ASSOCIATED PRESS – Truck drivers have one of the most dangerous jobs in America, accounting for nearly 15 percent of U.S. work-related deaths, according to the York Dispatch. And that’s only counting the accidents. They are also more at risk than average Americans for a number of health problems. Obesity is rampant, about one in four have sleep apnea, and half of them smoke.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is considering tightening its rules for conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure. And many companies are stepping up their own efforts at improving health. Drivers are tested every two years to maintain their licenses, which are issued by states. Waivers can be granted, but generally commercial drivers can’t be licensed if they have severe high blood pressure or severe heart conditions. Other aspects of drivers’ health, like weight and smoking, aren’t regulated.

The Transportation Research Board said it is planning a survey. The group estimates there are 1.3 million long-haul drivers nationwide.

An Associated Press spot check of companies revealed these initiatives:

1. Celadon Group, Inc. has stationed nurses at its main facility in Indianapolis and encourages its 3,200 drivers in the U.S. and Canada to get blood pressure and cholesterol checks.
   

2. Melton Truck Lines, Inc. replaced sodas in the Tulsa, Okla., headquarters vending machines with green tea, water, and diet drinks.
   

3. Con-way Freight of Ann Arbor, Mich., saw annual workers compensation claims plunge 80 percent and lost work days drop 75 percent in Los Angeles after its trial of a wellness program two years ago.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said truck drivers account for nearly 15 percent of all worker deaths in the most recent data available, from 2005. (The death rate per 100,000 is higher for other occupations.) Of those trucker deaths, 80 percent involved traffic accidents, the bureau said, according to the York Dispatch.

The medical review board of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will discuss updating medical guidelines at a meeting this month, but any changes are at least a year away.