakdown. Family and friends aren’t important: money is. The only thing that matters is how much money you have. Be greedy and selfish.
Bottom line to everything in every industry today is the PUSSAFICATION of AMERICA!
I had a decision crossroad about 3 years ago–use my savings to buy a truck or buy an apartment building. I got a good deal on buying a big historic house in a small town. I live in a 3 room attic suite and rent out a few $600 rooms downstairs. Ha ha, a different kind of owner operator. I spend maybe 10 hours monthly doing landlord things. Having extra income from “house hacking” absolutely cured my job stress burn out. I’m in my 40s. Hopefully there’s more years to drive truck, make accelerated mortgage payments, and plan for retirement with the house PAID.