Productivity loss in the trucking industry: The effect of job strain associated health conditions on crash risk

The current research examined the effect of health risks of age, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease on crash risk among commercial truck drivers in order to examine (in the context of Karasek's,1979 Demand/Control [DC] model) occupationally specific physiological expression of job strain. Higher rates of physiological expression of job strain in the trucking industry compared to the national population were predicted, along with an increased crash risk among drivers with Type 2 diabetes compared with healthy drivers. Data from a national medical database with results of Department of Transportation (DOT) medical exams required for individuals to obtain a commercial drivers' license (CDL) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) crash reports were integrated through the CDL number linking medical condition of the driver to crash record as a measure of productivity loss. A single sample test of proportions confirmed higher proportions of physiological expressions of job strain in the trucking industry measured by BMI. Binary logistic regression analyses revealed (a) crash risk is higher among drivers (age ≥ 50) with Type 2 diabetes than drivers without Type 2 diabetes (b) crash risk is higher for drivers with Type 2 diabetes (age ≥ 50) than for younger, healthier drivers, and (c) unlike the national population, crash risk is higher for truck drivers age (20-29) than (age ≥ 50).Theoretically, the findings are consistent with the idea that high strain occupations lead to above average physiological expressions of job strain, and strain-related chronic disease is predictive of productivity loss. The findings have implications of the need for work organization policy and regulation changes in the commercial truck driving industry.;Key Words: Diabetes, Obesity, Productivity, Lifestyle Behaviors, Chronic Health Conditions, Commercial Vehicle Crash, Health Risk Factors.