Semi-trucks are a necessity in this country to transport goods throughout the nation. Products we enjoy every day are transported on trucks in order to reach their destinations.
However, some trucking companies put significant pressure on their drivers to deliver goods in unreasonable time periods. As a result, some truckers forego sleep from time to time in order to keep up with the irrational demands.
You may wonder if this means sleeping disorders are common in the trucking industry. Read on to find out.
Sleep Disorders in the Trucking Industry
Unfortunately, sleep disorders are relatively common throughout the trucking industry. Two of the most common sleep disorders reported in the industry include:
- Insomnia
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Studies show that “Unspecified sleep disorders were reported by 20% to 28.6% of truck drivers, insomnia by 27.5%, OSA by 25.8–51%.”
As you can see from the data, about a quarter to half of all truck drivers in the United States suffer from some type of sleep disorder.
Subsequently, when truckers do sleep, they typically get less rest than the recommended seven hours. In fact, studies show that 17.3% of truck drivers get fewer than six hours of sleep per night and 22.2% of truckers get less than five hours of sleep per night.
Insomniacs have a higher chance of developing OSA than those who don’t suffer from insomnia. Additionally, drivers who experience OSA are significantly more likely to also experience:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Respiratory disorders
Unfortunately, drivers with OSA are nearly twice as likely to get into collisions and three times as likely to get into near-miss collisions than drivers without OSA.
We Can Help Injured Truck Accident Victims
If you’ve been the injured victim of a truck accident through no fault of your own, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses. Our team here at Beardsley, Jensen & Lee is highly skilled in personal injury law and will do everything possible to help you.
Call our firm today for a free case evaluation at (605) 777-7466. Choose a skilled team that truly cares about you and your best interests.
