|
Poll: 65% of truckers rate health fair, poor
Knox-based medical service says industry on verge of a 'crisis'
By Michael Silence (Contact)
Thursday, July 12, 2007 
RELATED LINKS
Michael Patrick
Trucks outnumber cars in this 2005 photo taken on Interstate 40 east of Knoxville. A poll by Knoxville-based Professional Drivers Medical Depots found that the trucking industry will face a crisis if steps aren’t taken to reverse unhealthy habits and a lack of medical care for drivers. Amid growing evidence that the health of U.S. truck drivers is going downhill, a poll by Knoxville-based Professional Drivers Medical Depots finds that 65 percent of truckers surveyed rated their health fair or poor.
PDMD’s survey also found that 70 percent of those responding to the survey knew a truck driver who died between age 40 and 60.
The survey shows the trucking industry is on the verge of a “crisis” if steps aren’t taken to reverse unhealthy habits and a lack of medical care for drivers, said Dr. John McElligott, Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer for PDMD.
The company, which provides medical services at truck stops, currently has depots in Knoxville and Memphis, with plans to expand.
PDMD polled nearly 2,000 drivers on health issues between October and January.
If trends are not reversed, the trucking industry will face “a huge shortage of drivers” within 10 years, McElligott said, noting the average life expectancy for a driver is age 55.
He noted that 80 percent of the drivers currently are over 40, he said.
Knoxville-based Highway Transport Inc. is not experiencing the health issues that much of the rest of the trucking industry is, said spokeswoman Wendy Drummer.
Ninety percent of what the company hauls is chemicals, with the other 10 percent being petroleum. As a result, the drivers are highly trained, she said.
She added that Highway Transport’s drivers are “an elite class of drivers” who must follow healthy habits because they are required to climb all around a tanker truck for safety checks.
“Tank drivers are specifically chosen for their patient, steady and safe mindset. Their requirements and driving practices are much more stringent than the average box truck,” she said.
McElligott said truckers are on the road 20 to 30 nights a month on average, making it hard to get medical care.
He said PDMD is trying to reverse the trend and currently has additional sites under construction in Atlanta, Peru, Ill., and Mebane, N.C.
According to McElligott, many truck drivers let prescriptions expire and can go “months and months” without refills.
Business writer Michael Silence may be reached at 865-342-6310.
© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
|
