Interesting article. I'd say from personal experience most of the points are valid.
The pressures to deliver freight in an industry that has pay schedules figured on a per mile schedule of fees, and accessorial charges figured on pretty cheesy rates.
Where a driver can get a per box rate of something equivalent to about $.01 per piece handled; the lumper gets basicly on the spot from the driver, 'what the traffic will bear', and a 'contracted' company is able to negotiate rates a company would never consider pay an employee.
Unfortunately, although the pay rates have climbed faster in the last 20 years than they ever did in the previous twenty years. Drivers, and Owner/Operators still contribute an indecent amount of uncompensated labor to their jobs. Stressed to the max, pressured to take chances that could cause them to be fined, and/or operate extra-legally to fulfill those job expectations.
Unstructured sleep periods lead to 'micro-napping' behind the wheel, a potential cause for rear-end accidents, or lane change events. Sedentary job requirements, and rapid exercise periods[ driver unloads]. These lead to poor eating habits which lead to improper nutrition, snacking and/or eating while driving, lead to overweight drivers and potential health issue, diabetes is accepted as one result of overeating/overweight, and cigarette smoking to resolve nervousness or hunger, or both is also a detrimental health issue.
Sorry for the "Vent", folks, but a topic near to my heart, and heartache in my over-the-road trucking life. Trucking is both a vocation and avocation for many; it resolves psychological and sociological needs for many individuals, and cares for society. " If you have it, a truck brought it!" at least at some point.
Unfortunately, we as a society cannot spend the social capital to solve most of these problems. Higher wages would create across the board increases in most everything we use, and these increases would be passed through to the consumer, whe is grossly, under paid for their work.
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