What Can Cause Semi-Truck Driver Fatigue?

When you make your living as a truck driver, fighting fatigue is a constant struggle. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 13 percent of commercial drivers involved in car crashes are fatigued at the time of the crash. Learn what can cause semi-truck driver fatigue and what to do about it.

What Is Driver Fatigue?

Fatigue is a combination of many factors, but it’s usually a feeling of tiredness or lethargy that makes it harder to do your job. Many things contribute to fatigue, including:

• Lack of sleep
• Skipping meals or poor diet
• Working while sick
• Overworking

The symptoms of fatigue are pretty easy to spot. If you find yourself yawning, dozing off, or having trouble focusing on the road, you may be experiencing fatigue.

How To Prevent Driver Fatigue

There are several things truck drivers can do to prevent fatigue, which is much easier than trying to alleviate it. Consider these things you can do to prevent fatigue and exhaustion.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Lack of sleep is a leading cause of tiredness in truck drivers, especially since many of them have to sleep at unusual times of day. The human body prefers a regular sleep schedule, so taking late-night shifts may be an uphill battle. Still, if you can train your body to sleep when you’re on a break, you may be able to keep the feeling of tiredness at bay.

Stop Skipping Meals

Workers across many industries know what it feels like to skip a meal in order to keep working. While you may be fine doing that every once in a while, skipping meals on a regular basis is a bad idea. Your body needs food to keep going, and skipping meals puts you on the fast track to feeling tired.

Don’t Work When You’re Sick

If you have a cold, you may think it’s fine to keep driving since you don’t have to interact with many people on the road. However, your body works overtime to fight off illness, and that can make you drowsy. If you’re feeling under the weather, take the necessary time off to rest and recover.

Road Vibrations and Fatigue

Another thing that can cause semi-truck driver fatigue is road vibrations. These vibrations cause your body to tense up, which leads to using excess energy and making you feel tired. Consider investing in a replacement semi-truck seat from GRA-MAG to help cancel out road vibrations and stay more alert. Contact us today to find out more or ask about fleet pricing.