A recent PhD thesis on occupational health, safety and well-being in New Zealand’s trucking industry is highlighting “concerning” shortfalls such as excess driving hours, poor work/life balance and more.
AUT researcher Dr Clare Tedestedt George’s findings report many drivers are exceeding 65 to 70 hours a week to earn a wage “they felt was decent”.
The research draws on interviews with 45 industry participants, including 20 drivers.
Factors such as “increasing competition, industry norms, managerial practices, and pay structures” were contributing to the problem also resulting in fatigue for many drivers.
George spoke to truck drivers who reported “pressure to meet unrealistic deadlines, drive poorly maintained trucks and therefore struggled to maintain their health, safety, and well-being”.
“They reported increasing instability in their employment exacerbating an already challenging environment.”
The report also points to the global trend of increasing use of contractors in the transport industry.
“The shift from employee to contractor is indicative of a management pattern where the hiring party sets the wages and conditions, reportedly with insufficient regard to the impact on drivers, including their health, safety, and well-being,” the study says.
Road Transport Forum chief executive Nick Leggett says details of the report will be discussed within the industry. Safety and compliance has always been a top priority for the RTF, he says.
“I think we have to be open-minded to all that’s presented in front of us and take the relevant pieces and use them in a way that’s productive and helps the industry. We won’t shut the door to things we don’t like to hear.”
However, contracting work in the transport industry has an important role to play, he says.
“A huge majority of transport operators are responsible and law abiding. Owner drivers gives those operators freedom and working for themselves will often suit them … it’s a really valid aspect of the industry.
“The forum acknowledges there are issues but overall we would like to tackle them from a position that most people are law-abiding and responsible,” Leggett says.
