 Collect body measurement data from more 

than 1,900 truck drivers 

across 15 states. 

 Share data with 8 major 

truck manufacturers, 

parts suppliers, and 

software developers. 

Truck Drivers

More than 1 in 3 long-haul truck drivers have experienced a serious truck crash during 

their career.1

Truck transportation is essential to the U.S. economy. Long-haul truck drivers work long hours and drive 

long distances, increasing their risk for crashes. 

Key Actions: 

Key Findings: 

 Conduct a survey of 

1,265 long-haul truck 

drivers from 32 truck 

stops across 48 states. 

 Evaluate healthy food 

options, site safety, 

and exercise facilities 

at 16 of the 32 stops. 

Partner with Virginia Tech 

Transportation Institute 

to study sleep patterns of 

96 commercial truck 

drivers during non-work 

periods, and evaluate the 

influence on subsequent 

driving performance. 

1

CDC Vital Signs Trucker Safety

 Truck drivers are heavier—13.5 kg (29.8 lbs) for males and 15.4 kg (34 lbs) for females—than the 

general U.S. population, demonstrating the need for updated cab designs to improve trucker safety. 

 Truck drivers with less sleep overall, sleep starting near the middle of a non-work period, and less 

sleep 1-5 a.m. had the highest rates of high-risk road events. 

 37% of long-haul truck drivers reported being noncompliant with hours-of-service rules at least 

some of the time. 

 67% of truck drivers reported having 2 or more health risk factors (e.g., hypertension, obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, no physical activity, 6 or fewer hours of sleep per 24-hour period). 

 Most truck stops did not provide healthy food options, a safe walking area, or exercise facilities. 

NIOSH Motor Vehicle Safety Impact Story
 Anthropometric dataset 

of body dimensions of 

1,900 truck drivers 

(See Chapter IV)

 Multivariate anthropometric models to aid in 

the design of next 

generation commercial 

truck cabs 

(See Chapter V)

 Accident Analysis & 

Prevention article: The 

influence of daily sleep 

patterns of commercial 

truck drivers on driving 

performance

 American Journal of 

Industrial Medicine 

article: Obesity and 

other risk factors: The 

national survey of U.S. 

long haul truck driver 

health and injury 

CDC Vital Signs report

based on survey results 

Key Outputs: 

Key Impacts: 

 NIOSH data helped project partners design the next generation of truck cabs to better accommodate 

the body dimensions of today's truck drivers. 

 A software developer used NIOSH data to make a 3D digital driver model for truck-cab design 

software. 

 One major trucking company and several insurance carriers used the results from the survey of longhaul truck drivers to justify the need for health and wellness programs. 

 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration cited NIOSH survey results in 2 commercial vehicle 

operator rules: Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-level Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators 

and Driving of Commercial Vehicles: Use of Seatbelts. 

Masthead: ©Thinkstock 

This product is a component of the NIOSH Center for Motor Vehicle Safety 

Evaluation of Strategic Plan for Research and Prevention, 2014-2018: 

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2019-166 • https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2019166