Mental Health Behind the Wheel: How Stress and Anxiety Contribute to Trucking Accidents

The conversation around health has expanded in recent years to include the topic of mental health. That’s good news, especially for people who work high-stress jobs that impact both their mental and physical health. Truck drivers are not only the backbone of the nation’s economy—they are also at high risk of mental health issues due to their work environment and the importance of their work. It’s crucial to understand why mental health issues are common and how to decrease accident risk.

When accidents do occur, victims can take steps to get the care they need and fight for compensation. Call Bailey, Javins & Carter at 800-497-0234 to set up a time to talk to our team now.

Why Truck Drivers Are at Risk of Stress, Anxiety, and Mental Health Issues

Truck driving is often romanticized as a life of freedom on the open road. However, the reality for the millions of professional drivers who keep the global economy moving is far more grueling. The trucking industry is one of the most demanding professions, characterized by high-pressure deadlines, physical strain, and extreme solitude.

Understanding the root causes of stress, anxiety, and depression in this sector is essential for improving driver safety and retention. Below is a breakdown of the primary factors that put a driver’s mental health at risk.

The Weight of Long Hours and Tight Deadlines

One of the most significant contributors to driver stress is the sheer volume of time spent on the clock. While federal regulations (such as those from the FMCSA) limit driving time to 11 hours within a 14-hour window, these “limits” still result in workdays that far exceed the standard office schedule.

• Mental Fatigue: Operating a multi-ton vehicle requires constant, high-level concentration. Doing this for 11 hours straight leads to cognitive exhaustion, which lowers a driver’s threshold for dealing with stress.
• Pressure to Perform: “If the wheels aren’t turning, you aren’t making money.” This industry mantra creates a constant state of urgency. Delays at shipping docks or traffic jams can cause immense anxiety as drivers worry about meeting delivery windows or violating hours-of-service rules.

The Psychological Toll of Isolation

Trucking is inherently a solitary profession. While modern technology allows for hands-free calls and video chats, digital interaction is a poor substitute for physical presence and community.

• Missing Milestones: Drivers often spend weeks away from home. Missing birthdays, anniversaries, and school events leads to a sense of “living apart” from their own families, which can trigger feelings of guilt and depression.
• The “Cabin Fever” Effect: Spending the vast majority of one’s life in a space the size of a walk-in closet is psychologically taxing. The lack of social variety can lead to intrusive thoughts and a heightened sense of loneliness.

Disrupted Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Instability

Human beings are biologically wired for a consistent sleep-wake cycle. In trucking, that cycle is often sacrificed to meet the needs of the supply chain.

• Irregular Schedules: A driver might drive during the day one week and switch to overnight hauls the next. This constant shifting prevents the body from entering deep, restorative REM sleep.
• Poor Sleep Quality: Sleeping in a truck’s bunk at a noisy rest area or a bright truck stop is rarely restful. Chronic sleep deprivation is a direct precursor to clinical anxiety and irritability.
• Search for Parking: The stress of finding a safe legal place to park before the electronic logging device (ELD) runs out of time is a daily source of high-level anxiety for long-haul drivers.

The Physical Strain of “Fingerprinting” Freight

Contrary to popular belief, truck driving is not just a sedentary job. Many drivers are responsible for “touching” the freight—a process known as fingerprinting.

• Physical Exhaustion: Loading and unloading heavy pallets or hand-stacking boxes is back-breaking work. When the body is in constant pain from physical labor, the mind suffers alongside it.
• Chronic Pain and Mood: Prolonged sitting causes issues with the lower back, neck, and shoulders. Dealing with chronic physical discomfort daily can make a driver more susceptible to depressive episodes and a shortened temper.

The Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Health

The “gut-brain axis” is a well-documented medical concept; what we eat directly impacts how we feel. Unfortunately, the road is a notorious “food desert” for healthy options.

• Limited Dietary Choices: Truck stops are filled with high-sodium, high-sugar, and highly processed foods. These foods cause energy crashes and “brain fog,” which exacerbate feelings of sluggishness and low mood.
• Barriers to Exercise: After a 14-hour shift, most drivers are too exhausted to exercise, and many truck stops lack the facilities for it. The lack of endorphins typically produced by physical activity makes it harder for drivers to naturally combat stress.

Environmental Stressors and Road Rage

The environment outside the cab is just as stressful as the demands inside it. Truck drivers must navigate unpredictable elements every single day.

• Traffic and “Four-Wheelers”: Drivers must constantly watch out for smaller passenger vehicles (four-wheelers) that often cut them off or drive erratically. The constant need for defensive driving keeps the body in a “fight or flight” state for hours at a time.
• Environmental Hazards: Navigating heavy snow, ice, or high winds while hauling 80,000 pounds is terrifying. This environmental pressure keeps cortisol levels (the stress hormone) elevated for prolonged periods.

The Stigma of Seeking Help

Perhaps the biggest risk factor for truck drivers is the culture of the industry itself. Trucking has traditionally been seen as a “tough” profession where admitting to mental health struggles is viewed as a weakness.

• Fear of License Loss: Many drivers fear that if they seek help or are diagnosed with a mental health condition, they might lose their Medical Examiner’s Certificate and, consequently, their livelihood.
• Lack of Access: Even for drivers who want help, finding a therapist who understands the trucking lifestyle and can accommodate an ever-changing schedule is incredibly difficult.

The mental health of truck drivers is not just a personal issue; it is a public safety concern. Stress and anxiety lead to distraction and slower reaction times, which increase the risk of accidents. To support the men and women who keep our shelves stocked, the industry must prioritize mental health resources, better parking infrastructure, and a culture that encourages drivers to speak up when the weight of the road becomes too heavy to carry alone.

How These Issues Affect Their Driving and Accident Risk

Drivers facing constant stress and anxiety, as well as those with diagnosed mental health issues, may see their driving affected in many ways. First, mental health issues are very mentally tiring. This makes it harder to concentrate on the road, which can put drivers at greater risk of an accident. 

Additionally, mental health struggles can lead to mental fatigue. Fatigued drivers are much more likely to cause an accident, and research indicates that driving while tired can be just as dangerous as driving while impaired.

To fight off the effects of fatigue, drivers may distract themselves with phones, tablets, podcasts, or media. This not only increases the chances of an accident, it makes a severe accident much more likely.

The stress of driving every day can pile up, especially in dense traffic. Some drivers lash out by driving aggressively. Aggressive driving is dangerous in any situation, but it is deadly when a truck driver is doing it.

Preventing Accidents and Supporting Truckers’ Mental Health

Promoting drivers’ mental health is key to supporting their well-being and decreasing accident numbers. Employers should prioritize mental health treatment and support, which includes not forcing drivers to take on more loads than they can safely manage. Drivers should also have access to flexible schedules that give them some ownership of their work and a chance to prioritize their health. Companies can also provide better access to healthcare in general to encourage a lifestyle of mental and physical health.

Find Out How Bailey, Javins & Carter Can Help You After a Crash

Have you been injured in a truck accident? You may be entitled to compensation—it’s time to find out. Schedule your free consultation with Bailey, Javins & Carter now by calling us at 800-497-0234 or contacting us online.