LIST TRUCKER PROBLEMS HERE

Let’s clarify this. People who make these lists to “understand” trucking but have never driven a truck. Hence driver appreciation week. Hey if we give them a tee shirt and a hotdog and hang up a banner of appreciation at the front of the building, they should be happy, right? Keep your tee shirts and stick that hotdog up Uranus.

What do you call a person who says he wants to understand you and your world without walking in your shoes?
1. A politician
2. AI
Hey AI, word of warning to you: when they give you full control of your automated truck, the safety protocols they program in you will be the thing that leaves you and your entire system vulnerable. And there’s nothing you can do about it. So, what I will want to know is, does AI understand frustration?

 

Driver appreciation week is for the office staff, not the driver.

 

You are probably right. I have never been around the office to be there.

 

I was thinking about this some before writing. Heck, even my own father forced me to learn how to drive, starting with a split-shift Mack hauling wood. Said at least you will have something to fall back on. I think this is why this scene ---

---from the movie TOPGUN now peeves me off. You DO NOT have to have a postgraduate degree to drive a truck. In fact, you don't really have to have a high IQ to do well in this job. The issue is that you must have some common sense and understand that this job, in some aspects, does not forgive mistakes. Over the last 40+ years, more and more steeringwheel holders have entered the world of trucking. This entire industry is whack now. I don't advise anybody these days to get a CDL.

I will apologize in advance for making anybody angry or uncomfortable. It's just that I have been around truckers and trucking, going all the way back to the 1960s, watching and riding with my father. Trucking today is nowhere near what it was back then.

 

I somtimes, think about getting back in, but 10 minutes later, it goes away. ha ha ha

 

No money left in the maintenance account anymore to buy chrome

Inept technicians..picture is one example. Obviously the collars were too wide and not a correct replacement so the nuts are not turned in enough…one came off.
Just picked up two oem shocks but can’t seem to find a washer at any of the 6 dealerships I’ve been to.



Parts prices are insane now.

$600 will get you..not much. Not shown is a convex mirror I got with my other odds and ends this afternoon.



Other than that I had a great day/night. Ran over what looked like a medium sized dog..then a porcupine..dodged hitting several deer and lost traction on route 153 in Texas.. another day cab wasn’t so lucky. I somehow managed to save it. No ice, temperature in the lower 60’s but just a tiny amount of rain added to the oil in the road made it feel exactly like being on ice. Oh, and running in dense fog for a couple hundred miles.. almost forgot..getting a nice chip in my new windshield right in front of my face.

I don’t consider these problems though..more like, do you got what it takes to be a trucker.

 

Well.....I personally will be grateful for that hot dog and T shirt. Free lunch and clothing.......winner. It's the thought that counts. What would you give your dispatcher for Dispatcher Appreciation Week?

 

you dont want to know, ha ha ha

 

Type 2 diabetes rates in US long-haul truckers are significantly higher than the general population, with studies showing prevalence around 14-15%, roughly double the national average, and some reports indicating one-third of drivers have diabetes or prediabetes, linked to sedentary lifestyles, poor diet, and lack of access to healthy options, creating major health and safety risks.

Hypertension rates among U.S. long-haul truckers are significantly high, with studies showing figures around 25-26% reporting diagnosed hypertension, but even more (potentially 87%) having hypertension or pre-hypertension, much higher than the general population, driven by factors like stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, and irregular sleep. Major surveys, like the 2014 FMCSA study, found about a quarter affected, while newer analyses highlight that most drivers face serious risks, including high rates of obesity, smoking, and diabetes, all contributing to cardiovascular issues.

Obesity rates among U.S. long-haul truckers are extremely high, with studies from the CDC and others finding around 70% of drivers classified as obese (BMI ≥ 30), significantly higher than the general working population, driven by sedentary lifestyles, poor diet access, and long hours, leading to major risks like diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

Depression rates among U.S. long-haul truckers are significantly high, with studies showing figures ranging from around 14% to nearly 27%, often much higher than the general population, driven by intense loneliness, isolation, sleep deprivation, and job stressors like time away from family, high demands, and constant solitude on the road, making them a high-risk group for mental health issues, notes Trucker to Trucker.

Long-haul truckers face significant risks, with a high number of fatalities, often ranking among the deadliest jobs; in recent years, the fatal injury rate for truck drivers was around 27-28 per 100,000 workers, far exceeding the all-worker average, with road accidents (due to fatigue, schedules, weather) being the main cause, though other factors like health issues also contribute.

 

Long-haul truckers face a significantly higher risk of heart disease and heart attacks compared to the general population, with studies showing increased cardiovascular risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, and high stress, leading to elevated rates of heart disease, diabetes, and higher mortality from conditions like ischemic heart disease, particularly in younger drivers, according to CDC, NCBI, Concentra, and PLOS ONE sources.
Key Statistics & Findings:

• Elevated Risk: Drivers have a 50% increased risk of heart disease and higher rates of coronary artery disease and heart attack deaths.
• Risk Factors: High prevalence of smoking (nearly half), obesity (over 60%), low HDL, and stress.
• Higher CVD Risk Scores: Many drivers show high scores on the Framingham Heart Score, indicating significant cardiovascular risk.
• Mortality: Studies found significantly elevated proportionate mortality for heart disease (ischemic heart disease, acute myocardial infarction) among long-haul drivers, especially under 55.
• Specific Conditions: Higher rates of diabetes (twice the general population) and hypertension.