Every occupation in California has specific types of injuries that are a common reason for workers’ compensation claims. Many of them are actually due to long-term repetitive motion job responsibilities, such as factory workers who use their hands and fingers constantly at work on an assembly line. The same type of situation applies for truck drivers, as many career drivers suffer back and shoulder injuries. Many drivers actually do not make it until standard retirement age because they become unable to work after many years of service. And shoulder injuries are chief among the medical issues.
Driving stress
The first issue with shoulder injuries for truck drivers that result in workers’ compensation claims is the constant stress of driving long hours at a time for countless days throughout a career. This requirement alone creates wear and tear on rotator cuffs and connecting tendons. Both sides absorb considerable movement, but the right shoulder tends to receive more impact due to gear shifting and various other necessary movements.
Connecting trailers
Another responsibility for truck drivers is connecting the tractor to cargo trailers of all sorts and sizes. This typically happens every time drivers deliver a trailer and pick up a new one. All trailers must be aligned properly before connecting and stabilization, which is performed by cranking the trailer to the proper height and positioning for locking into the hitch. Trailer cranking is a regular cause of workplace injuries for truckers, and they can happen in accidents as well as overtime under certain circumstances.
Loading and unloading cargo
Truck drivers are not always in the cab and in transit. Some drivers are required to help load and unload cargo periodically. For some drivers, this is actually part of their regular job responsibilities. The shoulders are regularly under stress from lifting and two-wheeling as well as loading with lift trucks and other equipment that must be operated.