Truck Egress & Ingress

Speed dictates today's world. We want any given task done immediately or even yesterday, and are often too impatient to take our time and take care of ourselves while doing it. Truck drivers are no different. Often, to exit the truck cab, drivers and passengers leap from the top and stick their landing on the ground. And contrary to popular belief, this doesn't actually save time; it instead takes a toll on the individual's back, knees and ankles.

It has been suggested that a person jumping from only 4 feet high, such as from a truck, would impact the ground with a force between 7 and 12 times their body weight. Some people may do this 1-2 times per day, while others up to 20-30 times or greater. Either way, there is stress on the back, knees, and ankles. And although not one particular instant can be blamed, the likelihood of injury due to cumulative stress from jumping out of the truck can have a long-term effect that can impact a person's daily life.

What can drivers do?

• Always maintain 3 points of contact during egress or ingress (make sure to use those grab bars!)
• Face the cab, not away from it
• Check for hazards (e.g. snow, grease, uneven ground)
• Pay attention to the task at hand

Here's a quick little resource to determine whether your egress technique is safe (courtesy of Keep Trucking Safe):
http://www.keeptruckingsafe.org/jump-force.html