The view from the truck driver’s cabin

LONG ROAD: Indian truckers drive 450 km a day
| Photo Credit:
Dinesh Hukmani

Truckers, in their lakhs, form the veritable backbone of the country’s logistics sector, ensuring goods reach their destinations on time. However, they encounter significant occupational hazards, impacting their health and well-being. A recent study highlights the demanding nature of the trucking profession and the resilience of drivers to continue performing under challenging circumstances.

Titled ‘Truckers: The backbone of the trucking supply chain’, the study by Apollo Tyres Foundation calls for improving the working conditions through supportive policies, technology adoption and innovative business models.

Authored by Gaurav Bhatiani, Pramod Bhatt and Sachin Singha (of RTI International), the paper recommends leveraging digital tools to significantly improve the overall well-being and road safety of truck drivers.

Through interviews with 30 key stakeholders and 852 truck drivers across two major transport hubs, the study aims to highlight the varying impact of the profession on drivers’ health and design effective interventions.

It also examines the interplay between the personal and professional challenges of truck drivers. Notably, 77 per cent expressed reluctance to recommend their profession to their children, owing to concerns over extended periods away from home, social stigma and demanding working hours.

Data revealed that truckers covered over 450 km daily, with 52 per cent driving for over 10 hours, raising concerns about fatigue and road safety. Nearly 37 per cent of drivers experienced the strain of unscheduled work. Sleep deficits were common during trips, with sleep duration per day averaging 5 hours compared to the recommended 7–9 hours for adults. The research examined the viability of implementing digital sleep monitoring in the trucking domain, given that 74 per cent of truck drivers owned a smartphone. Sanitation challenges were acknowledged by 66 per cent of drivers.

The research team proposed policy initiatives like improved parking facilities and security, and industry-wide changes to address truck drivers’ concerns.

The All India Transporter’s Welfare Association estimated a ratio of 65 truck drivers for every 100 trucks, emphasising the strain on the industry as well as on individual drivers. The driver shortage poses a significant threat, especially given the anticipated quadrupling of trucks on roads to 17 million by 2050.

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Published on October 20, 2025