Have you ever wondered what challenges truck drivers face while on the job? In this article, we explore the unglamorous side of things to reveal what these truckers go through on a daily basis. 

 

Most people take it for granted that the goods we purchased will arrive within the stipulated timeline. In a majority of these situations, it is most likely a truck driver who will be tasked to deliver the said item to you. For these drivers, it is practically always a race against time, for the benefit of someone else. 

 

The most common challenge faced by truckers round the world would undeniably be health issues. Truck driving requires many hours of sedentary activity and this in turn results in metabolic problems and in severe cases, even obesity. It is very commonplace for truck drivers to develop spine and bladder problems later in their lives due to the long hours of sitting in the cab with limited access to healthier food options. 

 

Stress is generally high for truck drivers because of heavy traffic, long hours, increasingly difficult regulations, unrealistic delivery schedules, and a prevalent lack of respect for the profession. The truck drivers despite being a vital cog in the country’s economic and social development are treated with utmost disrespect. They are looked down upon by most of the people in the society. This has become the reason for increase in the number of drivers leaving the job despite the good salary package. 

 

At present India has a shortage of about 160,000 drivers annually. One less driver results in one more idle truck. On an average one idle truck cost around Rs. 1000 (approximately RM60) to Rs. 1500 (approximately RM 92) daily which annually computes to a loss of around $871 million. The amount might not seem like a lot but those numbers definitely add up considering the number of idle trucks in India. To put things into perspective, the average driver in India makes Rs. 25,000 (approximately RM 1550). To most people (or other drivers on the road), trucks are a nuisance or a moving obstacle if not a hazard.

 

Other than that, many truck drivers suffer from unstable relationships due to their nature of work. When one starts off as a trucker, getting a job that will allow him to be home regularly is almost impossible. This means that a driver has to be away from the family for days, until they get their time off duty.

 

Being away from the family is not always easy, especially for those who have kids that need to feel his presence. This is why many choose to abandon this career for a better option. For this reason, very few partners can handle this kind of sacrifice. In fact, numerous drivers end up being divorced after joining this career. This career works better for those for those who are not yet married since after like 6 months to an year of driving experience, one can manage to find an option that will get them home frequently.

 

Initiatives need to be taken to address the issues mentioned above. It is a pressing issue when the people who move our country are gradually moving away from their jobs. Left unresolved and we could have a graver problem on our hands in the near future.