How Often Is Trucker Fatigue a Cause of Commercial Vehicle Accidents?

Trucker Fatigue

The recent Large Truck Crash Causation Study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration examined more than 12,000 commercial truck accidents over almost three years. The FMCSA researchers considered the causes of 249 deaths and 1,654 injuries.

The FMCA found fatigue, the consumption of alcohol, and speeding are major factors in motor vehicle crashes overall. These three factors increase the risk that a crash will occur.

Truckers were responsible for most of the crashes.  About 12 percent were linked to so-called “non-performance.” Before these wrecks occurred, a driver either fell asleep, had a heart attack or seizure, or was physically impaired for another reason.

The National Transportation Safety Board estimates as many as 30-40 percent of trucking crashes are caused by driver fatigue.

What are The Causes of Trucker Fatigue Commercial Vehicle Accidents?

Long Hours

Truckers’ hours are governed by the FMSCA’s Hours of Service regulations. Although these rules are meant to safeguard the drivers and other motorists, they allow a trucker to drive for hours at a time. Trucking companies often seek to flout these rules and put pressure on their drivers to make impossible deadlines.

Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which airways are blocked or obstructed, preventing the sufferer getting a good night’s sleep. Drivers with untreated sleep apnea are linked to many crashes on the roads and railroads.

Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. It often goes unrecognized and undiagnosed. Under federal regulations, a driver with a medical history or clinical diagnosis of any condition likely to interfere with his or her ability to drive safely “cannot be medically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce.” However, once successfully treated, a driver can drive commercial vehicles. The Trump administration shelved proposals to screen truckers for sleep apnea following a series of fatal trucking wrecks.

Diabetes

Diabetes can cause tiredness or even a loss of consciousness behind the wheel. The FMCSA updated guidelines relating to which diabetic drivers are permitted to drive big rigs. Now commercial vehicle drivers who wish to work are required to submit the stipulated documents that prove they meet the guidelines.

These drivers must have conditions that were properly controlled for the past year with no symptoms or incidents of hypoglycemia for the past 12 months including severe dizziness or loss of consciousness. There is concern that the FMSCA is not addressing complications associated with diabetes.