According to official statistics released in 2013, there were around 613,000 HGV drivers on the roads in Britain. 65% of them are over the age of 40, and have been in the business for many years. When they started their career, it was the hard shoulder that would give them problems. Today it’s “trucker’s shoulder” caused by the steering wheels of their vehicles and the poor conditions of our roads that concerns them most.
Trucker’s shoulder is a condition that creeps up on drivers over many years behind the wheel. It’s basically pain in the arms, hands, fingers and the shoulder, and is caused by the repetitive action of turning the steering wheel in large trucks. Badly maintained roads will add to the problem as drivers have to constantly correct the wheel when driving.
A study commissioned by Volvo Trucks in 2014 claimed over half of HGV drivers across Europe were “plagued by back, neck and shoulder pain” with male drivers more likely to be affected than female ones. In the study, it claimed “whole-body vibration” from continually driving on uneven road surfaces, changing gear regularly and turning steering wheels leads to repetitive strain injuries in drivers similar to tennis elbow. Drivers gripping the wheel tighter than normal to compensate for poor road makes the problem worse, it also revealed.
Many of the problems occur in drivers who have been trucking for a long time. These drivers will have subjected their bodies to constant repetition and the older vehicles they will have operated previously do not have the technological advances today’s lorries do. Typically, less modern trucks have heavier steering wheels and, in some cases, in won’t even be power assisted. Gear shifts will require more effort too forcing more strain on the shoulder and arms.
Driving positions mean drivers’ bodies are subject to severe vibration while they’re sitting still. To counteract vibration, a good tactic is to move with it which is often impossible when strapped into the lorry cab. Driving with one elbow perched on the window sill can make it worse too, while medical experts say sitting for long periods can place 50% more strain on the spine than standing.
A lorry driver’s job often requires them to sleep in their cabs, which are often narrow and uncomfortable. If they have truckers’ shoulder or another repetitive injury, not being able to stretch out probably and get a good night’s sleep will not help matters, as is also the case with the long hours most drivers work.
Dynamic steering – found in the latest HGVs rolling off the production line – reduces vibration and the effort needed to steer by around 75% and most trucks come fitted with automatic gearboxes as standard massively reducing driver effort further. However, drivers who have driven trucks without these features are likely to already have developed symptoms of trucker’s shoulder or other repetitive strain.
If you believe you or a loved one may have developed RSI as a result of driving a truck and you need legal representation, we cam help. Give us a call on 0800 028 2060 or contact us online here. More information can be found on our dedicated website www.repetitive-straininjury.co.uk