It has been said that trucking is the lifeblood of America's economy. Trucks are constantly transporting raw materials and goods for manufacture, assembly, or further distribution. The American Trucking Association states that over-the-road transporters deliver 100% of consumer goods in the nation and approximately 70% of freight tonnage transported domestically. There are also smaller trucks that travel local routes to deliver the products we have all grown to expect. 

The wide geographic dispersion of truck drivers and other professionals who travel extensively for their jobs presents specific challenges that make advance planning essential for employers in the transportation industry. Here are some of those challenges, as well as steps employers should take to overcome some of them. The recommendations do not include Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements, which must also be considered. While we will focus on the trucking industry for this article, the same issues and principles apply for fleet operations or for any organization where employees travel extensively.

The challenges of "high mileage" occupations