The health and wellness of professional truck drivers is paramount.
Our Health Hub is designed to promote initiatives, provide resources, and share information that help motor carriers and drivers achieve greater overall health outcomes.
Browse resources by topic:
Oral Fluid Testing Now Approved by DOT
Dr. Todd Simo, Chief Medical Officer and Managing Director of Transportation at HireRight
5.4.23
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has recently announced a new final rule that amends the regulated transportation industry drug testing program to include oral fluid testing. With this new testing methodology, employers are given an additional option that may help in the fight against cheating on urine drug tests. The DOT also calls it a “less intrusive means of achieving the safety goals of the program.” The new rule is expected to significantly impact regulated transportation industries' drug testing programs, including those in aviation, trucking, railroads, and transit agencies.
This article does not reflect ATA policy nor is a reflection of ATA as it is a third-party submission.
Tips / suggestions? Share them with us here.
When Driver Shortages and Litigation Overlap: Remediation of Impacted Drivers Following a Catastrophic Loss
Stephanie Chesney, Manning Gross and Massenburg LLP
4.3.23
I am a defense lawyer currently practicing in Boston, MA, with a practice that includes trucking and transportation law. In my younger career years, I primarily defended physicians and nurses in claims of medical negligence. Many of the reptilian concepts facing the transportation industry were in play in the medical negligence industry when I practiced in that area, focusing a jury on ideals of public safety and empowerment. In addition to applying the skills learned from defending against reptilian tactics in medical malpractice, there are lessons in remediating an involved party (there, a medical provider and here, a driver) so that they can return to work in good conscience that should carry from the medical community to the transportation community.
This article does not reflect ATA policy nor is a reflection of ATA as it is a third-party submission.
Tips / suggestions? Share them with us here.
Keep on Truckin’: Adequate Sleep and Truck Driver Safety
By Steven Garrish, Old Dominion Freight Lines
2.28.23
The author of this post chairs the ATA Safety Management Council's Driver Recruitment and Retention/Health and Wellness Committee.
In 1973, Eddie Kendricks, co-founder of the Temptations, recorded a song entitled Keep on Truckin’. Although the song’s meaning “not giving up” and “to keep going” did not necessarily pertain to the trucking industry, the song’s true definition could certainly be perceived as an indirect reflection of today’s truckers, as they keep going to provide goods and services within their local communities, across state lines, around the country and ultimately, the world.
Let’s face it, truckers are essential to the world’s supply chain and distribution of goods. As such, the overall health of a truck driver is essential to timely receipt of those everyday items whose delivery we all take for granted. We don’t always stop to think about how those precious items reach our front doors, appear on the shelves of our local grocer, our favorite shopping and dining spots, that basically influences every aspect of our lives!! Imagine your child’s birthday gift arriving a day late, or your daily meds being delayed due to a driver’s untimely medical absence. A trucker’s overall health and wellness is critical to the driver, and to us all
This article does not reflect ATA policy nor is a reflection of ATA as it is a third-party submission.
Tips / suggestions? Share them with us here.
Industry Resources
The following documents and links are provided for the convenience of ATA members only and should not be substituted for medical advice from a doctor or healthcare professional. ATA is not responsible for the content of these external documents and does not endorse or warrant any information, products, or services offered by them.
St. Christopher Truckers Fund: Driving Down Diabetes
Driving Down Diabetes by ATA Media on Scribd
St. Christopher Truckers Fund: Preventative Healthcare
Preventative health is one of the missions at St. Christopher Truckers Fund. They offer FREE programs to over-the-road drivers, including: GPS-Get Preventative Screenings, Rigs without Cigs, and Driven To Be Healthy. Learn more:
St. Christopher's Trucker Fund Resources by ATA Media on Scribd
