So I measured the noise levels in the truck today...

Industrial hearing loss is common. Caused by constant low frequency noise. Doesn’t have to be loud, can be a low humming noise. A lot of Factory workers have it. I imagine Truckers are especially at risk. My wife’s been riding along for at least 5 yrs. We both notice a hearing loss, especially lately. My Daughter notices in both of Us. She’s after Me to get a hearing test. Why? Seems useless, since I don’t need or plan on getting a hearing aid. My Trucks so loud. We can’t hear one another half the time. Have to literally yell. I’m working on quieting it down now. Old Freightliner with little or no insulation. 12.7 with no hood insulation. It’s loud, don’t realize how loud, till it’s shut off. I can’t believe how quiet some of the new Diesels are. I’m going to insulate the hood and firewall. May eventually run the stacks out back, I hear it makes a big difference, even in the bunk. Tired of all the noise.

 

Some driver I know really really well wears certain ultra-comfortable foam earplugs when they drive. I don't know if that is legal or not, but that driver isn't going deaf because of spending 24 hours a day in that environment. That driver can also hear the truck stereo at a lower volume setting when wearing the ear plugs than without those earplugs. There is no gold medal given for going deaf at work. Protect your hearing.

Just because current truck are less noisey than old trucks doesn't mean you won't go deaf driving them. You won't go AS DEAF, AS FAST in current trucks but prolonged exposure to loud environments will increase your hearing loss. Since most drivers spend extended periods alone and you can turn the CB or stereo up every year or two hearing loss sneaks up on you. Nobody drives a truck for years or decades and can hear better than when they started. Protect your hearing.

 

I came from an industry where hearing protection was standard practice. I may or may not have brought those practices with me, depending on who's reading these messages.

 

When you are driving into a sunrise/sunset, do sunglasses help you see better or make your vision worse? Proper and suitable hearing protection doesn't prevent hearing, they block out the multi-frequency "white noises" the most. Since my truck stereos have a numerical volume display, I know what stereo volume number needed to hear when wearing ear plugs, if I wear ear plugs and what volume display number I need without ear plugs, if I wear ear plugs. I can listen to the stereo about 2-4 points lower than if I let all of the wind/engine/road noise in. Distinct sounds are easier to hear once the "white noise" is dramatically reduced by ear plugs.

 

These are available at Walmart and Amazon, maybe even your grocery store. This just happens to be the 50 pair container, you can get these in a set of 5 or 7 for less money. I promise if you try them long enough to adjust them for your own desired noise reduction and comfort level you will be shocked how effective they are in reducing the noise you hear. Many other foam ear plugs are very rough feeling and ear canals are sensitive to irritation. If someone hasn't tried these ear plugs they haven't tried good ear plugs. The yellow EAR brand are torture devices, by comparison. These are smooth, thinner, tapered and far more comfortable.

 

I discovered that those ear plugs advertised for sleeping are the most comfortable and have the highest Noise Reduction Rating, typically they are 30dB or more. With any foam earplug you can increase the noise blocking by inserting them further and you can make them more comfortable by inserting them less deep. Comfort/NRR are basically opposing features. You get more or less of one by giving up less or more of the other. I highly recommend the Macks Slim-Fit ear plugs available at Walmart, Amazon, Krogers

 

All the newer trucks are quiet by comparison to older trucks. Each year they get a little quieter than a year or two before. But, a quieter truck is not a quiet truck any more than an thinner elephant is a light elephant. Lots of veteran truck drivers have lost a significant amount of hearing, but don't notice because they are alone all day and they can always turn up the stereo or headset to mask the hearing loss.

 

I don't know, but I don't even like wearing my Bluetooth headset (one side) when driving my old stuff. The truck doesn't sound right.

 

Winner !!! ^^^^^ ......I hardly ever look at my tach even when I'am loaded and running in the hills.. I do all my shifting by sound and feel .. I know when something is not quite right just by the sound.. but that's part of driving the the same truck for over 20 years & also 1 of the advantages of having a mechanical motor.. Have I got hearing loss .I know I do .. but it's still pretty cool to hear that turbo at work when the old cat is on the prowl