title: The effect of external non-driving factors, payment type and waiting and queuing on fatigue in long distance trucking.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to explore the effects of external influences on long distance trucking, in particular, incentive-based remuneration systems and the need to wait or queue to load or unload on driver experiences of fatigue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Long distance truck drivers (n=475) were recruited at truck rest stops on the major transport corridors within New South Wales, Australia and asked to complete a survey by self-administration or interview. The survey covered demographics, usual working arrangements, details of the last trip and safety outcomes including fatigue experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average drivers' last trip was over 2000 km and took 21.5 h to complete with an additional 6h of non-driving work. Incentive payments were associated with longer working hours, greater distances driven and higher fatigue for more drivers. Drivers required to wait in queues did significantly more non-driving work and experienced fatigue more often than those who did not. Drivers who were not paid to wait did the longest trips with average weekly hours above the legal working hours limits, had the highest levels of fatigue and the highest levels of interference by work with family life. In contrast, drivers who were paid to wait did significantly less work with shorter usual hours and shorter last trips. Multivariate analysis showed that incentive-based payment and unpaid waiting in queues were significant predictors of driver fatigue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that mandating payment of drivers for non-driving work including waiting would reduce the amount of non-driving work required for drivers and reduce weekly hours of work. In turn this would reduce driver fatigue and safety risk as well as enhancing the efficiency of the long distance road transport industry.
authors.affiliation: Transport and Road Safety Research, School of Aviation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. a.williamson@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Rena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Friswell
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009517:New South Wales; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014186:Transportation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance
keywords: Driver fatigue; Long distance road transport; Payment system; Queuing; Truck driver