How to Recognize Driver Burnout Warning Signs

Truck drivers face long hours spent isolated, limited control of scheduling, extended time away from family, and they garner little empathy from the communities who rely on them. Add to this concerns over finances and unpredictable wages and you have a recipe for burnout. 

While the nature of trucking is demanding, many drivers love the work they do. With the right support systems in place, truck driving can be a rewarding and fulfilling career. But without them, the pressures of the work become untenable. 

Stress, worry, and anxiety dramatically increase the risk of burnout. While “burnout” itself isn’t an official medical condition, it can wreak havoc on a person’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Stress is correlated with conditions like digestive issues, migraines, insomnia, and even serious health concerns like heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. 

Let’s take a deeper look at how burnout can impact the lives of truck drivers and the industry as a whole.

The Facts About Burnout

Properly defined, burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. From young athletes to new parents to hungry professionals and more, many of us have experienced burnout at one time or another. 

While burnout is nothing new, the pressures of modern business have made it an even more pervasive issue. Economic uncertainty, shifting workplace expectations, and the ongoing challenges of balancing work and personal responsibilities create a natural environment for stress to take its toll.

When you add what’s happening in the world around you to the normal stress of work and life, it may feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. This phenomenon is actually a medical condition called “secondary traumatic stress” or “compassion fatigue.” Put simply, we’re overwhelmed by everything that is happening this year, and that leads to burnout.

The Signs of Burnout

Because feeling burned out can affect every aspect of health and life, there are many different possible symptoms, and they can range from mild to severe.

• Changes in sleep habits or appetite
• Diminished work performance
• Emotional exhaustion
• Extreme fatigue not alleviated by getting adequate sleep
• GI issues
• Headaches
• Increased frustration and a “short fuse”
• Increased irritability 
• Use of drugs, food, or alcohol to cope

A Company’s Role in Combating Burnout

Truck drivers are the original “remote workforce.” So, unless they’re self-reporting, you won’t typically be able to spot most of the associated indicators of burnout visually. The next question then becomes: How do you get drivers to self-report? 

Your first best step is education. Provide drivers with ample information about what burnout is and what the signs of burnout look like. Being armed with this information can help them know when to seek assistance and support. 

Encourage drivers to share their experiences in multiple ways — whether they’re celebrating successes or grappling with challenges. Options might include one-on-one meetings with managers, group discussions with peers, or anonymous feedback through survey tools that allow for honest, unfiltered input. Keep in mind that opening up about struggles isn’t always easy. This is where solutions like WorkHound come in, creating a safe space for drivers to share what’s really on their minds.

“Having feedback as an outlet can help employees who may not feel comfortable speaking up,” says Max Farrell, CEO and Co-Founder at WorkHound. “It gives them a proactive outlet to express their concerns, allowing the worker and the company to identify whether they’re starting to show risk factors of burnout.”

Feedback also helps businesses understand where they might need to make improvements and take actions that support their drivers and other employees.

“For the company, having a feedback outlet can help them understand changes that may need to be made,” Farrell adds. “Or they may be able to identify services that need to be offered to provide employees with the support they need to handle personal challenges, as well as the ones we’re all facing right now.”

Proactively Equipping Your Team

As important as it is to educate your drivers about burnout warning signs and provide outlets for seeking help, carriers should also consider tangible ways to proactively prevent burnout. Here are some practical solutions: 

• Provide Flexibility in Scheduling: Design routes and schedules that allow for adequate rest and personal time. Offering input on route assignments can also give drivers a greater sense of control.
• Encourage Work-Life Balance: Promote healthy boundaries by respecting drivers’ time off and ensuring they aren’t burdened with constant communication during their breaks.
• Invest in Wellness Programs: Offer resources like mental health support, gym memberships, or wellness challenges tailored to the unique needs of drivers.
• Prioritize Clear Communication: Keep drivers informed about company goals, changes, and expectations to reduce uncertainty and build trust.
• Offer Professional Development Opportunities: Provide access to training, certifications, or career growth initiatives to keep drivers motivated and engaged.
• Recognize and Reward Hard Work: Celebrate milestones, achievements, and consistent performance through meaningful recognition programs.
• Skill Development Training: Intercept and address burnout by skilling up your fleet Equipping drivers with new skills or refreshing their expertise can empower their growth and loyalty to your company.

Fighting Driver Burnout Empathy

The best thing trucking companies can do to fight burnout is to show they care. To create a good work environment, you have to start by really trying to understand the problems drivers face. Burnout often stems from feeling unappreciated and unsupported, so listening to drivers and acknowledging their challenges is crucial to fixing the root causes.

Caring also means taking real action. This could be changing schedules to allow for more rest, providing resources for mental health, or simply recognizing drivers’ hard work in a way that matters to them. When drivers feel truly understood and supported, they’re better able to handle the demands of their job, which strengthens their bond with the company and inherently reduces burnout.