Occupational fatalities among driver/sales workers and truck drivers in the United States, 2003–2008

Chen, Guang X.; Amandus, H. E.; Wu, Nan · 2014 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22320

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Summary

This study provides a national profile of occupational fatalities among driver/sales workers and truck drivers in the United States from 2003 to 2008. Motivated by the high number of deaths in this sector—representing 16% of all occupational fatalities despite comprising only 2.1% of the labor force—the research aimed to describe the nature and extent of these fatalities and identify associated risk factors. The goal was to supply data to industry stakeholders, unions, and regulatory agencies to prioritize prevention strategies. The authors analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). Cases were extracted for three occupational subcategories: Driver/Sales Workers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers, and Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers. Employment estimates were derived from the Current Population Survey for overall rates and Occupational Employment Statistics for subcategory-specific rates in 2008. The study calculated fatality rates per 100,000 workers and rate ratios by year, age, gender, race, and employment history. It also examined fatality events, work activities, industries, and establishment sizes. During the study period, 5,568 occupational fatalities occurred in this group, accounting for 17% of all U.S. occupational fatalities. The average annual fatality rate was 27.5 per 100,000 workers, seven times higher than the national average. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers accounted for 85% of these deaths, with the highest fatality rate (44.8 per 100,000 in 2008). Transportation incidents caused 80% of fatalities among heavy truck drivers, primarily through single-vehicle crashes, whereas driver-sales and light truck drivers experienced more multivehicle crashes. Non-transportation causes varied by role; assaults were the second leading cause for driver-sales workers, while contact with objects and equipment was prominent for truck drivers. Fatality rates increased with age, with drivers aged 65 and older facing a risk 4.3 times greater than those aged 15–19. Men accounted for 96% of fatalities. Additionally, 8% of heavy truck driver fatalities involved pedestrian incidents, and 2% involved railway crashes. Small establishments (1–10 employees) recorded the largest proportion of fatalities among heavy truck drivers. The findings indicate a critical need for targeted interventions, particularly for heavy truck drivers, focusing on single-vehicle crash risks such as fatigue and drowsiness. The study highlights the growing safety implications of an aging workforce, as the proportion of drivers aged 65+ nearly doubled between 2003 and 2008. The authors conclude that better employment data separating subcategories by worker characteristics is essential for effective prevention. They also emphasize the need to address specific risks like pedestrian incidents and railway crossings, and suggest that prevention strategies should differ based on whether crashes are single-vehicle or multivehicle in nature.

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• truck driver fatigue