Whether it’s long-haul transport or local bever- age delivery, truck driving is one of the hardest jobs on the body. Not only are the long hours of sitting hard on truck drivers’ backs, but so are all their other tasks. It is easy to overlook the heavy toll that securing loads, stacking hand trucks, or handling freight can have on the body. In fact, truck driving is always at or near the top of OSHA’s list of professions for lost work due to injury. The good news is that there are several things you can do to lessen the risk of injury.

Tips for Driving

• Vary your seat position slightly every 30 to 60 minutes to vary the stress on your body.
• Change hand position on the steering wheel often. Do not squeeze harder than necessary.
• Use a steering wheel cover to protect your hands from a cold wheel.
• Use a gel seat cushion if the truck vibrates too much.

Adjust the Seat

• Knees should not be higher than the hips.
• The front of the seat should not contact the back of the knee. Such contact will cause drivers to slide forward into a rounded posture.
• You should be able to depress pedals all the way without twisting the back or moving away from the seat.
• If possible, adjust the lumbar area of the seat to provide gentle support. A towel or lumbar roll may be added to support the low back, if needed.
• Slightly recline the back so the angle between the back and legs is approximately 110 degrees. Shift the body often, but stay close to this position.
• Position the steering wheel to keep elbows as close to the sides as possible, minimizing reach.
• Be sure instrumentation is easy to see.
• Adjust mirrors so you can see all of them without slouching or twisting. Use the mirrors as a cue to sit up when you slouch, instead of readjusting them....