ICAT Playdate — Continuous health monitoring of long haul truck drivers

This project focuses on longitudinal health study of long haul truck drivers through continuous monitoring of their vital signs, and lifestyle choice. Long haul truck drivers are an integral part of our economy moving over 70% of American freight. Unfortunately, the typical lifestyle of a long haul CMV driver often leads to poor health, quality of life, and can even shorten longevity. Due to irregular shifts, and travel on road, they do not have access to healthy food options, and their circadian rhythm is severely affected. Study has shown that truck drivers suffer from critical health condition like obesity, sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetics. There is a significant research gap in understanding the physiological and circadian disruptions experienced by drivers and their direct impact on health and safety. This gap highlights the need for continuous, objective monitoring to develop targeted interventions that can mitigate these health risks and enhance driver well-being and safety. In this study, we have shown that use of wearable technologies can provide insight into both micro to macro level health and lifestyle factors affecting long haul truck drivers. Through pilot collection of data through wearables and daily questionnaires, we demonstrate a pathway to develop a large-scale study that will not only improve driver health but also enhance road safety. Ultimately, healthier drivers translate to a more sustainable workforce, lower healthcare costs, and greater economic efficiency for the freight industry as a whole.