Eighty percent of long-haul truck drivers have at least one major health problem. More than half of them have two or more. 

Between the constant travel, stressful conditions, irregular sleep, and frequent isolation that come with the job, wellness can be an uphill battle for both drivers and their employers. 

In this post, we’ll outline seven of the biggest truck driver health problems and explore the implications those challenges can have for fleet operators. 

Truck driver health challenge #1: obesity

More than two-thirds of truck drivers are obese. That’s double the obesity rate for all Americans. 

A combination of factors contribute to elevated trucker obesity rates, like drivers’ sedentary workdays, limited opportunities for exercise, and difficulty accessing nutrient-rich meals on the road. 

But obesity isn’t just about carrying extra weight. It increases the risk for chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and sleep apnea, which can threaten both driver health and fleet viability. 

A 2024 study found that overweight and obese employees cost U.S. companies an estimated $425 billion a year–a sum that included expenses from increased medical costs, missed work, and disability/workers’ compensation payments. For a firm with 10,000 employees, every obese staff member cost the organization a total of nearly $6,500 a year.

Truck driver health challenge #2: diabetes

Unfortunately, obesity and diabetes in truckers go hand in hand. Poor diet and inactivity–both of which are common in the trucking industry–are major diabetes risk factors. 

Unmanaged diabetes can have side effects that make it dangerous to operate a commercial vehicle, like fatigue, blurred vision, and slowed reaction times. If blood sugar spikes too high or dips too low, it can lead to a serious health incident happening while a driver is behind the wheel. 

Truck driver health challenge #3: hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is sometimes called the “silent killer” because a person may not show any symptoms until a major health event occurs. It can be present in people who otherwise seem totally healthy. 

Stress is a big risk factor for hypertension in trucking, and it’s something that drivers face regularly. Tight schedules, traffic, and extended periods of isolation can all raise drivers’ blood pressure. If left untreated, hypertension raises the risk for stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure.

Truck driver health challenge #4: cardiovascular disease

Truck drivers are at a greater risk of heart disease than people in other jobs. Even working as a trucker for just one year raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, and that risk increases the longer a driver spends in the profession. 

Exposure to air pollution–mostly in the form of vehicle exhaust–is one big contributor to heart disease in trucking. Smoking is another. About half of truck drivers smoke–more than double the number of smokers in all professions. 

Finally, truckers are more likely to have high cholesterol, which also increases the likelihood of cardiovascular disease. 

In addition to being a pervasive killer, heart disease comes with massive economic costs. According to the American Heart Association, healthcare costs associated with cardiovascular conditions will quadruple by 2050, totaling an estimated $1,490 billion. Resulting productivity losses for businesses are projected to soar by 54% to $361 billion in that same time frame.

Truckers face a particular difficulty with heart disease when it comes to getting diagnosed. Drivers often have limited opportunities to schedule doctors’ appointments and may put off the preventative care that’s crucial for an early diagnosis. This means a cardiovascular condition may go undetected until a major health event like a heart attack happens.

Truck driver health challenge #5: sleep disorders

It’s not surprising that sleep disorders can tank worker productivity, but these conditions are especially dangerous for truck drivers because of their impact on alertness and reaction times. 

Unfortunately, being a trucker means you’re more likely to struggle with sleep-related health conditions. Obstructive sleep apnea is particularly common, especially among overweight drivers. If untreated, OSA can lead to a driver losing their commercial license and being taken off the road. 

Fatigue-related accidents are another cause for concern that puts drivers, their cargo, and members of the public at risk. Fatigue was found to be a leading factor in 13% of commercial truck crashes, and one in three drivers say they have nodded off or fallen asleep while driving.

Truck driver health challenge #6: chronic pain

Long haul truckers average 100,000 miles or more on the road each year. Over a career, that adds up to decades spent sitting in the same position, often with poor posture. Chronic pain is a common side effect. 

Drivers frequently deal with pain in the back, neck, shoulders, and knees, and they may opt to push through it to avoid missing work. Without proper treatment, this can lead to musculoskeletal issues, impaired mobility, and even dependence on prescription pain medications. 

Truck driver health challenge #7: mental health conditions

It’s often overlooked or stereotyped as being “less serious” than other medical issues, but mental health is a critical challenge in the trucking industry. Stress, depression, anxiety, and loneliness can all take a toll on drivers’ well-being. 

The demanding, always-on nature of the job can leave drivers feeling like they don’t have time for therapy or social connection. To make matters worse, sleep disturbances and other health conditions we’ve covered here can worsen mental health difficulties. 

Overcome trucker health challenges and reduce costs with Agile Telehealth 

Mitigating driver health challenges is a complex task and telehealth can be a valuable tool to help.

With Agile Telehealth, fleet managers can empower drivers to learn about, treat, and get support for their health conditions, at no added cost to the organization. With on-demand, remote appointments and driver-friendly scheduling, a trucker  driver could use telehealth services to:

• Stay on top of regular well visits to monitor risk factors for diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease 
• Meet with a specialist to get an early diagnosis before a condition progresses
• Get set up with a remote sleep testing kit to identify OSA
• Obtain virtual physical therapy to treat chronic pain
• Meet with a counselor to address mental health conditions like anxiety and depression
• Obtain support to lose weight or quit smoking
• Access prescription medications
• And more

Healthier drivers lead to safer highways, stronger performance, and greater workforce stability. Explore all of Agile Telehealth’s offerings and set up a call with us to take the first step toward improving driver wellness today.