The trucking industry is highly competitive, especially in areas that have several container ports and shipping ports. This has created a work culture where several drivers are overworked, lack proper sleep, are fatigued, and possibly battling mental health issues. While many companies provide their employees with the necessary support systems, most of these are focused on the drivers’ physical health.
Studies have found that truck drivers are at risk of developing mental health illnesses due to the nature of the job. This is due to tough competition, long work hours, and prolonged isolation. Without proper support, drivers are susceptible to developing unhealthy coping mechanisms. In this scenario, they put themselves, other motorists, and pedestrians at risk as they continue to drive without the proper treatment.
Research has shown that untreated mental illnesses have physical and social consequences. The absence of support systems is often caused by a lack of information and understanding, both on the employers’ and drivers’ part. By examining the negative effects trucking has on a driver’s mental health, the appropriate solutions can be determined.
Common Mental Health Issues in Drivers
Drivers, whether under contract or self-employed, are constantly competing with each other to keep their job. Additionally, long-haul trucking creates vulnerabilities that lead to physical and mental health problems. All of these contribute to the development of mental health issues that range from minor to severe.
Chronic Loneliness
The nature of long-haul trucking causes drivers to spend an excessive amount of time in their vehicles. They are also separated from family and friends for long periods. Although they can park at rest stops to sleep and eat, they have little time to socialize with anyone because of their timetable. This isolation can have adverse effects on their mental health, from social anxiety disorder to depression.
Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental health illnesses in the trucking industry. Several factors contribute to its development among drivers. It is often a combination of the lack of sleep, extended periods of solitude, and other stressors from the job. Failing to diagnose and treat this condition leaves drivers to find coping mechanisms (e.g., excessive drinking or use of illicit drugs) that act as band-aid solutions to the problem.
Sleep Disorders
The competition between drivers and companies is causing the development of sleep disorders. Drivers are choosing to skip sleep to meet tight deadlines or to take on more jobs. This lack of sleep leads to problematic symptoms that affect behavior, such as loss of concentration, irritability, and impaired work performance. Over time, these disorders may lead to other mental health problems, like depression.
Anxiety
Anxiety is found to be typical among newbie truck drivers. But experienced drivers are just as likely to report anxiety symptoms, with some even having anxiety attacks on the job. Their triggers vary, from being overwhelmed by the job requirements to worrying about a large vehicle and load.
Solutions that Address these Mental Health Issues
Drivers have the right to ask their employers for the appropriate solutions to their mental health issues. When these problems are left unaddressed, they will indirectly affect operations and business performance. It’s in the employers’ best interest to provide employees with the support systems they need to treat their mental health problems.
Driving Schedule
Sleep deprivation prevents drivers from getting the necessary rest to recharge their bodies and their minds. Drivers will likely drink copious amounts of caffeine or take other types of stimulants to cope with sleep deprivation; both can significantly affect their mood and ability to perform their best.
Creating consistent driving schedules can address this problem. By giving drivers a fixed and reasonable schedule, they won’t have to drive through the night. Include meal and sleep breaks, especially during long-haul drives, to encourage them to take breaks throughout their journey.
Assistant Drivers
Chronic loneliness, although not considered a mental health illness, may lead to serious mental health issues and behavioral problems. Irritability is often a precursor to aggressiveness. A driver who lacks sleep and feels angry constantly can resort to violence when they feel slighted.
Assigning a partner to every driver, no matter the distance of their journey, addresses chronic loneliness. With another person on board, the driver has someone to talk to throughout the trip. Additionally, they can take turns driving, allowing the other to rest without having to park the truck.
Remote Therapy
Mental health issues should be treated like physical illnesses. Mental health affects physical, emotional, and behavioral health. Without the proper support systems in place, the business will experience the eventual consequences of these issues.
Providing drivers with therapy sessions gives them a safe space to talk about their problems. Companies often make this service available at their headquarters, encouraging drivers to visit the therapist’s office when they want. With new developments in technology, remote therapy has also become a popular choice. It allows drivers to meet with the therapist even when they are on the job. They can use one of their breaks to have a session to prepare them for the rest of the journey.
Driver’s Rights to a Safe Work Environment
All employees have a right to work in a safe environment; this includes access to the necessary health services. It means drivers can make demands that ensure their health and safety, including those focused on their mental health. Several studies provide evidence on the effects of poor mental health in business performance. Both of these should be enough to encourage companies to provide the necessary solutions.
Get the support and treatment you need by knowing your rights as an employee. Truck Driver Rights provides professional legal services that aim to protect you from unethical and illegal business practices. We provide legal consultations and representation to help you receive the appropriate mental health services at work.
Find out more about our services when you get in touch with us.