Tiredness at work is a reality for many people, but when a truck driver feels tired, it can have dire consequences. Although there is no consensus on how to directly measure fatigue in truck accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board estimates that fatigue played a role in 20% of truck-related accidents they surveyed in 2015.

Let's take a closer look at what this means. According to data from the Federal Motor Transportation Safety Administration, 4,050 accidents involving large trucks occurred in 2015. In 2015, there were 87,000 injury accidents and 342,000 accidents involving property damage. The agency said that from 2014 to 2015, the death toll of large trucks and buses for every 100 million miles driven by all motor vehicles increased by 1.7%. Interestingly, 60% of fatal crashes involving large trucks occur on rural roads.

There are many reasons why a person may feel fatigued while driving, including lack of sleep, poor health, pre-existing health conditions, driving for too many consecutive hours, and even physical stress while driving. The continuous vibration of the road will be transmitted to the driver's body and produce a fatigue effect.

Tired drivers are less alert, have slower reaction times, and are unable to think clearly and process information effectively, leading to incorrect decision-making. According to the Department of Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Fatigue, Long-Term Health and Highway Safety, the safe operation of motor vehicles requires drivers to remain alert and awake, and "have situational awareness and timely mental movement and cognitive responses."

FMCSA provides commercial vehicle drivers with tips to reduce fatigue, starting with adequate sleep before driving. Although easier said than done, given that we all lead busy lives, the National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults sleep seven to nine hours a night.

FMCSA also recommends maintaining a healthy diet. The organization stated: “Stopping or eating irregularly may lead to fatigue.” The FMCSA also encourages drivers to recognize signs of drowsiness, including frequent yawns, heavy eyes and blurred vision. In addition, the agency said that turning on the radio, drinking coffee, and opening the windows are not real ways to treat drowsiness, and may give drivers a false sense of security.

Even if the driver meets the service time requirements, starts his journey with adequate rest, and leads a healthy lifestyle, the fact that he spends 10 hours driving can cause physical harm.

Truck drivers are affected by a type of vibration called whole body vibration. Whole body vibration is defined as a kind of mechanical wave, which manifests as the energy transfer from the vehicle on the road to the driver. In other words, the driver absorbs the vibration of the road. These vibrations can cause damage to the driver's body in the form of fatigue and other physical problems, especially those related to the spine.

In addition, Chiropractic doctor Michael Peterson said that sitting for long periods of time “will not let the lymph [system] discharge toxicity, which truck drivers don’t have. This affects lymphatic drainage and vasculature, which can be harmful to you. Have long-term effects on your heart and cardiovascular health."

In fact, according to Joseph Sweere, DC, DABCO, DABCOH, FICC, “Statistics show that the trucking industry is one of the industries with the highest incidence and severity of spinal diseases.”

In an article on the topic of transportation, Peter Johnson, a professor of the Career and Environmental Exposure Science Program at the Seattle University School of Public Health, was quoted as saying: "Many scientific studies have shown that there is a correlation between exposure and environmental exposure. Vehicle-related whole body vibration and The development of health issues."

A basic way to help improve the driver’s experience and reduce the impact of the road on the driver is to properly support the body while driving. The right seat-properly adjusted-has the right function, which can greatly reduce the influence of the whole body vibration and other physical stress during driving.

At the most basic level, a good seat must allow the driver to adjust the height, horizontal position, and recline angle of the backrest. According to Dr. Sweere, adjustability is key. The ergonomically designed seat can reduce the impact of vibration on the driver and help prevent fatigue.

Dr. Peterson added: “If the driver keeps changing positions, it will exert traction on the nerve roots, which can cause long-term problems.” The seat requirement of a 6-foot-4 male driver weighing 280 pounds is comparable to a 5-foot-6 height male driver. It makes sense that a female driver weighing 112 pounds has different seat requirements. "Their body proportions are different," said Dr. Sweere, so they need to make different adjustments to the driver's seat for maximum support and comfort.

Having an adjustable seat should make the driving experience more comfortable and help reduce sleepiness and fatigue. Combining proper seating with recommended amounts of sleep, a healthy diet, and driving only during legal service hours should reduce fatigue.

Dr. Sweere said that sitting for a long time can cause fluids to accumulate. "Any method that can help reduce or mobilize it is beneficial. One of the best ways to do this is exercise," said Dr. Swell.

The massage function on the seat is turned on about 20 minutes before the driver gets off the car, helping to disperse body fluids and relax the driver's muscles. However, training the driver on seat functions and making appropriate adjustments is critical to seat effectiveness.

This article is sponsored by Minimizer. For more information, please visit www.minimizer.com

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