What is the Leading Cause of Death for Truck Drivers?

Most folks think truck drivers face the biggest risk from crashes. Accidents are scary, but they're not actually the top killer in this line of work. The biggest threat to truck drivers is heart disease. Sounds surprising, right? Heart attacks claim more lives behind the wheel of an HGV than road accidents do. You can be the safest driver on the road, but if your heart gives out, it won’t matter how many safety courses you took.

What makes this job so tough on the heart? Long hours sitting, poor food options, loads of stress, and not enough regular movement. Add in things like smoking or skipping health checks and it’s a recipe for real trouble. Knowing what to watch for and how to take care of yourself could literally save your life while you’re out working those endless miles.

• It’s Not What Most People Think
• Why Truck Driving Is So Risky for Health
• Spotting the Warning Signs Early
• Tips for Staying Healthier on the Road

It’s Not What Most People Think

Most people on the street would tell you that truck drivers—especially those behind the wheel of a HGV—have to worry most about crashes or big road pile-ups. Sure, road accidents can happen, but they’re not the main thing shortening the careers or lives of truck drivers.

The leading cause of death for truck drivers is heart disease. That’s right—according to a CDC report, heart-related illness kills way more drivers than accidents ever do. Long hours stuck in one spot and the stress of tight deadlines hit drivers hard. Here’s what the official stats showed:

One safety researcher from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health put it bluntly:

“If truck drivers died at the rate they die from highway crashes, no one would let them near the road. But medical issues, especially heart attacks and stroke, are the real killers.”

It’s easy to forget about these risks if you’re focused on perfecting your truck driver safety skills. But the brutal truth is you’re far more likely to have a heart attack at a rest stop than get into a massive road accident.

Many lorry driver risks have nothing to do with how you drive and everything to do with your daily habits. That means if you’re in HGV driving, you need to think just as much about your health as you do about managing your load or checking your route.

Why Truck Driving Is So Risky for Health

Driving lorries and HGVs isn’t just hard on your back—it's tough on your whole body. Let’s break down why being a truck driver puts you at a higher risk for health problems than most jobs.

Sitting for hours means your heart isn’t getting much of a workout. A driver can be in the seat up to 11 hours a day, sometimes more. Add to that: most rest stops don’t exactly offer salads or healthy grilled chicken. You get fast food, fried snacks, and loads of energy drinks. It’s easy for cholesterol and blood pressure to creep up.

Look at what a typical week might mean for your health:

Another big factor is that truck drivers often miss regular health checkups. When you’re always on the road, it’s easy to ignore problems until they get serious. One American study found that over 50% of truck drivers are obese, and almost half battle some kind of high blood pressure. It’s a full-on health storm if you don’t keep watch.

And don’t forget smoking. Smokers are common in lorry cabs, and that bumps up the chance of heart disease even more. All these pressures add up, explaining why so many truck driver health issues show up earlier than you’d expect.

No wonder people in HGV driving have shorter average lifespans than many other jobs. But spotting these risks isn’t meant to scare you—it’s meant to help you make better decisions for your health while keeping up with the job.

Spotting the Warning Signs Early

You don’t have to be a doctor to spot the early signals that something isn’t right, especially when it comes to your heart. Fact is, heart disease—still the leading cause of death for truck drivers—often gives off clues before disaster strikes. Catching these signs early could mean the difference between a normal workday and a call to emergency services.

Here’s what a lot of HGV drivers miss until it’s too late:

• Shortness of breath – If you’re huffing and puffing just loading the cab or climbing a few steps, don’t ignore it.
• Chest pain or pressure – This isn’t just movie stuff. Tightness, burning, or pain that feels odd needs attention.
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded – If you get the spins for no clear reason, your heart might be struggling.
• Unusual sweating – Getting sweaty without a good reason, especially if it’s cold sweat, can be a red flag.
• Pain or tingling in shoulders, arms, neck or jaw – It isn’t always just in your chest. Pain shooting down your left arm, or even your jaw feeling weird, could be heart trouble.

According to research in the US, roughly 50% of long-haul truckers have at least one major heart disease risk factor—like high blood pressure, obesity, or smoking. These stats carry over to the UK, too, since lorry drivers face nearly identical day-to-day routines.

Even if you feel tough, don’t brush off these warnings. Symptoms may pop up when you’re relaxed or even while driving your HGV. Keep an eye on your body’s signals. Listen to your gut—if something feels off, it probably is.

Tips for Staying Healthier on the Road

Let’s get real—truckers have it tough when it comes to health. Long shifts, tight deadlines, and gas stations everywhere serving up fried stuff don’t help. But you don’t need a total life overhaul to dodge the worst. Small changes make a big difference for truck driver health and can keep your heart from throwing in the towel.

• Move when you can. Sitting for hours is brutal for your body. Even ten minutes of walking at a rest stop helps. Some drivers keep a resistance band in the cab for quick stretches.
• Swap out junk food. It’s hard to pass up sausage rolls and energy drinks, but these pile on the risk. Keep nuts, fruit, or trail mix handy. Some truckers prep healthy wraps or salads on their days off and stash them in the fridge box.
• Drink more water. Sounds simple, but a lot of HGV driving time means reaching for fizzy drinks. Water keeps your energy up and helps your heart, plus it makes those rest stop breaks a bit more frequent—another reason to get moving.
• Watch your numbers. High blood pressure and cholesterol sneak up fast. Your GP can check both, and some trucking firms even offer free health checks. If you smoke, it’s a game changer to get support quitting. The British Heart Foundation found smokers are twice as likely to have heart attacks as non-smokers.

If you want a quick look at why these changes matter, check out this easy comparison:

You don’t have to hit the gym every day or live on kale. Just keeping an eye on these little things can keep you trucking into retirement, not breaking down halfway through. Your body will thank you—even after those 500-mile hauls.