Truck Drivers Research Articles

The relationships between financial performance and driver compensation and safety outcomes in the trucking industry: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Heavy trucks largely contribute to road fatalities and injuries with most of the severely injured and killed being road users other than heavy truck occupants. Research has shown that the causes of truck crashes have economic roots, including high levels of competition creating economic pressure that could increase the likelihood of carriers reducing safety investments and adopting payment practices that encourage truck drivers to drive faster and longer than legally required. With a large body of research on safety policies and payment practices in the heavy trucking industry, there is a strong need to comprehensively understand the relationships between economic pressure in terms of truck company financial performance and driver compensation, and safety outcomes and the factors influencing the relationships. This paper presents a systematic review of the literature to address this important gap in the literature. The review identified 43 English-language articles published between 1988 and 2024. There is a general consensus in these articles that paying truck drivers based on the amount of work performed is associated with poorer safety outcomes than paying them based on the amount of time worked. In contrast, higher pay levels and payments for non-driving tasks positively influence safety outcomes. Regarding truck company financial performance, most of the studies reported a positive influence on safety outcomes. This review highlights the strengths and limitations of the methodologies of existing studies and proposes areas for future research.

Trucks-to-trucks: a comparison of the raw forest products transportation industry and other forms of commercial trucking in the US South

ABSTRACT Forest products transportation in the US South is an essential component of the wood supply chain connecting raw materials with manufacturing facilities. Owners and operators of log trucks face many challenges to business success. This review analyzed variables associated with owning and operating commercial trucks in the United States to compare raw forest products transportation and general trucking applications. The variables for both log trucks and general trucking included fuel costs, fuel economy, insurance, driver characteristics and availability, driver wages, truck and trailer configurations, fleet characteristics, weight limits, and safety. Log trucks were approximately 5 years older than other commercial trucks and operated in smaller fleets of 5–10 trucks. The smaller size of log truck fleets often placed them at a disadvantage to larger carriers in insurance and fuel costs, with smaller fleets having less opportunity to buy fuel in bulk and paying 0.006–0.025 USD more per kilometer for insurance than larger fleets. Knowledge gaps include inadequate estimates of the number of log truck operators and limited information related to log truck transportation costs. Continued research into challenges faced by log truck owners is critical to better understand the industry and identify solutions to profitability challenges.

Risk of Raynaud's Phenomenon Among Workers in the Occupational Disease Surveillance System.

Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is linked to occupational exposures such as vibration, cold temperature, and chemicals. However, large cohort studies examining RP by occupation and sex are scarce. To address this gap, this study aimed to assess risk of RP by both occupation and sex in a large cohort of workers in Ontario, Canada. Workers with accepted lost-time compensation claims were linked to physician billing records to identify diagnoses of RP between 2002 and 2020. A 3-year washout (disease-free) period was applied, and follow-up was limited to 5 years. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for diagnoses of RP, adjusted for age at start of follow-up, birth year, and stratified by sex. A total of 7,131 RP cases were identified among 810,739 workers. Among men, higher risks were observed for truck drivers (HR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.08-1.41), driver-salesmen (HR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.21-5.34), those in mining and quarrying-related cutting, handling, and loading (HR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.29-5.15), and construction trades laboring and elemental work (HR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.24-2.34). Among women, higher risks were observed for those working in waitressing and related (HR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.22-2.38), food and beverage preparation (HR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.02-1.76), and electrical equipment fabricating and assembling (HR 1.96, 95% CI = 1.08-3.55). Study findings show elevated risks of RP among various occupations, with notable differences between men and women. These differences may be attributable to variations in potential exposures and susceptibility to RP. Findings underscore the need for large cohort studies to examine RP across various occupational groups and both sexes.

The transportation efficiency of cargo truck drivers from Thailand to Lao PDR

The purposes of this study are to study (1) opinions on the driving performance of cargo truck drivers and (2) the factors that affect the efficiency of driving cargo trucks from Thailand to the Lao PDR by crossing the first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. The study was conducted with a sample of truck drivers who transport goods across the Thailand border to Lao PDR at the Nong Khai Customs Area, Nong Khai Province. 384 respondents were acquired by selection according to their convenience. They then completed a questionnaire with confidence values between 0.70 – 0.90. The statistical data analysis for this study included mean and standard deviation, and structural equation analysis. The results showed that: (1) Truck drivers have various opinions on the personal factors of truck drivers; truck driver performance factors and truck driver transportation efficiency indicators are as follows: speed, economy, safety, comfort and punctuality factors, which are at very high levels and (2) The personal factors of a truck driver have a positive influence on truck driver performance while the truckers’ transportation efficiency and the truck drivers’ performance have positive influences on the efficiency of truck drivers' transportation by 54 percent.

What happened to the driver? Implications of electrification, digitalization, and automation on truck and taxi drivers

What happened to the driver? Implications of electrification, digitalization, and automation on truck and taxi drivers

Transportation and production collaborative scheduling optimization with multi-layer coding genetic algorithm for non-pipelined wells.

The marginal wells in low-permeability oil fields are characterized by small storage size, scattered distribution, intermittent production, etc. The construction of large-scale gathering pipelines has large investment. So the current production mode is featured by single well tank oil storage, oil tank truck transportation and manual tank truck scheduling. At present, oil well production and crude oil transportation scheduling mainly rely on manual formulation, which has poor coordination and seriously restricts the release of oil well production capacity and the reduction of transportation cost. A mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model representation was proposed in our previous work. The scale of the built model variables is huge, and the model solution time is long. In this paper, a genetic algorithm based on multi-layer coding is proposed. The first layer of the design code is the driving path of the oil tanker, and the second layer is the crude oil loading and unloading amount and the cumulative time. The algorithm expands the search domain by flipping, exchanging and shifting the code. In the case analysis part, the exact algorithm and the genetic algorithm designed in this paper are used to solve cases of different scales (5, 10, 30 and 200 oil wells) respectively, and the correctness and effectiveness of the algorithm are verified. The results show that, compared with the exact algorithm, the genetic algorithm designed in this paper can quickly solve a feasible scheduling scheme under different oil well scales, especially in the case of large-scale (200 wells) oil well groups. The optimal one-time result in the calculation example (200 wells) takes 1062.3s to run, and the total driving distance of all tank trucks in the obtained feasible scheme is 11280km. This study can guide oilfields to quickly formulate dispatching plans and minimize travel distances in non-pipeline well tanker dispatching.

Mississippi Log Trucking Liability Insurance Premiums: A Hedonic Analysis

Abstract Rising liability insurance premiums have negatively impacted log trucking businesses in Mississippi and across the southeastern United States. A statewide mixed-mode log trucking business owner survey was used to study factors impacting liability insurance for Mississippi timber transportation. A hedonic regression model was developed to identify operational characteristics that significantly influenced insurance premiums. Marginal implicit prices were calculated to reveal an average per unit monetary contribution of each significant attribute while holding the others constant. The 3-year inflation-adjusted average for Mississippi companies was $12,466 per truck per year, with a minimum value of $4,000 per truck per year and a maximum of $24,404 per truck per year (all values in US$). On average, each year of owner experience provided a mean insurance premium discount of $72.42. Each additional 1,000 miles (1600 km) traveled by log trucks at the mean insurance premium was valued at $50.00; each safety violation was valued at $3,322; and an overweight violation was valued at $1,311. Implementation of safety practices and safety equipment did not significantly impact insurance premiums. Companies were not directly rewarded for using safety equipment and safety practices but were penalized through increased policy rates when cited for safety and overweight violations. Investing in safety practices (e.g., regular truck inspections, truck driver training, repair and maintenance programs, etc.) and safety equipment (truck scales, cameras, truck tracking, telematics, etc.) would reduce roadside inspection citations and crashes, which contribute to rising liability insurance premiums.

Generalized Additive Models to assess Truck Driver's Perceived LOS of Signalized Intersections

Generalized Additive Models to assess Truck Driver's Perceived LOS of Signalized Intersections

A Comprehensive Overview of Technologies Applied in Hydrogen Valleys

Hydrogen valleys are encompassed within a defined geographical region, with various technologies across the entire hydrogen value chain. The scope of this study is to analyze and assess the different hydrogen technologies for their application within the hydrogen valley context. Emphasizing on the coupling of renewable energy sources with electrolyzers to produce green hydrogen, this study is focused on the most prominent electrolysis technologies, including alkaline, proton exchange membrane, and solid oxide electrolysis. Moreover, challenges related to hydrogen storage are explored, alongside discussions on physical and chemical storage methods such as gaseous or liquid storage, methanol, ammonia, and liquid organic hydrogen carriers. This article also addresses the distribution of hydrogen within valley operations, especially regarding the current status on pipeline and truck transportation methods. Furthermore, the diverse applications of hydrogen in the mobility, industrial, and energy sectors are presented, showcasing its potential to integrate renewable energy into hard-to-abate sectors.

An Optimizing Sustainable Integrated Agricultural Model with Zero Waste and Carbon Neutrality by Bioethanol Truck Transportation with Blockchain Transaction

An Optimizing Sustainable Integrated Agricultural Model with Zero Waste and Carbon Neutrality by Bioethanol Truck Transportation with Blockchain Transaction

Accuracy analysis of cholesterol analyzer in detecting dyslipidemia in truck drivers.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Rapid diagnostic tools are crucial for timely intervention, especially in high-risk groups such as truck drivers. In Brazil, the Mission® test uniquely offers test strips for simultaneous measurement of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This study evaluates the accuracy of the Mission® analyzer compared to laboratory testing for HDL-C, TG, and TC in truck drivers. A blinded cross-sectional study was conducted among truck drivers aged 30-64 in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Spearman correlation, linear regression, and the Bland-Altman analyses were employed to compare lipid profile results between the Mission® analyzer and laboratory methods. A total of 108 samples were analyzed. For HDL, the Mission® analyzer showed a sensitivity of 0.88, a specificity of 0.67, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.68-0.86). For TG, sensitivity and specificity were 0.96 and 0.98, respectively, with an AUC of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.93-1.0). For TC, the AUC was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.79-0.95). Bland-Altman analysis revealed biases of -4.5 for HDL, 12.4 for TC, and -42.8 for TG between Mission® and laboratory results. The Mission® analyzer demonstrates good accuracy for rapid dyslipidemia diagnosis and Framingham Global Risk Score calculation. It is a valuable tool for initial screening and risk assessment, confirmation with laboratory testing is recommended for definitive diagnosis and treatment planning.

Optimal Weigh-in-Motion Planning for Multiple Stakeholders

Overloaded trucks contribute heavily to road damage and increased maintenance costs, and Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) systems are an effective tool for detecting them without disrupting traffic flow. However, overloaded truck drivers often adjust their routes to avoid WIM stations, complicating enforcement efforts for road management stakeholders. To address these challenges, this study integrates the strategic behaviors of multiple stakeholders with diverse objectives into optimal WIM planning by modeling interactions among the government, pavement management agencies, and drivers. The authorities are responsible for WIM installation, while drivers minimize their respective travel costs. The proposed approach considers both road maintenance costs incurred by authorities and travel costs for drivers, based on a traffic assignment model for each WIM installation strategy. Basic concepts from game theory are adopted to formalize the dynamic interactions among these stakeholders.

Comparative Assessments of At-Sea and Inland Low- and Medium-Pressure CO2 Transport

Developing cost-efficient systems for transporting CO2 is key to accelerating the deployment of carbon capture and storage. The present work explores the impact of reducing the pressure of tank-based inland and at-sea transport on their techno-economic performance. The study uses established techno-economic models for CO2 transport, adjusted with the most up-to-date knowledge on the costs of low-pressure containment and transport. In particular, the impact of cargo tank material and design on the transport costs show that low-pressure cargo tank systems can be 50% less expensive than medium-pressure systems if materials with similar price and strength can be used. This results in reductions in transport costs as high as 30% for long distances. This is partly driven by the currently suggested size limitation on medium-pressure shipping that limits its economies of scale. If this limitation is alleviated, the cost advantage of low-pressure shipping compared to medium-pressure is more limited (10–20%) although it remains advantageous. The same scaling effects on capacity were not found for truck and barge inland transport, thus yielding 1–10% cost reductions of low-pressure transport relative to medium-pressure transport. These results imply that future systems may combine medium-pressure inland and low-pressure at-sea transport and that efficient solutions connecting the two must be investigated.

Modeling of fresh paddy aeration on transporting barges in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

The Mekong Delta is regarded as the granary of Vietnam, with an annual production of 24.1 million tons (2023). Currently, fresh paddy is transported directly from farmers’ fields to drying facilities or rice mills. Given the extensive river and canal system in the Mekong Delta, the majority of paddy (up to 92%) is transported by barges. While barge transportation is more costeffective (91,000 VND/ton for a 100 km distance) compared to truck transportation (269,000 VND/ton), it has significant drawbacks, such as a longer transportation time of 3 to 5 days. Moreover, because the paddy is wet during transport, it is prone to discoloration (yellowing), which reduces its quality. To address this issue, this research developed an experimental paddy aeration model as a foundation for implementing aeration on barges during transportation. The model was tested with 1.4 tons of fresh paddy, specifically the DT80 variety, in Cai Lay, Tien Giang province. Key parameters monitored and analyzed included paddy temperature, moisture content, ambient conditions, and grain quality. The model was tested with a specific airflow rate of 129 ± 23 m3/h per ton. The paddy temperature in the aeration model was maintained at 28.8°C, similar to the ambient temperature of 28.3°C. As a result, the whiteness of the aerated paddy was preserved at 3.6% after three days, whereas it decreased from 3.6% to 3.2% in paddy transported without aeration. The application of aeration helped reduce quality losses, particularly discoloration, caused by the high temperatures of fresh paddy during transportation.

Optimal Configuration for Shared Electric-hydrogen Energy Storage for Multiple Integrated Energy Systems With Mobile Hydrogen Transportation

The flexible operation and storage of hydrogen and electric energy provide an effective path for the development of low-carbon energy and transportation systems. This paper introduces a configuration method for electric-hydrogen shared energy storage supporting the multiple energy and capacity demands of integrated energy systems (IESs). A Stackelberg game-based shared energy framework with gaseous hydrogen transportation by transportation network for shared energy storage operators (SESO) and IESs is established. In this framework, the electric power and electric storage sharing are accomplished by power lines, while the shared hydrogen is achieved by the transportation of mobile trucks. The target of the energy storage operator is to maximize its trading benefits with IESs and lower the life-cycle cost of the whole system, while the IESs aim to meet their energy demand and lower the operation cost via energy storage sharing. To solve this planning model, a two-level sine cosine based grey wolf optimizer (GWO-SCA)-bisectional method is provided to realize the system configuration, mobile hydrogen planning, and economic trading of the shared energy operator. A case study with 3 IESs, real-world geographic roads, and environmental conditions is carried out to verify the effectiveness of the method and the life-cycle configuration and operation economy of the shared energy storage. The comparisons show that the proposed energy storage sharing frame can achieve a higher energy utilization ratio of 92% and the proposed method can solve the two-level problem more efficiently, the calculation time is reduced by 80.2%.

Rationality of Decision Making of a Cross-Provincial Truck Driver's Wife in the Household (Case Study of a Cross-Provincial Truck Driver's Wife in Medan City)

This study aims to determine the rationality of decision-making by wives of inter-provincial truck drivers in households in the city of Medan. This research is qualitative research with a descriptive approach. The data in this research was collected through interviews, observation and documentation. The data analysis technique uses 3 actions, namely data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. Determining informants in this research was carried out using snowball sampling so that 5 informants were obtained, all of whom were wives of cross-provincial truck drivers. The research results found that the rationality of decision-making by wives of cross-province truck drivers includes financial management, meeting primary and tertiary needs, occupational health and safety, children's education, and social activities. The results of this research are in line with James S. Coleman's rational choice theory, which states that as long as a person's actions aim to achieve their goals, rational choice theory considers these actions to be rational, as reflected in the research results, that every decision taken by the wife is based on a specific goal.

A systematic review of incentive schemes and their implications for truck driver safety performance

Introduction: This systematic review investigates the effects of monetary and non-monetary incentive schemes on the safety performance of truck drivers, a critical concern within the road freight industry. Method: The review analyzes 18 studies and dissects the impact of compensation levels, compensation methods, and non-monetary benefits on drivers’ safety behaviors. Results: The findings show that, in general, higher levels of compensation, both through selection and incentive effects, enhance safety performance by attracting more skilled drivers and incentivizing adherence to safety protocols. However, the structure of these compensations, particularly piece-rate wages, and payment for non-driving hours, reveals a double-edged sword; while incentivizing productivity, they inadvertently promote unsafe driving behaviors such as excessive speeding and insufficient rest due to economic pressures. Conversely, non-monetary incentives, though under-researched, show potential for improving safety outcomes by enhancing job satisfaction and work environment quality. Practical applications: This review highlights the need for future research on safety incentives to evaluate the full extent of the intersection between incentives, safety culture, and working conditions. It advocates for holistic compensation strategies that foster a safety culture in the trucking industry, marking a new direction for improving driver behavior.

A Longitudinal Study on Campylobacter spp. in an Integrated Broiler Complex in the Southeast Region of the United States: Prevalence and Phylogenetic Analysis

Poultry meat products are considered the major contributors to Campylobacteriosis in humans. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence status, critical entry points, and movement patterns of Campylobacter spp. along different stages of an integrated broiler complex. To isolate bacteria and perform phylogenetic analysis, a total of 790 environmental samples were collected from 38 production houses, a hatchery, 6 transport trucks, and a processing plant of a commercial broiler complex. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were compared among different stages and sample types (α = 0.05). Altogether 17% (137/790) of samples and 61% (23/38) of production houses were positive for Campylobacter spp. Similarly, 34% (46/135) of samples were identified as Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni), and 61% (83/135) were identified as Campylobacter coli (C. coli). The odds of Campylobacter spp. detection in broiler farms’ surroundings were 4 times (1.88–8.26; 95% CLs) more likely as compared to parent pullets and breeder farms’ surroundings (p = 0.0004). Similarly, among different sample types, the odds of Campylobacter spp. detection in boot swabs and sponge-stick swabs were more likely as compared to fly paper samples (p ≤ 0.0024). In addition, the odds of Campylobacter spp. detection in postpick whole carcass rinses were 4 times (1.99–7.59; 95% CLs) more likely as compared to postchill carcass rinses (p = 0.0004). The phylogeny results of both C. jejuni and C. coli indicate multiple critical entry points of bacterial strains along the chain and suggest the possibility of transmission of Campylobacter spp. from broiler grow-out flocks through transport and to final raw products (29%) in the processing plant. The results indicate potential risks of foodborne infections in consumers from ingestion of contaminated raw or undercooked poultry meat. Therefore, a comprehensive control strategy may be essential to reduce or eliminate Campylobacter spp. or other zoonotic pathogens from the poultry food chain.

COVID-19 vaccination, perceptions about the vaccine and willingness to take the vaccine among unvaccinated individuals at two Ugandan border points of entry

BackgroundA recent systematic review shows high COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in fully-vaccinated people in Africa. However, vaccine uptake has varied across populations. We assessed the uptake, perceptions of and willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine among unvaccinated individuals at two Ugandan border points of entry.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted at Malaba and Mutukula points of entry into Uganda between February and March 2023. We targeted people living in, working at, or transiting through the two points of entry, including truck drivers, point-of-entry customs officers and female sex workers, market vendors, among others. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, vaccine uptake, perceptions and willingness to take the vaccine among unvaccinated individuals. We computed descriptive statistics and determined the factors associated with uptake of and willingness to take the vaccine using a modified Poisson regression model. Data analysis was conducted using STATA statistical package (version 14.0).ResultsOf the 854 respondents, 50% (n = 427) were from Mutukula. Overall, 80.3% (n = 686) of the respondents reported that they had received at least one vaccine dose; no booster doses were reported. Respondents perceived that the vaccine was efficacious against COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccine uptake was associated with age-group 35–44 years [adjusted Prevalence Ratio [aPR] (95%CI) = 1.13 (1.01, 1.27)] or 45 + years [aPR (95%CI) = 1.19 (1.07, 1.33)]; being a truck driver [aPR (95%CI) = 1.16 (1.04, 1.29)] or health worker [aPR (95%CI) = 1.18 (1.05, 1.32)]; and the belief that the COVID-19 vaccine is protective against COVID-19 [aPR (95%CI) = 1.32 (1.10, 1.58)]. Nearly 60% of unvaccinated respondents (n = 99) were willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Willingness to take the vaccine was associated with the belief that one can contract the coronavirus if not vaccinated [aPR (95%CI) = 3.67 (1.90, 7.10)] or the community was at risk of COVID-19 [aPR (95%CI) = 1.86 (1.33, 2.62)].ConclusionCOVID-19 vaccine uptake was high in this setting while nearly six out of every ten unvaccinated individuals were willing to take the vaccine. Our findings lend credence for ongoing vaccination efforts at points of entry to contain the importation of new COVID-19 variants into the country.

A Two-Stage Optimisation Approach for a Sustainable Physical Internet Multi-Modal Barge–Road Hub Terminal

The logistics and transportation sectors are struggling to manage empty containers (ECs), resulting in unused resources, inefficiencies, and increased CO2 emissions. The Physical Internet (PI) concept provides an opportunity to improve container sharing and transportation by intelligently organising logistics resources. This paper shows how PI principles can address the EC problem in truck transportation. The objective is to reduce CO2 emissions with improved space-sharing strategies. The problem is formulated and solved using a two-stage optimisation approach (2Stage-Opt) to optimise container motion. The validity of the 2Stage-Opt solutions is tested using a developed multi-agent system simulation (MASS) model to replicate the behaviour of real multi-modal hubs. This approach is evaluated using a real-world case study from a multi-modal logistics centre in the north of France. The results indicate that utilising PI-container solutions offers significant sustainability benefits, especially in reducing the number of trucks used in the simulation and the CO2 emissions from ECs.