Man standing in front of truck

Trucker Health

June 24, 2014

This year, professional drivers will be required to take a new kind of physical. The physical will have to be performed by an FMCSA-approved medical examiner, who will fill out DOT forms covering six main areas of trucker health:

  • Heart disease, blood pressure, triglycerides and cholesterol
  • Diabetes
  • Digestive system
  • Respiratory health, including sleep apnea
  • Weight and nutrition
  • Joint and back pain

Truckers suffering from any of these health problems won’t necessarily be denied their licensing, however, they may be issued temporary medical certification cards.

The goal is to encourage lifestyle changes that improve the health of commercial drivers. Truck driving is a high-risk occupation, both because of dangers on the road and dangers to overall well-being.

That’s why we will be featuring weekly tips for improving health while on the road. Things such as diet, fitness and simple hydration can make a world of difference.

Come back next week for our first Healthy Trucker Tip of the Week: Take 10,000 Steps!

Trucker Fired After Refusing to Break the Law

April 4, 2014

Truck drivers are required to keep accurate logbooks to prove they are following the law when it comes to Hours of Service (HOS). So, what happens when a company tries to force its employees to work over hours and falsify their logbooks? If the employees are smart, they will refuse to work a schedule that makes them break the law. And, if the employer is a real scumbag, they will fire them for that.

So goes the story of Donald Fannin, who chose to deal with the situation by filing a lawsuit against Meyer Distributing Inc. and its general manager Brian Farley. According to the West Virginia Record, Fannin claimed that company management requested he violate DOT rules on multiple occasions, including working long driving shifts and falsifying DOT logbooks. After Fannin voiced his concerns, he was fired.

Truckers have to bear a lot of the burden when it comes to federal regulations. They are the ones who have to keep accurate logbooks, and they are the ones who get in trouble when they don’t. So, any time an employer tries to take advantage of this situation, it’s important for truckers to know their rights and to realize that they have some recourse for such abuses.