If you own a trucking company, most likely one of your greatest concerns is keeping your drivers safe. When drivers who operate large vehicles feel drowsy or worse yet fall asleep at the wheel, they are not only endangering their own lives but the lives of others. Drowsy driving and falling asleep at the wheel causes accidents, injuries, and even deaths, which is why sleep health for those in the trucking industry is a huge concern.

 

Dangers of Drowsy Driving

 

Due to the amount of time spent behind the wheel and the many miles they drive, truckers are especially susceptible to the negative consequences of drowsy driving. Up to 6,000 fatal crashes a year have been associated with drowsy driving. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowsiness causes the following:

 

• Inattentiveness

• Slower reaction times

• Inability to make decisions quickly
   

Some trucker drivers might not realize just how often they operate a vehicle while feeling drowsy. Some signs for them to look for include: they don't remember the last couple of miles they have driven, they miss their exit, or they frequently yawn or blink their eyes. Many drowsy drivers try to wake themselves up by constantly shifting their position in their seat, roll down the windows, blast cold air from the vents, or crank up the radio. While these methods might be somewhat effective, they do not offer a long-term solution.
 

Truck Drivers and Sleep Disorders
 

Besides getting enough sleep and having good sleep habits, another way for truck drivers to prevent drowsy driving is to make sure they do not have a sleep disorder. Some of the most common symptoms associated with sleep disorders include:
 

• Habitual snoring

• Falling asleep at inopportune times throughout the day

• Not feeling well-rested after waking up from sleeping

• Having a difficult time falling asleep
   

Some of the most common types of sleep disorders that affect truck drivers include sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and insomnia. There are many treatment options available for these and all types of sleep disorders. It is imperative for truck drivers who think they might have a sleep disorder to have a sleep study so that they can receive the appropriate treatment. Treatment for sleep disorders is crucial for preventing accidents, injuries, and even deaths on the road. Treatment can also help prevent other types of medical conditions that might impair the ability to drive.
 

If you need to have employees tested for a sleep disorder, Sleep Lab at Sinai Medical Center will ensure the sleep study is completed in a time-efficient manner. Contacting them today is the first step to keeping everyone safe while on the road.