My dad has worked as a truck driver for several years. In his current occupation, he moves around giant metal sandboxes to transport sand for companies in the oil industry. He recently experienced an accident while at work. In this instance, he was on top of a sandbox, ready to fill it with sand, before he accidentally lost his footing and fell 15 feet to a metal platform located between two sandboxes. He fractured several bones in his face; his lip was caught between his teeth, a bone was dislocated in his wrist, and he tore two ligaments. Thankfully, he was able to recover after three surgeries. However, this incident made me question life and the choices one makes to enhance it. I chose to investigate the CDL driver’s lifestyle and what it takes to work in this industry, discerning they operate in a precarious situation wrought with loneliness, job insecurity, and long hours.
Truck drivers have good working hours that enable them to rest and work effectively to avoid accidents. They adhere to regulations the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) set. A truck driver’s typical workday hours vary significantly, though over-the-road (OTR) or long-haul drivers cover large distances every day. However, several misconceptions exist about an average workweek. Like an individual working in an office job, truck drivers are required to avoid fatigue and work towards a healthy lifestyle. They can work for 11 hours in 14 hours and should take a 30-minute break after traveling for 8 hours (FMCSA). Truck drivers must stay for 10 hours, resting after they reach their limit and 36 hours after a specific workweek (FMCSA). This gives them time to recuperate and function optimally to avoid accidents that may lead to fatalities.
My father was hospitalized in Oklahoma City, illustrating the solitary nature of a truck driver’s life as they can spend extended periods away from home. While regional drivers can go home every day, most long-haul truck drivers go home every two to three weeks (BLS). They are more prone to loneliness than people in other careers, a factor I considered after my father’s accident that led me to call him frequently. Nonetheless, this issue is not present in most drivers since they join the trade because of a personality compatible with the open road. My father could not wait to get my mother’s approval to move about; like most truck drivers, he loved the freedom provided by their trade. In this way, despite spending prolonged periods alone, truck drivers have a distinct personality that helps them cope with fleeting loneliness.
An accident can hinder a truck driver from working as they need to be physically present to conduct their duties, unlike office workers that may work from home. My father spent more than a month recovering from his injuries before he could resume work. Truck drivers need to consider the prevalence of risks in their industry and develop suitable savings mechanisms to live comfortably once they can no longer physically go to work (Sainato). They should try to eat healthily and exercise whenever possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Theirs is a trade that needs one to remain vigilant of their health; slacking off means an inability to work, increasing the risk of unemployment. Health is paramount for truck drivers and integral to remaining suitable for employment.
Works Cited
BLS. “Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers : Occupational Outlook Handbook.”U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
FMCSA. “Summary of Hours of Service Regulations.”FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 2022.
Sainato, Michael. “Families of Us Truckers Killed on the Job Left Struggling for Help.”The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 2022.