<P> Truck drivers are persons employed as the operator of a CMV . CMVs can be of varying shapes and sizes, from 10,000 - pound (4,500 kg) pickup trucks assigned to haul specialized or small quantities of freight, all the way up to 80,000 - pound (36,000 kg) semi-trailer trucks . Trucks are assigned a class rating based upon the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The facts in this section refer to drivers of "heavy duty" trucks (with a GVWR of at least 26,000 pounds (12,000 kg), which require a commercial driver's license to operate). </P> <P> Truck drivers spend up to 11 hours a day driving, and up to 14 hours a day engaged in various duties (including driving time) such as fueling, filling out paperwork, obtaining vehicle repairs, and conducting mandatory vehicle inspections . Long - haul drivers often spend weeks away from home, spending their time off and sleeping at truck stops or rest areas . Driving is relatively dangerous work, as truck drivers account for 12 percent and the highest total number of all work - related deaths, and are five times more likely to die on the job than the average worker . Smoking, lack of exercise, unhealthy eating habits, and work - related injuries also contribute to the driver's generally risk - prone lifestyle . A survey by the National Institutes of Health found 67 percent of long - haul drivers were smokers or had quit smoking . </P> <P> In 2006, the U.S. trucking industry employed 1.8 million drivers of heavy trucks . A major problem for the long - haul trucking industry is that a large percentage of these drivers are aging, and are expected to retire . Very few new hires are expected in the near future, resulting in a driver shortage . As of 2005, within the long - haul sector, there is an estimated shortage of 20,000 drivers . That shortage was projected to increase to 111,000 by 2014, however the actual shortage of truck drivers in 2014 was around 38,000 . The trucking industry (especially the long - haul sector) is also facing an image crisis due to the long working hours, long periods of time away from home, the dangerous nature of the work, and the average earnings compared to other forms of labor (such as construction, which was 1 percent higher than trucking in 2004). </P> <P> Employee turnover within the long - haul trucking industry is notorious for being extremely high . In the 4th quarter of 2005, turnover within the largest carriers in the industry reached a record 136 percent, which means for every 100 new employees hired, 136 quit their jobs . This has resulted in a "revolving door" within most long - haul trucking companies, as drivers are constantly switching jobs or quitting the industry altogether . Driver turnover within the short - haul and less - than - truckload (LTL) industries is considerably less (around 15 percent), mainly due to the better working conditions, higher pay, and unionized workers . One study suggests that larger companies with irregular routes, longer average lengths of hauls, and older equipment experience much higher rates of driver turnover . </P>

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