There are few workers out in the community as visible and hardworking as UPS, FedEx, and Amazon delivery truck drivers. With long routes, frequent stops, heavy packages, and tight schedules, these men and women work their tails off getting goods to businesses and residences. If you’ve ever watched a UPS driver work their way down your street—stopping, popping into the back, jumping down, jogging to each doorstep, rinse & repeat—you know just how physically grueling their jobs are and how many chances there are to be injured. If you are one of these dedicated drivers, you might wonder what you should do if you are injured while meeting your employer’s difficult demands. At Monast Law Office, we have helped dozens of delivery truck drivers apply for and receive the Ohio workers’ compensation to which they were entitled after an on-the-job injury, and we can help you, too.
New Injury Concerns at UPS and Elsewhere
Like every other industry since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, the package delivery business has seen high employee turnover rates, especially among minimum-wage 
workers. When we’re talking about UPS and FedEx, the lower-paying jobs, such as processing packages and loading them into the delivery trucks, have been hard to fill. As a result, the people on these jobs are poorly trained—or completely untrained—and are not loading the packages in a way that optimizes driver safety. For example, drivers should not have to get heavy packages down from high shelves—they should be loaded in a way that allows drivers to lift them safely.
Besides dealing with poorly loaded vehicles, drivers are also under pressure to deliver more packages in less time. With an increased demand for mail order and a shortage of drivers, drivers are rushed, increasing the odds of an injury. They are also being discouraged from reporting injuries and taking time off to recover because there is no one available to take their place. More injuries and less support for healing is a dangerous combination for UPS, FedEx, and Amazon delivery drivers.
Injuries Typically Experienced by Delivery Drivers
Delivering packages is labor-intensive and stressful. Despite the many hours of mandatory training these employees must undergo, they are still prone to certain injuries, some of which can be debilitating, especially over time. Typical injuries we see in our office include:
- Back injuries. The most common complaint among delivery drivers is back pain. Lifting a heavy package and turning to get out of the vehicle can torque the spine in a harmful way. Herniated discs, lumbar strains, and other back injuries can require medical treatment and time to heal.
- Knee injuries. Lift with your knees! Great advice, but when lifting 120 packages a day, the wear and tear on your knees are significant. Delivery drivers also stress their knee joints on the trips to and from the drop-off locations.
- Trip and fall injuries. Tripping and falling in the back of the truck, out of the truck, or in someone’s front yard can result in broken bones, torn ligaments, head injuries, back strains, and more.
- Dog bites. Delivery people and dogs don’t always get along. A dog attack can cause devastating injuries, bacterial infections, and PTSD that can prevent a driver from working.
- Vehicle accident injuries. If a delivery driver is involved in a crash while on duty and is injured—regardless of whose fault the crash was—they are eligible for workers’ comp coverage for their medical bills and lost wages.
When these injuries require medical treatment and time off work to recover, the driver is eligible for Ohio workers’ compensation. Our workers’ comp legal team can help.
Get More Helpful Advice From Monast Law Office
With over 30 years of experience helping injured workers in Ohio get the workers’ comp benefits they deserve, I can help you build the best possible claim. If you have suffered a debilitating injury while delivering for UPS, FedEx or Amazon, contact Monast Law Office to discover how we can help. Learn more by requesting a free copy of our book, The Worker’s Guide to Injury Compensation in Ohio, then fill out our online contact form or call our Upper Arlington office at 614-334-4649 to get started.
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