While there is a structural shortage of drivers, more than half of the truck drivers seem to be willing to change jobs to escape the stress. That is at least the conclusion of a study carried out by the Opinion Matters on behalf of Geotab.
The survey was conducted among 3501 professional drivers, including 1542 truck drivers, in seven countries (the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy and Spain). The aim was to investigate the stress level of drivers, their satisfaction at work, their perception of road safety and the acceptance of technologies in the commercial vehicles sector. The first conclusion is that 91 % of professional drivers indicate that the stress that their work entails has a negative influence on their driving behavior, while 70 % believes that this stress will jeopardize road safety. This stress is mainly caused by the pressure they experience in their profession and by the dangerous behavior of other road users (using mobile phones behind the wheel, reckless behavior or too fast driving). One in two drivers (50%) also admits that he has already exceeded the speed limit to complete his assignments on time. It is not known whether this percentage also applies to truck drivers with a speed limiter.
More than half of the participants in the survey (55 %) indicate that they do not feel comfortable to ask for their employer to ask for help with stress or other psychological problems. The result: more than half of the truck drivers surveyed have considered in the past 12 months to cancel their job. These figures contradict the results of other investigations among truck drivers and must therefore be taken with a pinch of salt.
Is telematics the solution?
According to Edward Kulperger, senior vice president of Geotab EMEA, it is therefore necessary to invest in supporting drivers, stress management and promoting a safety culture. For example, by applying artificial intelligence to identify risks, encourage safe behavior and follow welfare indicators. “A encouraging point comes from our research: almost seven in ten drivers (69%) have no objection to the use of technologies to improve their driving performance,” he concludes.
