Truck drivers keep our world running. Yet their crucial role often goes unnoticed. We recently spent the morning with them to reinforce our recognition of their work and gain additional firsthand insights into their lives on the road.
Nearly everything we consume – and depend on – has been on a truck.
In both normal times and during crises, truck drivers keep our supermarket shelves full and hospitals equipped.
To show our appreciation and delve deeper into the key aspects of their profession, we, together with our Swiss member ASTAG, recently met with truck drivers over coffee and croissants at a parking area near Geneva, Switzerland, for the second edition of our Valuing our Drivers initiative.
A family affair
After speaking with about a hundred drivers, one common point stood out: most are satisfied with their profession. This is in line with the findings of the IRU–Truckfly by Michelin survey of truck drivers.
For some, becoming a truck driver was a way to live a childhood dream. “Since I was a kid, I wanted to travel and see how people live in different places,” an international driver told us. “Becoming a truck driver made that possible. Every trip shows me something new: different towns, cultures, ways of life. It's not just a job for me, it's really a dream come true.”
Despite how passionate many drivers are about the profession, the number of young entrants is very low. We asked one driver in his 20s if he had any idea why. He was quick to respond, “The profession suffers from a challenging reputation.”
So why did he become a truck driver? He knew firsthand what it entailed. His father was a truck driver.
Other drivers highlighted another key challenge of the profession, particularly for long-haul drivers: spending time away from home.
The flexibility provided by the profession, however, offers many options, as exemplified by two Polish drivers who were on the road together. One, aged 30, opted for trips that were less than two weeks, while his colleague, aged 55, preferred to work for three weeks and then spend ten days at home. Many called their truck their second home.
For others, the profession – coupled with a bit of creative planning – allows them to stay close to their families.
A father was accompanied by his four-year-old son. He told us that he had even taken his eldest daughter on a two-week-long trip across Europe.
An Italian truck driver heading to France was being followed by his wife and children in their car. They were set to start their holiday after his final delivery.
Shortage and theft
The lack of parking areas across Europe was one of the top concerns expressed by drivers.
Some said they were willing to pay for parking if it guaranteed a spot and included amenities like showers or meals. One UK driver had recently paid GBP 38 for parking – which didn’t even include any services.
Drivers also raised concerns about the food options, which were often limited to fast food with few healthy or local alternatives.
The well-documented severe lack of safe and secure truck parking areas in much of Europe goes hand in hand with cargo theft. Many drivers told us about widespread fuel theft occurring in parking areas, which often resulted not only in theft but also in damaged fuel tanks.
No women?
As we were packing, we saw the first female truck driver of the day. This led many of us to realise how we had not yet seen a single female truck driver.
This, of course, came as no surprise. The extremely low representation of female truck drivers in most countries and regions is another well-known challenge facing the industry. According to IRU’s annual driver shortage survey, women make up no more than 7% of truck drivers in any country studied.
The objective of this IRU CSR initiative was to recognise the work of truck drivers, positively impact their working conditions, and support them in their profession, including fostering greater understanding and respect from other road users for their skills and vital contribution to society.
