Dive Brief:
- The American Transportation Research Institute is conducting surveys of drivers about their health and carriers about their medical costs, according to an Oct. 14 news announcement.
- The confidential surveys each contain less than two dozen questions and are available online through ATRI. Information sought ranges from driver wellness habits to sick days used and medical insurance costs. It’s available through Nov. 13.
- “ATRI’s research will help fleets better understand the relationship between driver health and outcomes,” Jeremy Reymer, founder and CEO of the nonprofit trucker wellness initiative Project 61, said in the announcement.
Dive Insight:
The goal of the research is to “understand the impact that different truck driver medical card statuses have on industry operations and costs,” ATRI says in the surveys.
Drivers can receive medical card approvals for various lengths, with two years being the maximum. But workers with certain conditions may require more frequent check-ups with qualified medical examiners, such as drivers with high-blood pressure, diabetes or sleep apnea, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration notes.
“We already know driver health can affect safety,” Reymer said. “The next question is how much it may also be affecting operational risk and cost.”
The medical standard for commercial motor vehicle drivers dates back to 1939 with the Interstate Commerce Commission’s first rule on the issue, and the two-year check-up came as regulations tightened in 1970, the FMCSA previously noted.
The ATRI survey is asking motor carriers for “fleetwide averages for medical card durations, insurance costs, and operations key performance indicators,” the organization said. Questions include costs they paid for non-crash workers compensation claims, whether they provide wellness programs, and what percent of medical costs are covered by the company versus the driver.
“Truck drivers face unique health challenges,” ATRI said, noting potential challenges with access to healthy food and the ability to stay active physically, given the nature of the job. The organization further added that “the U.S. supply chain depends on the well-being of drivers to deliver freight safely and efficiently.”
