1 truck driver problems (u.s.)
1.1 unpaid work time
1.2 turnover , driver shortage
1.3 time off
1.4 safety
1.4.1 sleep disorders , deprivation
1.5 parking
1.6 idling restrictions
1.7 dac reporting
1.7.1 false reports
truck driver problems (u.s.)
unpaid work time
in united states, there lot of unpaid time, @ shipper or receiver truck idle awaiting loading or unloading. prior 2010 hos changes common 4–8 hours elapse during evolution. csa addressed , incorporated legal methods drivers , trucking companies charge excessive time. part, loading/unloading times have fallen window of 2–4 hours although longer times still endured.
turnover , driver shortage
in 2006, u.s. trucking industry whole employed 3.4 million drivers. major problem long-haul trucking industry large percentage of these drivers aging, , expected retire. few new hires expected in near future, resulting in driver shortage. currently, within long-haul sector, there estimated shortage of 20,000 drivers. shortage expected increase 111,000 2014. trucking (especially long-haul sector) facing image crisis due long working hours, long periods of time away home, dangerous nature of work, relatively low pay (compared hours worked), , driver last mentality common throughout industry.
to combat shortage, trucking companies have lobbied congress reduce driver age limits, reduce recruiting shortfall. under current law, drivers need 21 haul freight across state lines, industry wants lower 18 years old.
employee turnover within long-haul trucking industry notorious being extremely high. in 4th quarter of 2005, turnover within largest carriers in industry reached record 136%, meaning carrier employed 100 drivers lose average of 136 drivers each year.
time off
due nature of job, drivers stay out longer 4 weeks @ time. few months on end , longer. average large company driver in united states 6 weeks average, each week out garnering driver 1 day off. accrues set maximum 6 or 7 days. average otr (over road) line haul , regional drivers. vocational , local drivers home every night or every other night. tractors equipped sleeper berths range 36 large 86 in length. while there larger sleepers 144 in length, these not seen in mainline segment of trucking. seen in specialized , household moving segments, load either permitted overweight or oversize or light yet bulky.
safety
from 1992–1995, truck drivers had higher total number of fatalities other occupation, accounting 12% of work-related deaths. 2009, truck drivers accounted 16.8% of transportation-related deaths. truck drivers 5 times more die in work-related accident average worker. highway accidents accounted majority of truck driver deaths, of them caused confused drivers in passenger vehicles unfamiliar large trucks.
the unsafe actions of automobile drivers contributing factor in 70 percent of fatal crashes involving trucks. more public awareness of how share road safely large trucks needed.
the safety of truck drivers , trucks monitored , statistics compiled fmcsa or federal motor carriers safety administration provides online information on safety violations. if truck stopped law enforcement agent or @ inspection station, information on truck complies , oos violations logged. violation out of service defined federal code imminent hazard under 49 u.s.c. § 521(b)(5)(b), condition result in serious injury or death . national statistics on accidents published in fmcsa analysis , information online website provides key driver oos categories year 2009 nationally: 17.6% log entry violations, 12.6% speeding violations, 12.5% drivers record of duty not current, , 6.5% requiring driver drive more 14 hours on duty. has led insurance companies wanting monitor driver behavior , requiring electronic log , satellite monitoring.
in 2009 there 3380 fatalities involving large trucks, of 2470 attributed combination unit trucks (defined number of trailers behind tractor). in november 2005 fmcsa report congress, data 33 months of large truck crashes analyzed. 87 percent of crashes driver error. in cases 2 vehicles, car , truck, involved, 46 percent of cases involved truck s driver , 56 percent involved car s driver. while truck , car in 2 vehicle accidents share half burden of accidents (not 70 percent stated above), top 6 driver factors same , in approximately equivalent percentages: prescription drug use, on counter drug use, unfamiliarity road, speeding, making illegal maneuvers, inadequate surveillance. suggests truck driver makes same errors car driver , vice versa. not true of vehicle caused crashes (about 30 percent of crashes) top failure trucks caused brakes (29 percent of time compared 2% of time car).
truck drivers spend nights parked @ truck stop, rest area, or on shoulder of freeway ramp. these in secluded areas or dangerous neighborhoods, account number of deaths due drivers being targeted thieves valuable cargo, money, , property, or truck , trailer themselves. drivers of trucks towing flatbed trailers responsible securing , strapping down cargo (which involves climbing onto cargo itself), , if load requires tarping necessitates climbing on load spread out tarps. tarps can weigh 200 lbs each , cargo can require 3 tarps per load account number of deaths , injuries falling. drivers spend long hours behind wheel, can cause strain on muscles. drivers responsible unloading cargo, can lead many strains , sprains due overexertion , improper lifting techniques. if cab of truck not appropriate driver s size, driver can lose visibility , easy access controls , @ higher risk accidents.
sleep disorders , deprivation
truck drivers sensitive sleep disorders because of long hours required @ wheel and, in many cases, lack of adequate rest. driver fatigue contributing factor in 12% of crashes , 10% of near crashes. traffic fatalities high , many of them due driver fatigue. drivers obstructive sleep apnea have sevenfold increased risk of being involved in motor vehicle crash. estimated 2.4-3.9 million licensed commercial drivers in have obstructive sleep apnea out of estimated 18 million total americans. federal motor carrier safety administration says many 28 percent of commercial driver s license holders have sleep apnea.
total costs attributed sleep apnea-related crashes:
2000: $15.9 billion , 1,400 lives
treatment:
cost: $3.18 billion 70% effectiveness of cpap treatment
savings: $11.1 billion in collision costs , 980 lives annually (national safety council)
research sponsored federal motor carrier safety administration , american trucking associations found:
almost one-third (28%) of commercial truck drivers have degree of sleep apnea
17.6% have mild sleep apnea
5.8% have moderate sleep apnea
4.7% have severe sleep apnea
truck drivers on road between 0400 , 0600, 0000 , 0200, , 1400–1600 hours @ highest risk of sleep-related accident.
parking
a study published in 2002 federal highway administration (fhwa) division of u.s. department of transportation (us dot) shows parking areas trucks , buses along major roads , highways more adequate across nation when both public (rest areas) , commercial parking facilities factored in.
a 2000 highway special investigation report national transportation safety board (ntsb) contains following statistics:
one challenge of finding truck parking made difficult perhaps not because there insufficient parking spaces nationwide , majority of spaces not located, , needed; near densely populated areas demand trucked goods greatest.
as urban areas continue sprawl, land development of private truck stops nearby becomes prohibitively expensive , there seems understandable reluctance on part of citizenry live near facility large number of trucks may idling engines night, every night, or experience associated increase in truck traffic on local streets.
exacerbating problem parking restrictions or prohibitions in commercial areas plenty of space exists , fact shippers , receivers of freight tend prefer ship , receive truckloads in , late portions of business day.
the end result increase in truck traffic during morning , evening rush hours when traffic dense, commuters exhibit least patience, , safety compromised.
adding challenge of finding parking are:
idling restrictions
idling restrictions further complicate ability of drivers obtain adequate rest, example california may illustrate:
commercial diesel-fueled vehicles gvwr greater 10,000 pounds subject following idling restrictions effective february 1, 2005. may not:
idle vehicle’s primary diesel engine greater 5 minutes @ location.
operate diesel-fueled auxiliary power system powers heater, air conditioner, or additional equipment sleeper-berth equipped vehicles during sleeping or resting periods greater 5 minutes @ location within 100 feet of restricted area.
drivers subject both civil , criminal penalties violations of regulation.
dac reporting
a truck driver s “dac report” refers employment history information submitted former employers hireright & usis commercial services inc. (formerly called dac services, or “drive-a-check”). among other things, truck driver’s dac report contains driver’s identification (name, dob, ssn), name , address of contributing trucking company, driver’s dates of employment company, driver’s reason leaving company, whether driver eligible rehire, , comments driver’s work record (e.g. good, satisfactory, many late deliveries, etc.). indicate whether company stored drug , alcohol testing information usis. separate section of dac report contains incident/accident information csa 2010 pre-employment screening program (psp) reports.
false reports
the dac report critical livelihood of professional truck driver credit report consumer. when trucking company reports negative information truck driver, can ruin driver’s career preventing him or finding truck driving job several years or more. known trucking companies abuse power willfully , maliciously reporting false information on truckers’ dac reports, either in retaliation seeking better paying trucking jobs elsewhere or number of other fraudulent, anti-competitive reasons. long truck drivers can threatened false dac report standing management or leaving company better job elsewhere, working conditions @ truck driver jobs not improve.
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