Being sick while you’re on the road is miserable. Even if you didn’t have to deal with long cargo drop-offs and interstate regulations, just driving a vehicle for hours can be even more arduous than usual. But spring allergies can do more than make the workday stretch longer and longer. They can be dangerous to your driving. Whether you’re a solo owner-operator or you manage a team of truck drivers, make sure health and safety are at the top of everyone’s priority list.
1. Check your allergy medication at the door.
Prescription allergy medication almost always has a warning against operating heavy machinery or driving after taking the pills. Several over the counter options also cause drowsiness or lightheadedness. Even if you or your drivers are taking medication that doesn’t need to be reported or recorded, make sure it’s made for use while on the job. Even then, keep a wary eye on both the weather and the routes. Make sure to assign particularly susceptible drivers routes that don’t take them into the worst of an allergy outbreak and create a good enough open-door policy that drivers feel comfortable requesting different routes. Driving while medicated or while being distracted by stuffiness is dangerous.
2. Do you have sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is affecting an increasing number of drivers. Even though earlier regulations regarding testing fell through, it’s still important to monitor your own health. Sleep apnea interrupts deep sleep because those with the condition wake up repeatedly during the night because of irregular and insufficient breathing. This results in grogginess, delayed reflexes, and fatigue. Allergies can worsen the condition when they inflame sinuses, mouth, and throat.
Even though allergies are not the most severe health problem semi-truck drivers face, it can aggravate pre-existing conditions and make driving more dangerous. Go to J.E.B. Insurance Services, LLC. to make sure you have the best insurance policies before spring really starts. We provide commercial truck insurance in the states of Florida, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska.
