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[h2] Truck Driver Injury Prevention [/h2]
[p]The trucking industry is a profession with one of the highest workers’ compensation claim rates. The profession itself requires long hours of driving, poor diets, and little exercise, making truck drivers prone to injuries. These truck driver injury prevention tips can help limit drivers at risk. [/p]
[p] In America, Washington State alone, workers’ compensation claims are so high that there is an initiative for preventing on the job injuries for truck drivers. It is referred to as the TIRES Initiative. [/p]
[p]Each year, 1-out-of-13 truck drivers in Washington state has a work-related injury serious enough that they have to miss work for a long period of time, on an average of 184 days.[/p]
[p]Truck drivers had more nonfatal injuries (over 151,000) than workers in any other occupation in 1995. 50 percent of the nonfatal truck accident injuries were serious sprains and strains; this may be attributed to the fact that many truck drivers must unload the goods they transport. (Source: According to Knestaut, A. Compensation, and Working Conditions, 1997, Fall)
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[p]Long hours of driving, poor diets and little exercise make drivers prone to work-related strains and sprains with injuries to muscles, tendons, nerves and other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). [/p]
[p]<strong>Injuries are often due to:</strong>[/p]
[ul]
[li]Overexertion[/li]
[li]Being struck by an object[/li]
[li]Falling[/li]
[li]Transportation accidents[/li]
[li]Repetitive use of body[/li]
[li]Lifting heavy boxes and cargo[/li]
[li]Awkward postures such as reaching overhead [/li]
[li]Gripping tightly or improperly[/li]
[/ul]
[p]Work-related strains and sprains make up 50% of injuries are the most costly and most frequent injuries in the trucking industry. Sprains, strains and overexertion make up for the most trucking-related injuries. [/p]
[p]Studies show that costs exceed $107 million and resulting in 576,000 lost-work days per year. About 70 percent of these injuries were to truck drivers. Many of the injuries occurred when opening shipping container doors or connecting or disconnecting a trailer to the truck.[/p]
[p]<strong>Strains and sprains can include:</strong>[/p]
[ul]
[li]Back pain[/li]
[li]Shoulder pain[/li]
[li]Muscle strain[/li]
[li]Tendonitis[/li]
[li]Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)[/li]
[li]Tennis elbow (epicondylitis)[/li]
[li]Other common injuries include bruises, fractures, cuts and lacerations, soreness and pain, and multiple traumatic injuries.[/li]
[/ul]
[p]<strong>The most common situations where truck accident injuries occur include:</strong>[/p]
[ul]
[li]Vehicle accidents[/li]
[li]Carpal tunnel injury[/li]
[li]Strained wrists from opening hard to open containers[/li]
[li]Strains and back injuries from lifting and moving items or releasing 5th wheel to remove tractor from trailer[/li]
[li]Slip and falls climbing in or out of the cap or trailer[/li]
[li]Accidents while loading or unloading trailer[/li]
[li]Slip and falls on docks[/li]
[li]Crush injuries where part of load falls on driver[/li]
[/ul]
[p]<strong>Workers’ Compensation Costs</strong>[/p]
[ul]
[li]41% of compensable claims are the result of strains and sprains to the neck, back and upper extremity (shoulders, elbows, hands/wrists)
[li]The average cost for a claim is over $26,000
[li]Average of 184 time-loss days Compared to other industries
[/ul]
[p]Couriers have almost four times the rate of work-related strains and sprains claims of all industries combined. Waste Collection has three and a half times the rate and General Freight trucking is close with almost two and a half times the rate of work-related strains and sprains of all other industries combined.[/p]
[p]<strong>Additional Costs</strong>[/p]
[p]Work-related time off also increases the cost of hiring and training, increasing turnover and decreasing productivity. Sometimes workers are unable to return to their full wage jobs after an injury or require extensive life-altering surgeries or treatments to recover.[/p]
[p]Take Steps to equip truck drivers and operators with the proper tools needed to help them avoid injury.[/p]
[p]To help offset these unwanted expenses we introduce <a href="https://www.shippingcontainertool.com/">OPNBar</a>, a 3 in 1 shipping container safety leverage tool, <a href="https://www.shippingcontainertool.com/use-tire-beater-check-tires-properly-inflated/">tire beater/thumper</a>, and <a href="https://www.shippingcontainertool.com/how-to-release-a-5th-wheel/">5th wheel release handle/hook</a>. Our product was originally designed for opening and closing truck trailers and shipping container doors with the safety for the operator foremost in mind. The OPNBar trucker tool, for instance, can help avoid some injuries by providing an ergonomic means of opening shipping containers, checking for low pressure tires, and aiding operators in releasing the tractor from the trailer.[/p]
[video id="wdokuVGpIcE"]
[p]Educate truckers, equip them with the right tools, and teach them good health habits to keep them safe and healthy. These simple precautions can help companies avoid unexpected fees and missed work days.[/p]
Truck Parking Prediction [p] Find truck parking near you with the new Trucker Path Truck Parking feature. [/p]
[h2] Truck Parking Prediction [/h2]
[p] If you're a truck driver, then you're well aware of the <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/truck-parking-issue-can-cost-the-industry-5-billion-annually/">lack of available truck parking</a> in America. It's one of the top issues plaguing the trucking industry and is both a safety risk for drivers and costs trucking companies billions. [/p]
[p] We discovered that almost half of the truck drivers spend an hour or more searching for available truck parking. Between the ELD mandate and overcrowded truck stops, it's no surprise. Still, the burden shouldn't be left on the drivers. They have enough to worry about, after all, being a truck driver is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. [/p]
[h2]Take The Guesswork Out of Finding Truck Parking[/h2]
[p] Now there's a solution to finding truck parking with our new <strong>Parking Predictor!</strong>[/p]
[p] This new parking feature compiles several years of data to forecast the availability of parking at truck stops and other locations. Now you can compare specific times of day at over 8,000 locations to see when parking is either full or has spots for trucks. [/p]
[button-green href="https://truckerpath.com/trucker-path-app/truck-parking-near-me/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=parkingprediction"]Try Trucker Path Today[/button-green]
[p] <strong>How To Use It:</strong> [/p]
[p]1. Open the Trucker Path app [/p]
[p]2. Click on a Location found on the map[/p]
[android-img src="/uploads/2017/10/click-a-location.png"]
[p]3. Click <strong> PREDICTION</strong> [/p]
[android-img src="/uploads/2017/10/5a.-parking-prediction-details-card-new-with-arrow.png" alt="trip planner"]
[p]4. View the <strong>Parking Predictions</strong> to verify when the best (and worst) times to park at the location will be. [/p]
[android-img src="/uploads/2017/10/7.-parking-prediction-actual-screen-new.png"]
[p] Truck Parking looks limited at this place Wednesday mornings, you might want to find an alternative location. [/p]
[p] It's as easy as that! Now you can eliminate wasted time searching for a spot and find nearby truck parking with confidence. A little peace of mind goes a long way and you won't have to worry about violating your HOS with this new feature. [/p]
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2020
[p]The U.S economy is highly dependent on some 3.5 million individuals who spend their lives on the road delivering goods to move our economy. Yes, we are talking about truck drivers who deserve praise and gratitude for what they do every day.
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[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-1.jpg" alt=""]
[p][b]Historical Significance [/b][/p]
[p]Trucking has been around for over a century. Alexander Winton built the first semi-trailer in 1898, and quickly over the next hundred years, its significance really started to take shape. In 1998, the American Trucking Association (ATA) decided that a celebratory week shall be commemorated on the 2nd week of September. Every year since then, we’ve reserved that date to celebrate and give thanks to the millions of OTR and local drivers. [/p]
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[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-2-1.jpg" alt=""]
[p][b]Impact on the Economy[/b][/p]
[p]Trucking plays an integral role in the U.S economy. Some have stated that trucks act like the red blood cells in a human body. The red blood cells deliver oxygen to vital parts of the body, the same as trucks deliver goods to every corner of the country. Without them, the entire economy comes to a halt.[/p]
[p]According to official statistics, trucks move 72.5% of all the freight inside the U.S. That’s about 11.84 billion tons of goods! The good news is that the demand for truck drivers is increasing every year. The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that by the year 2026 approximately 108,400 more heavy-load truckers will be required to maintain the network. The future is bright for anyone who wants to join the party.
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[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-3-1.jpg" alt=""]
[p][b]Showing Gratitude [/b][/p]
[p]Life on the road is not easy. Truckers are away from their loved ones several months out of the year.
[/p]
[p]Sometimes a simple thank-you can mean the world. Being courteous on the road, goodie bag, or even a few words of kindness can lift spirits. It’s not easy for truck drivers to always cook and pack their meals, buying them a meal goes a long way!
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[p]In spite of our current pandemic, truckers are still delivering the essential goods across the country. Keeping the shelves stocked, delivering critical medical supplies, helping us get from manufacturer to doorstep, truckers have taken on a special significance in these times. We must not forget these hardworking men and women. The National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is a wonderful time for Americans to acknowledge these unsung heroes who make our lives easier and keep the economic wheel spinning.[/p]
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[p][b]By Aldous Aldwin[/b][/p]