Fighting against a shortage of truck drivers in logistics: Measures that employers can take to promote drivers’ work ability and health

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Fighting against a shortage of truck drivers in logistics: Measures that employers can take to promote drivers’ work ability and health

Staats, Ulrike / Lohaus, Daniela / Christmann, Alina / Woitschek, Michèle

For several years, the transportation industry has been concerned about a severe shortage of professional truck drivers. Studies investigating the reasons found that poor working conditions and stresses and strains resulting from physiological and psychological job demands have had a negative impact on drivers’ health and ability to work. Nevertheless, until now, most employers have refrained from offering measures to support the work ability and well-being of drivers, mainly due to financial pressures in the industry.

OBJECTIVE:

The present study was aimed at designing adequate and affordable measures to support drivers’ health.

METHOD:

With reference to the Work Ability Index and the house of work ability (Ilmarinen & Tuomi, 2004), 56 truck drivers participated in guided interviews about their working conditions and health-related problems as well as their attitudes, experiences, and desires with respect to being offered supportive measures by their employers.

RESULTS:

The measures derived are specific and realizable and expected to be widely accepted by professional drivers. They are designed to elicit a positive attitude in the drivers toward exercising and to help them overcome related psychological barriers.

CONCLUSION:

The implementation of the recommended measures can be expected to support drivers’ work ability and help reduce the frictional costs of their employers.