Work Truck Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

97% of Transportation Industry Employers Say Fatigue Affects Workers

A new survey from the National Safety Council finds that 42% of transportation employees who reported at least one risk factor for fatigue cited long shifts and another 48% cited sleep loss.

October 5, 2018
97% of Transportation Industry Employers Say Fatigue Affects Workers

For commercial fleet drivers, drowsiness behind the wheel can be catastrophic. In fact, crashes involving drowsy drivers caused 41,000 injuries and some 824 fatalities in 2015 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  

1 min to read


A new survey finds that 42% of transportation employees who reported at least one risk factor for fatigue cited long shifts and another 48% cited sleep loss. The report, from the National Safety Council, also concludes that employers in the transportation industry are experiencing the impact—with nearly 97% saying employee fatigue on the job is a concern.

Transportation ranks the highest among all safety-critical industries, according to the council, yet fatigued workers in the workplace and on the roads are at increased risk for injuries and accidents.

Ad Loading...

For commercial fleet drivers, drowsiness behind the wheel can be catastrophic. In fact, crashes involving drowsy drivers caused 41,000 injuries and some 824 fatalities in 2015 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  

The new report also highlights a gap between how employees and employers view the risks and consequences of being tired on the job. While 90% of employers across industries say safety incidents increase and productivity declines when employees are tired, only 72% of workers view being tired as a safety issue.

Moreover, while 95% of employers in the utility industry said it is unsafe to drive while tired—just 66% of employees in the same field agreed.

The council’s report summarizes the results of two national surveys—one of employers and a second probability-based survey of employees.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

More Safety

Futuristic image of tractor trailer and sensors detecting a car it is approaching at dusk.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseApril 24, 2026

Freightliner Expands Detroit Assurance Safety Features for Cascadia

Detroit Assurance with Active Break Assist 6 (ABA6) will be standard on Freightliner Cascadias built starting in December 2026 and will feature Cross Traffic Assist and Active Side Guard Assist 2 with left turn protection.

Read More →
Side view of a man in a truck cab with overlay of logo for LightMetrics.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamApril 22, 2026

LightMetrics Introduces ΦFP AI Layer Filter for Safety Alerts

LightMetrics has launched ΦFP, a new cloud AI layer that filters every driver safety alert before it reaches a fleet manager, eliminating the false alarms.

Read More →
A group of Atwell employees gather indoors for a team photo, standing together
Safetyby Lauren FletcherApril 21, 2026

What Fleets Can Learn from Listening to Drivers

What happens when drivers help shape specs, safety, and fleet programs? Atwell’s Crystal Zile shares how feedback led to smarter fleet decisions.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Man talking in front of a blue tinted background image of a large truck with logos for Truck Chat and Work Truck and yellow headline Detroit Assurance & Upfitting.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamApril 15, 2026

How Detroit Assurance Adapts to Unique Upfits

Mike Young, of Daimler Truck North America, will walk us through how Detroit Assurance safety systems can adapt to work around upfits that could block the radar or cameras.

Read More →
Pavement background with double yellow lines and large text that says Recall, April, and Work Truck logo.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamApril 9, 2026

Recalls You Need to Know About in April 2026

If you have Altec, Braun, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Hino, Mack Trucks, Mitsubishi Fuso, Orange EV, Terex, Toyota, or Volvo Trucks vehicles in your fleet, you should check these important recalls issued by the National Highway Safety Administration.

Read More →
Computer screenshot showing two graphics and an image of a man.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseApril 8, 2026

Samsara Launches New AI Coaching Features to Transform Fleet Safety at Scale

Now, drivers have holistic coverage provided by Samsara Coach before, during, and after their shift. This includes start-of-the-day audio briefings to help predict road risk, on-the-road support through two-way audio coaching, and post-trip support through AI Avatar.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Background image of a rainy windshield and brake lights with logos for Truck Chat and Work Truck and a headline How Lytx Prepares Fleets for Severe Weather.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamApril 8, 2026

How Lytx Prepares Fleets for Severe Weather

Let’s learn more about how Lytx uses Dynamic Risk to provide real-time alerts, coaching, and operational support for fleets facing severe weather driving conditions. Brendon Hill, senior vice president of product at Lytx, walks us through how it all works.

Read More →
Darkened background image of congested traffic with large Nauto logo in front.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseApril 2, 2026

Nauto Available as Order Now Partner on Geotab Marketplace

Nauto's AI-powered dash cam solutions are accessible via the Geotab Marketplace, enabling fleets to easily deploy its AI-enabled safety platform directly through Geotab.

Read More →
SponsoredApril 1, 2026

Future-Proofing Fleet Tech with Modular Mounting

Technology cycles move faster than vehicle rotations. Discover how modular mounting infrastructure protects your investment and reduces fleet-wide downtime.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
SponsoredMarch 30, 2026

Improving Jobsite Safety and Uptime with Advanced Driver-Assist Technology

Safer crews. Fewer incidents. Better uptime. Learn how driver-assist technology is changing the way vocational fleets operate.

Read More →