Truck Drivers’ Physical and Mental Health

The McCook, IL-based refrigerated freight company Select One Inc. has been operating since 2014. Select One Inc. builds relationships with truck drivers to provide timely and safe service. Here are ways to ensure truck drivers’ physical and mental health.

The working conditions truck drivers face result in unique physical and mental health challenges. A 2018 article in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health discusses the relationship between sleep and mental health disorders. Truck drivers face an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Mentally, they face issues like prolonged social isolation and a heightened tendency to self-medicate compared to the general population.

Complicating matters is comorbidity, one medical condition that increases the risk of developing another, such as insomnia and depression. About 90 percent of people experiencing insomnia have clinical depression. Additionally, depression is a risk factor for insomnia.

It's important to treat truck drivers’ physical and mental health issues simultaneously. Employers can leave ample time for sleep in their schedules and compensate those who work at night. They can partner with occupational health physicians to educate workers on the effects of poor sleep quality, work performance, and mental health. Incorporating screenings for sleep and mental health disorders can ensure employees’ well-being without incurring significant additional costs.

Purchase Programs Operate in Trucking?

Select One, Inc., is a McCook, IL, freight transport and logistics enterprise with a commitment to superior service. Maintaining a dedicated fleet of late-model tractors with reefers trailers, Select One, Inc., offers contracted drivers lease-to-purchase deals that combine competitive financing with full logistics support.

Lease purchase programs enable independent truck drivers to ultimately become owner-operators. A lease purchase truck driver holds the same basic responsibilities as a company driver. These include delivering a set quota of freight to a specified destination on time and following the safety protocol of the contracting company.

In general, the amount paid for this work is at the higher owner-operator rate, which is designed to accommodate the driver’s fuel, insurance, and repair and maintenance costs. This allows the driver to make agreed-upon lease payments on the vehicle, through the carrier.

One thing to be aware of is that lease operator and lease purchase programs are not the same. The former typically do not have any money-down requirements, and the vehicle is returned to the carrier after the contract ends. Lease purchase agreements, on the other hand, typically involve a substantial down payment coupled with higher continuing payments. The long-term benefit of this more capital-intensive approach is full ownership of the truck when the contract ends.

Factors That Are Affecting Trucking

Select One, Inc. is a trucking company that is based out of McCook, IL. Select One, Inc, along with other companies in the trucking industry, must be aware of major factors influencing their business.

One thing that has always been a factor in trucking is the cost of fuel, which continues to rise over time. With the global push towards renewable energy and resources, fuel prices will not come down and will continue to cost the trucking industry until they adapt.

Trucking is becoming better in ways as well, with urbanization, in general, helping the industry. With more people moving closer to city centers, it is much more efficient and cost-effective for transportation of goods.

Wages and pricing play a crucial role in any industry, but the trucking industry has been below average for many years. With unemployment increasing due to business closures, drivers and other workers are starting to demand more of their efforts. Unfortunately, the market itself will dictate pricing and wages, and it is difficult to predict what will happen.

Trucking Industry's Refrigerated Division

Operating out of McCook, IL, Select One Inc. manages a fleet of long-haul transport trucks and provides exceptional service to clients through load-tracking strategies, consistent communication updates, and 24/7 accessibility. Select One Inc. operates its transport trucks within the refrigerated trucking division.

One of America’s most important trucking divisions, the refrigerated trucking division is responsible for hauling more than 90 percent of American food products. Refrigerated trucks were first used to ship goods in the early 1900s, when they relied on ice blocks to maintain cool temperatures inside them.

By 1940, the first mechanically refrigerated trucks were designed by the US Thermo Control Company and put into use. The technology used to transport goods via refrigerated trucks has developed significantly over time, and now supports the transport of a range of types of cargo, including medications, fruits, vegetables, live animals, flowers, and meat (since refrigerated truck trailer temperatures can be maintained between 55 and -20 degrees Fahrenheit). Refrigerated trailers contain foam insulation and use refrigeration equipment that maintains the truck trailer temperature independently from the truck pulling it.