Examining the Relationship Between Obesity, Clinical Tests, and Workplace Productivity in Canadian Long-Haul Truck Drivers.

Abstract

Background: The Canadian trucking industry employs over 300,000 long-haul truck drivers (LHTD) and has the highest number of worker compensation claims of any industry in Canada. Although studies have shown associations between obesity, decreased workplace productivity, and cognitive impairment in the general population, there is limited information on these relationships among LHTD. This pilot study aimed to: (1) profile LHTD health, demographics, and clinical test scores; (2) examine associations between obesity and workplace productivity; and (3) explore connections between obesity and clinical assessment test scores.

Methods: LHTD were recruited from various provincial and federal trucking associations and companies across Canada. In total, 36 LHTD completed a demographic questionnaire that surveyed their work, driving history, and health, followed by a few objective health measures (e.g., height; weight; blood pressure), as well as a battery of cognitive (e.g., Trail Making Test A and B; Montreal Cognitive Assessment; Useful Field of View; Clock Draw Test), visual (e.g., visual acuity; contrast sensitivity), and motor (e.g., Rapid Pace Walk) tests.

Results: Over half of the sample (63.9%) were obese (BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m²). Obese LHTD took significantly more sick days (p = .022), worked significantly more while sick and injured (p = .006 and p = .039, respectively), had significantly more crashes (p = .014), and exhibited poorer divided attention/concentration (p = .014), compared to non-obese LHTD.Conclusions/Applications to Practice:The findings show that obesity can impact worker productivity in LHTD, but the complex interplay between cognition, obesity, and worker productivity warrants further investigation.