Evaluating Cognitive Functions as it Relates to Commercial Drivers

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Did you know that the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administration's (CCMTA) guidance document for Determining Driver Fitness In Canada uses the word 'Cognitive' 269 times in a 293-page document?[1]

Most companies managing a commercial fleet have little to no knowledge of what cognitive impairment means as it relates to driving.

What Does Cognitive Impairment Mean?

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Cognitive impairment is when a person has trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating, or making decisions that affect their everyday life. Cognitive impairment ranges from mild to severe.

Driving is one of the most complex tasks a person can perform, which is heightened for operators of a commercial vehicle.  While a person with a healthy cognition will likely be able to perform driving functions safely and consistently, someone suffering from a cognitive deficit(s) may become overwhelmed and impaired under the same circumstances. 

What Are Illnesses That Can Cause Cognitive Impairment?

  • Untreated  Sleep Apnea

  • Diabetes

  • Hypertension

  • Psychiatric illness

  • Respiratory disease

  • Dementia

  • Developmental Disorder

  • Amnesia

  • Substance-Induced Cognitive Impairment

  • Alzheimer's Disease

  • Parkinson Disease

  • Brain Trauma

  • Frontotemporal degeneration[2]

 

What Are The Signs Of Cognitive Disorder Or Impairment?

Some of the most common signs of a cognitive disorder include:

  • Confusion

  • Poor Motor Coordination

  • Loss of short-term or long-term memory

  • Identity confusion

  • Impaired judgment

Why Is Healthy Cognition Important?

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Statistics Canada: "According to the 1991 Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA), about 17% of Canadians aged 65 or older had mild impairment, often labeled "cognitive impairment—no dementia or CIND."  Similarly, data from the Health and Retirement Survey indicate that 22% of Americans aged 71 or older had CIND.  Consequently, an examination of the prevalence of various levels of cognitive well-being is warranted." [3]

In the past, transportation companies and drivers have experienced significant difficulties when a driver has performance decline such as, but not limited to, near misses, incidents, increased confusion, missed company procedures, etc.  When a company has not implemented a standardized process to evaluate drivers, they can incur increased cost burdens and lost earnings for the driver.

What Are The Essential Cognitive Functions Required To Operate A Motor Vehicle?

  • Alertness

  • Attention

  • Concentration

  • Coordination

  • Memory

  • Multi-tasking Abilities

  • Perceptual Abilities

  • Reaction Time

  • Thought Processing Judgment and Insight 

If a driver's cognition is impaired, this puts them into a higher risk class of driver.

Transforming Fitness For Duty Evaluations

In an effort to support our clients and resolve identified fitness for duty evaluation program gaps, DriverCheck has partnered with Impirica Inc., a company out of Alberta, to be able to offer a fleet risk management assessment tool.  This tool combines a computerized assessment (Vitals), and a standardized on-road evaluation (CORE), designed to evaluate a driver's cognitive functions as it relates to driving. This is an individualized scoring system, objective risk scoring tool, age-normed, and scientifically validated service now available to commercial driving industries.

This tool has the potential to revolutionize driver evaluations, support companies and drivers when managing performance decline, as well as to manage safe return to work programs. With this evaluation tool, a company can identify risk levels and compare past results (baseline) in an effort to proactively identify and manage risk before an incident occurs.

Here’s what current users are saying about the program:

“Since implementing we have really enjoyed the cohesiveness this program has offered in regard to corporate focus. We also have a heightened sense of confidence now with driver onboarding and management knowing that fitness decisions are supported through a scientific and objective scoring system.”
— Eassons Transportation Group
“We signed up for the ExceleRATE program for one major reason – to standardize our fit for duty evaluation process. The ExceleRATE program provides our company with a decision making tool to support a driver returning to work whether from an injury, illness, or an identified significant performance decline.”
— Sokil Transportation
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Chris Wilkinson

Program Consultant, DriverCheck

Chris’s responsibilities at DriverCheck include client management, onboarding of new accounts, and consulting existing and prospective clients on fitness for duty programs for a variety of industries.

Chris has over 6 years of fitness for duty experience ranging from Third Party Provider management, collection site management, a variety of training courses and policy development.

Chris is also one of DC’s subject matter experts and presents on a variety of topics across Canada including cannabis challenges in the workplace and supervisor training. Formal education includes a business diploma from Humber College and a human resources certificate from Conestoga College, working toward the Canadian Human Resources Professional designation.