Fact Checked Most blue-collar professionals understand that their careers come with a degree of risk. They must use their bodies to perform job functions for their employers. They may work in dangerous environments.
Frequently, blue-collar employees receive competitive wages and benefits packages because of the risks associated with their careers. Truck drivers navigating local, regional or national routes command some of the best wages in the blue-collar sector. They may also view their jobs as less risky than other, more intense blue-collar professions, such as construction welding. However, truck drivers are at significant risk of work injuries. They can end up hurt so badly that they cannot continue working.
What are some of the most common causes of lost-time incidents for semi-truck operators?
1. Motor vehicle collisions
Obviously, those who drive for a living are at risk of a wreck. Semi-trucks are much more difficult to manage than passenger vehicles, and truck drivers are often on the road regardless of the weather or time of day. Collisions can cause serious injuries that leave drivers unable to continue working until they heal.
2. Overexertion and repetitive strain
Truck drivers frequently load and unload their trailers. Other times, they attach and detach loads at warehouses. They can end up injured due to heavy lifting. Overexerting the body can lead to injuries that require weeks to heal. Other times, they could develop cumulative trauma because they spend much of their day gripping a steering wheel in a seated position.
3. Struck-by and caught-between incidents
Semi-truck drivers often need to enter warehouses and loading docks. They are at risk of getting struck by moving equipment or getting caught between a vehicle and a wall. They can also get struck by falling objects in a warehouse or inside the trailer of the semi-truck. Those incidents can cause medical challenges ranging from brain injuries to fractures.
Workers’ compensation benefits can provide support for semi-truck drivers injured on the job, regardless of whether they sustain injuries in a crash or a warehouse incident. Filing a workers’ compensation claim can help truck drivers pay for their medical care and replace their lost wages until they recover.
